Common Places

Google Street View’s intent is to 'paint the world' with a resolution of 'about one pixel to one inch.' I associate this grand ambition with the urban expansion into nature captured by the 'New Topographics' photographers in the 1970s. Using Google Street View, I rephotographed Stephen Shore’s Uncommon Places, 'revisiting' this once uncommon imagery that has now become common place, to experience the power of this ever-expanding technological imagery. This power, characterized by its indiscriminate recording of everything, is so calm, objective, and yet convinces people without question. Behind each seemingly mundane photo it produces is a brick in the construction of its vast empire of images.