If you’ve been hanging around Stanley Park, Gastown, Jericho Beach or English Bay in the past month you may have noticed a disposable camera lying around. The idea is simple. You pick up the camera, take a picture and put it back. Then the photos are processed and uploaded online for the world to see. The Disposable Camera Project seeks to capture spontaneous moments, showcase cities and democratize street photography.
The DCP began years ago as a school project and was recently brought back to life by a group of talented and hungry young men that wanted to create something different. I sat down with the Vancouver-based half of the team, Paul Nuestro and Nick Hill (the other half, Mike Yambao and Mark Serrano, are based out of Toronto), to learn more about their initiative.
All images courtesy Disposable Camera Project. Above: Paul Nuestro and Nick Hill.
Valerie Tiu: Give us the elevator pitch for the Disposable Camera Project.
Nick Hill: Basically we are trying to create an interactive, dynamic and ongoing photo album on a global scale, profiling cool locations and people that share them on a daily basis.
Kits Beach Sunset. July 6.
VT: What was your motivation to start this project?
NH: Paul and I have known each other for about three years now, and we’ve both been pretty creative, ambitious people. When I first met Paul, he had his own business and I thought that was really cool and we’ve always wanted to start something, either separately or together. When we both came here [to Vancouver], we always talked about business and creativity.
I had come up with a similar idea to DCP about a week and a half before we found out about it. It was a school project that two of our friends back home in Toronto came up with. They literally just left a few disposable cameras in a park. One of our partners is a graphic designer and web developer, and he just wanted something for his portfolio so he put the captures up on the website and that was basically it. Paul came across it and called me immediately and said, “You gotta see what Mark just put up online.” So we went and looked and I was like, “Holy shit, this is the idea that I came up with a week ago!” We knew that we had to get involved immediately.
So the next day, so met with one of our friends who is a lawyer and got some business advice. We Skyped with our co-founder Mark back home in Toronto and he said to try it out and see what happens. By Friday that week we were out putting out cameras. We did Grouse Grind, Coal Harbour, Spanish banks, Kits beach…. Ever since we started, it’s been a whirlwind of craziness.
English Bay Seawall. July 14.
VT: Tell us about the DCP team. Who is involved?
Paul Nuestro: I started out in Toronto as a designer. I was working for Club Monaco at the time, that’s where I met Nick. I started a company called Nuestro where we do leather accessories. It grew pretty big, I got a nice response and I ended up leaving Toronto and coming here to Vancouver and I started DCP. There’s also Mike and Mark who are part of the project as well.
NH: There’s Mark who plays a very large role in the design aspect. He does all the web development and some of the graphic design with Paul. And then there’s Mike, who is the resident coder, programmer and he helps me out a lot with the writing. They were the guys who really started it, came up with the name, started the initial site launch. And when Paul and I came on board, we basically changed everything in the sense that we just started treating it more like a business and not just a project anymore.
I was actually born and raised here. I moved to Toronto at age 13, but I came back out here a few times. I just finished up an internship with an architectural engineering firm, so design is something I’ve always loved. I have a lot of experience in the restaurant and service industry so working with people and the exchange of ideas in teams and problem solving is something I really enjoy.
VT: So you all come from diverse backgrounds.
NH: Very diverse backgrounds. The personalities are hilarious too. Although the personalities are different, we all come together for this one creative goal and it’s been pretty awesome.
VT: Can you share your favourite photo with us?
PN: There’s one that I fell in love with. It was from one of the first albums that we ever did of the cutest kids - Mickey and Minnie Mouse captured in Coal Harbour.
Mickey & Minnie in Coal Harbour. July 6.
NH: I have favourites from almost every album. Everyone loves people watching and this is kind of a public space to do that. We’re kind of capitalizing on everyone’s vanity. I mean, we get a lot of selfies, but at the same time we get a lot of couples, a lot of stolen kisses, and you also get a beautiful sunset or a beautiful cityscape. Instead of turning the camera on yourself, you notice that beautiful moment around you and capture that.
Kits Beach. July 6.
VT: What’s the most rewarding part about this project?
PN: The feedback and all the response and everyone just participating in something that we’re doing for the people.
NH: Occasionally what we will do is if we put it in a really hot location like English bay or at Pride Week, we will keep an eye on the camera. We’ll be across the street just watching people use it and seeing their reactions and the emotion that it brings to them.
VT: Do you have a dream list of cities where you would like to see DCP take place?
NH: As much as we’re taking it one step at a time, we’re doing everything proactively to create longevity and create a brand. We want people all over the world to be doing this. One of the things we’re working on is a section on how to get involved. So getting people to go and get one of our kits and put a camera and see what happens. Right now it’s just four of us guys hustling, and it takes up a lot of time and money and its so worth it, but feasibly and practically, it won’t work on a global scale if its just us doing it.
People all over the world are already getting involved. It’s all across California now, in Santa Barbara, LA, San Francisco…. We actually just got our first batch from Auckland and we’re waiting on stuff from Tokyo. There might be a girl wanting to do it in Amsterdam and Paris. Hopefully by Christmas we’ll have New York and Chicago. So the interactive, global scale has already taken off. And we’re just hoping that it continues.
Gastown. July 24.
VT: What makes Vancouver such an awesome setting for the DCP?
PN: All of the wonderful backdrops that Vancouver has. The fact that you have mountains behind the city and the people here are amazing as well.
NH: I think that what we’ve done speaks for itself. We’ve given the opportunity for Vancouverites to showcase their city and themselves and they’ve done it. It’s a beautiful place and a whole new experience. There’s so many things that are unique to Vancouver. It’s a special place.
Most recent camera left on the Cambie Bridge for 2 hours.
Check out more photos and learn more about DCP here.
