One of the many interesting people we met through the Roncesvalles street festival is Matt Greenwood, the local artist behind http://takepicturedontsteal.com.  Take picture don’t steal features a collection of photos taken randomly by people around the city that come across a disposable camera on their path. Attached to the camera is note that says ‘take picture don’t steal’. The result is a set of images that are a very honest depiction of people in their element. Matt describes: ” The main thing that comes across is how natural people are in the photos because they are often with their friends and loved ones. …Toronto is an interesting city for this project because of it’s diversity & distinct neighbourhoods. I like the idea of making a portrait of the city.”

Check out the website.  If you come across one of Matt’s cameras you’ll have the chance to contribute to his evolving portrait of the city.

See also my notes below from a mini-interview with Matt.

- – -
1) What motivated you to do this project?

I had an old disposable camera sitting around & wanted to do something cool with it.
I saw this youtube video last year – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWQR36dW0GA

and found it interesting how people react when faced with a camera, but no cameraman.
I also wanted to do something local about Toronto because it’s a small enough city that people can feel a strong connection with the different areas.

2) Are you from Toronto? If not, have you done this in your home town? How is Toronto different?

No, I’m from England but live here now. My brother still lives in the UK and agreed to put up a camera in a park in Birmingham.
Its hanging up there now..hopefully it survives!

I’ve got a few cameras out in various countries around the world through friends who are traveling/living abroad.
Today I dispatched a camera to NORTH BAY, Ontario. I have no idea what goes on there.

Toronto is an interesting city for this project because of it’s diversity & distinct neighbourhoods. I like the idea of making a portrait of the city.

3) Do you see any interesting trends in the photos?

The main thing that comes across is how natural people are in the photos because they are often with their friends and loved ones.
Plus the fact that it’s a cheap disposable camera helps. If they had to go into a booth with a digital HAL lens staring at them, people wouldn’t be nearly as candid. I tried to get the cheapest, crappiest looking cameras I could find.

I sometimes hang around in the background after I put up the camera just to see how people react to it. They seem to immediately get it & feel comfortable with the whole thing.

oh and another trend is people sticking their tongues out.

4) Have you ever had a camera not work out?

Well, a few stolen. More than i expected actually…at first i found it kind of interesting to think why someone would steal a disposable camera half full of pics of strangers & have to pay $10 to get it developed, but now it’s just annoying! I’d think I’ve had about 5 stolen so far. Bay st was the first casualty.

Thanks to Matt Greenwood for sharing this project with us.