The virtues of technology failure
I brought my videocamera with me to Malawi, only to discover upon unpacking it that the main sensor was shot: it could record sound, but not video. In retrospect, this was a fortuitous failure.
Looking at things through a lens–or on a tiny flip-out monitor–creates a layer of distance, of safety. On a subconscious level, it feels like you’re watching TV. I would have watched, but not seen.
And given my obsessive need for coverage, I probably would have shot so much footage that I could never have begun editing it down.
So, lacking a proper videocamera, I just shot with my digital still camera. The clips had to be very short; I only had a 1GB card, and no way to off-load it. But I think it worked out for the best. What I ended up with are more like video snapshots. They don’t tell a story. They simply capture a moment.
I’ve posted a few more up in my YouTube channel. Here’s a sampler.
Q: What side of the road do they drive on in Malawi?
A: The center.
There’s only one paved road in Mulanje, which has to be shared by cars, bikes and pedestrians. The dirt roads are strictly one car wide. They recently plowed the road towards Kumwamba Centre, so there’s hope it may be paved before too long. You can see the in-progress road on this second version of the drive to the church on Sunday, featuring the song that’s been stuck in my head for 10 days.
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July 22nd, 2007 at 11:37 am
Checked out your clips on YouTube and it does look amazing.
My husband’s involved with an organization called Global Alliance for Africa and they have been wanting him to travel there even if for a weekend. Once you go, you’re hooked. I can see why. I’m forwarding the links to him so he can see too.
My mother-in-law has a doctorate in child psychology and did her thesis on children in South Africa who had been abused. This was years ago, and they never fail to go back to visit every few years. Again, I can see why.
Thanks for sharing.