Project statement:

This project started with my discovery of Guy Debord and his ideas of the "dérive." Debord defines the dérive as "a mode of experimental behavior linked to the conditions of urban society: a technique of rapid passage through varied ambiances." The method is to wander the urban space, get off of predictable paths, and jolt oneself into a more nuanced awareness of the local landscape. I began by randomly wandering the streets of Savannah, Georgia, shooting images of whatever I found to be personally significant. Over time, I began to understand the complexities of the area, and this slowly shaped the narrative of the images. Not only did the pictures become a documentary series about the city of Savannah, they also began to show my own personal progression of understanding. The work is as much about my own transformation in the role of the flâneur (one who walks the city in order to experience it), as it is about the city itself. Through repeated exploration, I discovered a rich tapestry of cultural heritage—the people, the details, and the landscape itself have become a deep and interwoven narrative.

Bio and contact:

David Strohl's work focuses on people and their lifestyle within the urban landscape. He spends much of his time wandering and photographing day-to-day life as it happens. In June 2011, David Strohl completed his MFA in photography at the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Georgia. He has since relocated to Texas, where he has continued his freelance editorial work, as well as becoming a faculty member at the Art Institute of Austin.

David Strohl is an Austin, TX, based photographer.
To view more of his work, please visit his website: davidstrohl.net
You can also contact him by e-mail: david@davidstrohl.net