Assignment 3: Change - Photo essay

Theme:
We live in a country where only thing which is constant is change.
Photo essay: Create 8 to 12 pictures essay on above theme. Select appropriate point of view which addresses the theme.

eg. - Economic changes and human condition- Age, relations and rat race- Geography and time- Cultural invasion - unified world etc. etc.

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"The thing which is constant is change. " hehe.. I like this saying...sounds confusing yet philosophical.

The theme I'll be exploring is wealth. The following photographs show a change from person to person's perception of wealth. Everyone has different perceptions of wealth. The definition and meaning of wealth may differ from person to person. Each photograph shows a perception of wealth, subjected to an individual.

Dictionary's definition of wealth: 1. noun- the state of owning a large amount of money and possessions. 2. a large number or amount of

Colourful Life

The photo above depicts "Happiness". Happiness is a form of wealth. A colourful bag of sweets represents one as leading a colourful and enriching life. With that, one will gain spiritual happiness, which is a form of accumulated wealth.

Are you really rich?

Today, in our competitive and individualistic society, money has become indispensable. Everyone works hard, hoping to earn a million some day. It is gradually infused in our minds that money is a form of wealth. Money can provide one with monetary benefits, giving you the most luxurious things in life. But how about the spiritual happiness? Will there be emptiness in the heart even if one has earned a million?

My family

The photo above depicts a family. Different toothbrushes are used to represent the notion of family. Many toothbrushes placed together depicts the unity of a family. Family is an asset, a form of wealth. Family members will be there for you, regardless of rain or shine.

Knowledge

Knowledge, to many, is seen as a form of wealth. Knowledge opens many windows of lucrative opportunities.

Time

I believe time is a form of wealth to many. A metronum is used to ensure that a pianist will always be on the beat. It is used to represent time - the idea that a pianist has to be on the beat and that we are always trying to catch up with time. As time passes by, one will age. However, the experience, wisdom and knowledge gained with the consistency of time will be a source of wealth.

Freedom

Freedom is a form of wealth to children in third world countries. Many children in such countries are stuck in their rural villages. The education they received is more of vernacular education. Many of them hope to break free and receive a better education elsewhere. However, to many, this remains a dream. The pencil represents giving a child in the third world country a better education outside their village, which means a form of freedom for them in search of possible wealth elsewhere. The rings surrounding the pencil shows a child being stuck in such environment, while the ring that was being loosened on its own shows a child's desire to break free from the environment.

Love

Love is a form of wealth. As you continue to send out love, the energy returns to you in a regenerating spiral. As love accumulates and becomes your wealth, it helps to keep your system in balance and harmony. Love is the best medicine. There is more than enough once you open your heart to experience this nourishing form of wealth. The wire and yellow string depicts love entangling around us and the world.

Healthy

Healthy?

The two pictures above depict health as a type of wealth. The two pictures show a contrast between the good and bad conditions of health. The picture with a badminton shuttlecock and a pair of shoes shows someone having the ability to engage in sports, in the pink of health. In comparison, the picture with different types of medicine portrays one's deterioration of health.


Comments: Mr Reddy says that the concept is nice. However, there are too many definitions of wealth which may not be able to portray fully in the assignment. In addition, one's definition of wealth may be different from the other. Hence, if that particular definition doesn't happen to fall into the viewer's mind, it will become difficult to comprehend the meaning of the photographs as a whole. He also mentioned that probably I could narrow down the definitions-zoom into one definition and work on it.

Self assessment: I would give myself 70/100. 40 for effort and 30 for concept. I believe the concept could be further developed and built on. There could also be more ways I could explore on portraying the different photographs. My work needs explanation to the viewers. It is not so explicit. When I start to explain, the viewers will be able to connect the photographs together. I must find the linking element to bridge my photographs together. The "change" must be more obvious.

I like Celeste's idea of change in status of a person as he grows up-from riding on the car in the playground to driving a big car on the road. The change is pretty obvious. I am able to grasp the meaning immediately from the photos. I would give her 90/100. I like Stephanie's idea of corrosion. The shots were aesthetically beautiful. I do notice some sort of similarity between the concepts of Jillyn's (deterioration) and Stephanie's. The concept is beautiful. Great minds think alike!I would give both of them 90/100 too.

Assignment 2: Exposure-Light, colour, texture and patterns

Observe how light interacts with object creating shadow and sense of depth. How colours change their saturation through dawn to dusk. How light create patterns and how shadows make texture feel tactile.

Explore image capture techniques to create sense of space and time of real world in your prints.

This assignment is primarily for you to get familiar with image capture environment, to understand limitations of image capture devices, and to understanding basic limitations of capturing real life in a print.
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Some thoughts: I had so many first time encounters doing assignment 2. It was my first time using SLR camera, first time taking pictures alone, first time going to a park alone. I guess I kinda like this type of being alone feeling at times. It's a great chance for me to see the nature and enjoy the scenery at the park. At the same time, reflecting upon some of the things happening around me, enjoying the quiet moments. Here are some of the pictures I captured.

Venue: Sembawang park
Shutter speed: 1/13 secs Aperture: F22
Lens Focal Length: 70mm

It took me quite a while trying to capture a photograph of this little girl. She keeps running around with the badminton racket. Her family is playing badminton on the field and she swings the racket around, wanting to be part of the game too. She is really cute. Look at her... the racket is almost same height as her!I like this picture cause it shows the innocence of a child. The colour combination of the photograph is soothing. However, I feel the top part of the picture-the grass, is a little too dark. It would be great if the grass is green all the way.

Comments from peers: Jialin mentioned that the girl should be positioned on the right. Oh yah...that's a good point since the girl is facing towards the left side of the picture.

Venue: One of the roads near Sembawang Park
Shutter Speed:1/10 secs Aperture: F22
Lens Focal Length: 50mm

This was a picture taken when I was somewhere near Sembawang park, on my way home from the shooting at the park. This was actually the end of a road. However, the picture was blur. I will definitely improve on the clarity of the shot.



Comments from peers: Jillyn mentioned that the picture has potential. Just need to take a clearer picture.

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Some of the other pictures taken.......

Venue: Sembawang Park
Shutter Speed: 1/25 secs Aperture: F22
Lens Focal length: 70mm

I took this picture secretly- behind the back of this man. After I took this picture, he stood up and walked away. Alright. I was quite mean, right? I affected his quiet little moment alone. He was trying to relax by looking at the sea. A pity about this picture was I could have probably focused on the man and left the backdrop-the sea and leaves slightly blur. I hope the next time I'm there again, I'll find him sitting at the same spot. Well, but I guess probably this would not happen. So, I think the next time round when I'm back again, and want to capture another this sort of image, the person in the picture will not be him anymore- What a pity. Hence, it is always good to capture the moment before the chance is gone!

Comments from peers: Jialin mentioned that the picture's composition was good. She also brought out the point that I could have focused on the man and left the leaves and sea slightly blur.




Venue: Sembawang Park
Shutter Speed: 1/125 secs Aperture:F22
Lens Focal Length: 24mm

The colour of the sky when uploaded looks a little different from the one I had in the photo itself. I like the colour of the sky in the photo itself- orange, greyish, soft feel.

Comments from peers: Mr Reddy mentioned that the picture if enlarged, will be dark due to the leaves which are dark and took up almost half the proportion of the picture. There is also a lack of composition.







Venue: One of the roads near Sembawang Park
Shutter speed: 1/10 secs Aperture: F22 Lens Focal length: 17mm

I wanted to take a portrait of the lamp posts. However, my lens are not long enough and the lamp posts are too tall to be fully captured by the camera.

Venue: One of the houses near Sembawang Park

Shutter speed: 1/160 secs Aperture: F22
Lens focal Length: 70mm

This is not very successful-underexposed.

Venue: One of the houses near Sembawang Park
Shutter Speed: 1/20 secs Aperture: F22
Lens Focal length: 70mm

This is just one of the pictures I took on a casual note.


Self assessment:

I would give myself 75/100. 45 for effort and 30 for creativity. After looking at the production of the pictures, two of them are quite blur and some are underexposed. Probably it's the first time I'm using the camera, so I was still on the experimental stage. Compared to the rest of the classmates' assignments, I felt that I probably lack composition in some of the pictures. There are more areas that I could have explored with my camera. But nevertheless, I received feedback and learnt alot from the tutorial which was good cause it gave me the chance to develop my ides further. I would work on the comments given and try to be more adventurous in the future assignments.

I like Jialin's raddish and green apples. The colour of the photos are really nice and sleek. She really made them look fresh and alive, which was what she wanted to achieve. I like Ivy's durians. It's a unique perspective. It makes me feel like the durians are overwhelming. I especially like Mike's sky photos. The sky looks magnificent, fierce and there is a feeling that you're being drawn into the picture by the sky. Good job in creating a sense of depth. I would give both Ivy and Jialin 85/100 and Mike 99/100. Mike's sky photos really makes me want to look at them again. Wow!

some of the other pictures scanned for assignment one...

This is just another picture that I experimented with the flowers....but they look too heavy on the left side.

I like this picture. I picked the petals from the flower and scattered it on a white paper on the scanner bed. The idea is to portray the vulnerability of living things. Scattering of the petals speaks about the transition of living things from life to death.

I'll name the two pictures above "Life and death" as I feel that scattered petals are able to give the image of the vulnerability of living things. Flowers like all other living organisms are subjected to the changes around them, causing them to be destroyed.

Assignment 1: Photogram or Photogenic Drawing

Most of the early images chemically captured on a flat medium did not use any optical device (camera). They directly placed simple objects on a surface coated with photosensitive chemicals and exposed it to light. In those days these were called “photogenic drawings”.

You’ll make your first photogram using flat bed scanner instead of photosensitive paper. The theory is similar. By placing objects directly on the scanner bed in an interesting composition you can create an image without a camera.

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-Happy?-

The first assignment requires us to explore the use of a scanner to create a photograph without the use of a camera. Sounds tough, right? Gotta brainstorm for ideas! After much consideration, I decided to use flowers to create a piece of photograph- flower prints, which is what I like!

Materials: White and yellow chrysanthemum flowers

Why the use of chrysanthemum flowers? As this is assignment one and the first time I will be presenting my picture to the class, I want to scan a picture that tells more about me. Like any other flowers, chrysanthemum flowers may seem vulnerable. However, they are actually the strongest flowers. The florist told me they could last for a month if I keep it refrigerated. I didn't believe it at first, but the florist proved me wrong. I guess this somehow represents my personality-strong.

The layout: I cut the chrysanthemum flowers and display them randomly on the scanner bed. I tried to make them look natural and not so purposely arranged. The placement of one white chrysanthemum flower at the bottom right hand corner is to add some texture to the photograph and hold the image together. There will be a focal point added to the picture, giving the photograph more dimensions.

Peer evaluation: Mr Reddy says that the photograph looks sweet. One interesting point to note which is mentioned by a student is such that there is an ironic meaning to this photograph. It appears sweet, but there seems to be a sombre feeling to it. There is a tension of sadness and sweet happiness with the image of bright flowers at the same time. I was really enlightened. I always thought that this picture because of its colours, shows happiness. However, upon deeper thinking, I agree that there is a sombre feeling to it- due to chrysanthemum flowers being used to pay respects to the deceased. Thus, I decided to name this photo "Happy?". Cause everyone may have different feelings and emotions when they see this photograph. At times, I feel like I'm like that of the chrysanthemum too. Seems happy, strong and cheerful, but deep in my heart, I know that when I'm sad, I'll not express it. hehe....ok...enough....getting a little emotional!

Self assessment: I'll give myself 45 for effort and 35 for creativity. A total of 80. I like Paul's treble clef. It is elegant, clean and simple. I'll give him 45 for effort and 40 for creativity. A total of 85. I like Jillyn's teacup. Interesting to turn the scanner upside down. I'll give her 45 for effort and 40 for creativity. A total of 85. I like Karen's progression. Abstract looking. I'll give her 45 for effort and 40 for creativity. A total of 85.