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CURATING SELF
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TASK 1 – OBJECT AND REPRESENTATION OF SELF
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Exploring The Brief
Is there an object that is significant to me or fascinates me?
Book
Introductory Story About Books
Books have been one of the most important things to me in life. It has changed my life and is still transforming my life into a better one each day. Books have brought me out of my own depression, it provided me with the wisdom to live life to the fullest, it gave me the knowledge to short cut my learning curve, it gave me the courage to rise above myself every time I fall. The moments I cried, books are always there to navigate out of my sadness. When I succeed, it is all because of what I have learned from books. Books had made me into a stronger person every day, and my life is getting even better each day
Key Deliverables :
- Pick ONE object of my choice based on significance or symbolic value
- Share my story: which is basically the reason why it is significant and symbolic to me, but write it in a story format. Rather than explaining a brunch of reasons individually, craft all your reasons into a whole
- Shoot full figure, mid range and close up shot with myself interacting with emotion, with the object.
- Edit my work down to 3 images that best convey the mood of my story
(If it is an emotional reason to me, shoot it in a way that not only includes the logical reasoning, but also the emotional one)
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TASK 2 – MY WORLD
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Exploring The Brief
Is There A Place That Is Significant To Me Or Fascinates Me?
My Room
Why I Choose My Room?
It represents a part of my identity and my life. It holds many wonderful and unforgettable memories. It is a space where a more exciting life and meaningful stories will be created. It is a space where I do deep work which brings me fulfilment in life. It is a space where I seek comfort to kick back and enjoy life. It is a space where I introspect and reorganise my thoughts whenever I feel overwhelmed by life, then heads out to face my fear and pain with confidence again.
Key Deliverables :
- Chose a place that is significant or fascinating to me and explain the reason why.
- Take a series of photographs to ensure I have investigated various shot making choices to help me capture the sense of space.
- Edit my work down to 3-5 Images that best help convey the world that is significance and fascinating to me.
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IDENTIFYING PROJECT OBJECTIVES TO DETERMINE RESEARCH DIRECTION
Task 1
Objectives:
Shoot full figure, mid range and close up shot of myself interacting with the object with emotion. 3 images that best convey the mood of my story
Research Direction:
How do I capture images of a subject’s emotion when interacting with an object, environment or scenario? How do I shoot images that best convey the mood of my story?
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Task 2
Objectives:
Chose a place and explain why it is significant and fascinating to me. 3-5 images that best help convey the world that is significant and fascinating to me.
Research Direction:
How do I capture photos that best convey the place or subject that is significant and fascinating to me?
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RESEARCH PHASE
Based On Task 1 & 2 Research Direction, The Aim Of The Research Is To Understand And Learn How Professional Photographers :
- Capture images of a subject’s emotion when interacting with an object, environment or scenario
- Shoot images that best convey the mood of a story
- Capture photos that best convey the place or subject that is significant and fascinating to the photographer?
Research Plans
// Research and analyse their work and get into their world, to understand how they convey emotion, mood and significance of an image
// Research on interview, podcast and written article of the photographer – To understand the way they think, do, and their viewpoints about photography, their work, and also how they convey “significance”
(“Significance can also be defined as meaning or meaningful – To put it in a simpler and understandable term”)
Possible Places For Research :
// Photographer personal website
// Websites that has articles and interview related to the photographers I am researching on and their works
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FAN HO
Interview, Podcast & Written Articles On Fan Ho
INTERVIEW FAN HO WITH POST MAGAZINE
How Fan Ho, Hong Kong’s Poet With A Camera, Found His Calling – In His Own Words
Screenshot of the article website
http://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/2098441/how-fan-ho-hong-kongs-poet-camera-found-his
Lesson Learnt :
He chooses his location first, then waits for his subject to fit in for the shot.
“I always had an instinct for light, shadow, lines and form but the second important thing is the subject matter; the character that will create empathy. This was by design, not by accident. As he “walked down and down looking for inspiration” from his home on MacDonnell Road, in Mid-Levels, the first thing that attracted him was not the people in a scene but the environment. Once he had identified the perfect setting, he waited for the subject, sometimes for hours and often in vain.”
Being true to my photo is so important. Often times, I take a shot just because of wanting to get great pictures, as such I rushed through the project and produce shots that was only mediocre, and that it didn’t speak to me as much as I wanted it to be. Being patience and honest to every shot I take so important to delivery pictures that speak to my audience.
“It does not matter if this is an old man or an old dog. I must just wait and wait until there is something that will touch my heart,” he said, tapping his chest before becoming quite serious. “There must be humanity in art. If you feel nothing when you click the shutter, you give the viewer nothing to respond to and you have nothing to convey.”
Use photography to express words and meaning.
I used the lens to write, instead of the pen.
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INTERVIEW FAN HO AT MODERNBOOK GALLERY
Evening With Fan Ho
Lesson Learnt :
That Scene Should Belongs To You, It Is A Part Of You, Its A Story You Want To Express Because It Is Important To You And Significant To You
There is a part of the interview which he states that he was talking about the photo he loves the most “As The Evening Hurries By”. Before he took the shot, he fell in love with the scene, the mood, the person who is pulling the wheel cart by the river side as the evening is getting darker, it felt like there is still a long way to go in his life, and life is so tragic and painful. In addition, this fits the description of a poem he loves. This also makes me remembered some of the pictures I took that I fell in love with. Those photos are moments where I already could see how the shot will look like before I press down the shutter to take the shot, its image should already touch my heart. Lastly, that photo that Fan Ho loves was taken in 1965, more 50 years till the day the interview is conducted, and he still loves it. That shows how much a part of him is in the photo.
(An experiment to try: to know how significant the photo is to you, place it me, place the photo I took on my wall and look at it every day. Some pictures are short lived, some last for decades. The ones that still mean something to you are the ones that hold the most significance)
Your Emotion Will Tell You If What You Are Shooting Is Significant To You
He let his feeling determine what needs to be shot. It should be natural and it should part of his everyday life, rather than something that he felt unknown or distant. He shoots it because it is significant to him. So what he usually is to be conscious of the things around him, slow down look at it from different angles and perspectives, then feel if his emotion speaks to him. If that scene inspires him, he will wait for the right moment to capture the shot that moves in his heart. The only photo that he deliberately shoots is the ‘Approaching Shadows’, where he saw this two triangles on the wall, and he deliberately places a girl to take the picture. That to him is a deliberate and way of shooting, rather than one coming from the heart.
Focus & Be Patience
Negatives last time was expensive, and Fan Ho treasure every shot of it. That is why intense focus and patience is required. By doing so, I will take care of all the details, look carefully and only take the shot with purpose, meaning and significance. One thing about today DSLR is that I become lazy in my shot, as it is always easy to delete and reshoot the photo again. I don’t place much emphasis on taking each shot. As such, it is when I look and shoot carefully with extreme care, and review each shot of my mistake, there is where growth in my photography skill will happen.
His Struggles For His Child, 2017
I got so inspired by Fan Ho interview that I wanted to capture something that means a lot to me, my dad’s struggles. At that point in time, it was already sunset, where the soft light seeps through the window, it was really a beautiful setting to capture a picture of isolation. This time, I didn’t try to shoot nice picture, I want to shoot something that’ meant’ to me and move my heart. I saw the blue violet light that bounces of his face, his messy workplace, the dark room, his documents, his presence. I felt this feeling of sadness and pain as I observe the scene in front of me. It was a beautiful and touching moment, and I want to capture it. I look around at different perspectives to find the best way to convey the pain I felt for my dad’s struggles in his journey of life. I took many shots and finalise at this angle, behind a shelf. Why I did I chose such an angle? Because it is the first scene every time I step into his room, I will always see him through the shelves pillars (shown in the pictures), and he will always be sitting at that table, working. Why does he work so hard for? It is totally for the family survival and livelihood.
It wasn’t the best picture, and it still didn’t fully convey the feeling I had within me in this picture. So I will still work on it in my rest of my photography journey.
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FEELING IT FIRST
Side Note : Before I do any analysis, I want to get a feel of Fan Ho work without being logical and allow my emotion speaks to me as I view his pictures.
Burden, 1958
Internal Dialogue: This picture is truly moving, I can feel sympathy for the subject. His face is fully written about hardship, suffering as if life is weighing him down. However, he is still hanging on, fighting hard for his life. His face shows that he feels extremely fatigue as if his soul is crushed, but there is something that he makes his hang on to what he does and tide through his struggles, maybe his family survival, his survival, or probably that he is in debt?
Out To Sea, 1957
Internal Dialogue: I like the way how he frames his shot and the mist in the surrounding. It doesn’t necessary communicate any kind of significance or meaning to me, however, I like the composition and the aesthetic of it.
Renting to Read 1961
Internal Dialogue: This really speaks about people who are poor in the past and how education is important to some of them. I like photos like this because it really speaks of the lifestyle and quality of life of the poor. This also shows the hardship, and how the poor strive to get free education.
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ANALYSIS OF FAN HO WORKS
Back To Mother, 1955, Fan Ho
He Shoot His Photo In An Extremely Clear And Concise Manner
I have researched various photographers such as Sally Mann, Fan Ho, Cornell Capa and Nobuyoshi Araki on how to convey messages through photographs. However, the one that communicates messages clearest through photography the most is Fan Ho. Just by looking at the above picture without reading the title of this piece of work, I can somewhat interpret what the photographs are about. After reading the description, it further reinforces my assumption about the picture. How does he do it? In his interview, he says he already identified the significance or message he wants to portray in his picture by observing the surrounding and feeling it in his heart. Afterward, he waits for the right moment where the subject to enter the location, then he captures the scene.
Semiotics
In Fan Ho interview, I didn’t hear him mention directly about semiotics itself, but he explains that he has this strong instinct for recognising objects that enhance the meaning of his photos, which those things are of course semiotics itself. As I observe in his photo, the surrounding, space, location, people and objects he includes in his photos bring out very meaningful messages.
Playing With Shadows
Lonely Stroll, 1958, Fan Ho
The play of shadows is an important factor in his work, he uses shadow to bring in depth, emotions and even thoughts in the picture. Analysing the above picture ‘Lonely Stroll’, gives me a direct feeling of isolation and loneliness. The facial features were also covered using shadow, which further enhances the emotion (isolation and loneliness) existed in the photo. Secondly, the type of shadow he uses which are hard and long shadows, instead of soft ones, adds emphasis to the depth and emotion of the surrounding and his composition.
Space, Composition, Proportion
He uses a lot of space around the subject in ‘Lonely Stroll’, especially the front, so to make the subject small and helpless. It is a clever use of space, proportion and composition. Ask key question like, how much space is given to the subject? How small does the subject have to be in relation to the location? By considering these factors, it conveys a deeper meaning and message photographer wants to communicate.
Usage Of Background
As I analyse in many of Fan Ho works, he also cleverly uses background to convey the time, situation, location, era, depth, emotion and thoughts of the photo taken. Such as the photo shown below ‘Hong Kong Slum, 1962’, it shows old buildings, which allow me to roughly tell which the era the photo is taken. The construction of the building also reveal clues on the country that such construction existed. By using background as additional semiotics appropriately, it can communicate Depth, Space, Time, Location, Emotion and Thoughts. As such, it can bring out even more significance in the photos itself
Hong Kong Slum, 1962, Fan Ho
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MORE OF HIS WORK FOR REFERENCES
Waterfront, 1965, Fan Ho
Approaching Shadow 1954, Fan Ho
Shadow Prayers, 1967, Fan Ho
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SALLY MANN
Interview, Podcast & Written Articles On Sally Mann
INTERVIEW ON CBS THIS MORNING
Video Titled ” Photographer Sally Mann Shares Life Behind Iconic Images”
Screen Shot Of The Interview
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPBfqE9sCs
Lesson Learnt :
She sees the things around her in black and white. She also blocks things out, isolates and frame things though her eyes, so to see how the shot will be like before taking one. Do your work, find your place, and leave your mark
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INTERVIEW ON FRESH AIR
Making Art Out Of Bodies: Sally Mann Reflects On Life And Photograph
Making Art Out Of Bodies: Sally Mann Reflects On Life And Photography
http://www.npr.org/2015/05/12/405937803/making-art-out-of-bodies-sally-mann-reflects-on-life-and-photography
Lesson Learnt :
Insight: Photography is about capturing the second of that moment, it’s fleeting and it does not represent everything as life is too complex. It’s more of an art than trying to capture or to record anything.
Sally Mann: “One of the interesting things is to go back and look at the contact sheets and you look at picture after picture after picture of the same scene. And you’ll see in one picture, [the children] look mean; and in another one, they’re giggling; and in another, one of them is punching the other and they’re laughing. They’re just doing regular kid things. You just always have to remember that picture … that’s a 30th of a second and to either side of that picture are half a dozen other images that are completely different and warm and friendly and sweet.”
Insight: Experiment on what fascinates and inspire you. It is key to experiment and explore on taking photos different whenever I feel inspired to. It allows me to experience photography and capturing photos differently.
Sally Mann: “There was something matter-of-fact about the way those bodies were laid out and how they were treated. I mean, they were a scientific experiment and very quickly I grew to see them that way, in the same way, that the graduate students were working with them. So that was one of the shocking things. … The smell is just unbelievable but I had to sort of pull myself together and figure out a way to handle things I had never seen before and never anticipated ever seeing — these bodies in various stages of decomposition.”
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AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH SALLY MANN WITH ASX
The Touch Of And Angel (2010)
An exclusive interview with Sally Mann – The Touch Of An Angel (2010)
http://www.americansuburbx.com/2013/01/interview-sally-Mann-the-touch-of-an-angel-2010.html
Lesson Learnt :
Insight: She takes photos that are based on emotion more than logic, like a factual documentary. This is why her works sometimes don’t convey a very clear message, yet it can evoke a mixture of emotions within me.
Sally Mann: “Some of my pictures are poem-like in the sense that they are very condensed, haiku-like. There are others that, if they were poetry, would be more like Ezra Pound. There is a lot of information in most of my pictures, but not the kind of information you see in documentary photography. There is emotional information in my photographs.”
Insight: The best kind of subject is to shot when they are in their most natural state, not when the deliberately pose for it. A shot of a genuine smile is always more real than shooting a fake smile.
Sally Mann: I photographed my children almost every day. I wanted them to look natural and not posed. By contrast, the pictures in At Twelve were always very carefully posed. Why? Because I don’t live with those children. I had to make an appointment with them to go to their homes and photograph them. So they were all posed. My kids were so complicit and tuned in to how photography works. They were basically actors and were willing to work with this lengthy time frame. They were so relaxed and comfortable in front of the camera. Like the image of Virginia leaning back on Larry’s lap.
Insight: A good story book captures the reader attention and stimulates the reader to create wild imagination of the storyline in his mind. Don’t just take any pictures, take pictures that have deep meaning and a story to it that can hook and engages the audience.
Sally Mann: I wanted to tell a story with a hook that catches you and holds you. You could take a flat picture as opposed to a slanted picture, but then it would just be a fact, like “here is a child wearing an Easter dress”. But you have to make the image interesting—complex and peculiar. For example, the dog running in the Easter picture: is that a dangerous dog or a wolf? Why is it running? And why does that man gesture that way? I want my pictures to make people think and question, even if it upsets them.
Insight: Always be curious in the way I normally take photo. Ask questions on the possibility and the things I might want to explore and reflect on it. If I feel sort of feel inspired, take action and explore that inspiration I have, and see where it leads me.
Sally Mann: I wanted to explore the region’s mystery and complexity. The South has its own unique issues: Why did we behave the way we did in the Civil War? Why did the South depend so heavily on slavery? Why do we have the racial attitudes that we do? Why the sense of honour? Why the warrior spirit? Because many of the family pictures I took used Southern landscapes as the backdrop, it was a very easy shift for me to focus on photographing the South itself. I spent six years on exploring that topic. Deep South is one of my favourite bodies of work.
Insight: Different equipment or camera creates different types of shot and evokes different effect as well.
Sally Mann: There is no coating on the lens of my old camera, which permits a much softer and more luminous light. I am less interested in the facts of a picture than in the feelings. The facts don’t have to be absolutely sharp. I can get information across by appealing to viewer’s emotions.
Insight: I can also choose to take photo that allows me to express my intent to challenge the way people think. Photography doesn’t necessary have to always communicate facts or stories, it can also educate.
Sally Mann: I thought it was an important part of the project to actually confront human death. I am curious about why people are bothered by a simple fact of nature. I like to make people a little uncomfortable. It encourages them to examine who they are and why they think the way they do.
Insight: Taking photo that I am inspired about can come from anywhere. If I am feeling tired, I can try to portray self-portrait of tiredness that speaks of a different part of me
Sally Mann: “So what I did was to have my camera set up in my studio and I just took these self-portraits. I looked like a million-year-old woman. Those images are all about ageing, vulnerability, and death.So what I did was to have my camera set up in my studio and I just took these self-portraits. I looked like a million-year-old woman. Those images are all about ageing, vulnerability, and death.”
Insight: More does not mean better, it’s more about the quality of content than the quantity of it.
Sally Mann: “I don’t have to make my extra. Look at Bernard who made paintings of a woman in the bathtub. Dégas painted an everyday, simple scene of a man looking at a woman in a room and it is super-charged with a variety of emotions and feelings. So, I happen to think that’s true. Images don’t have to be big and heroic to pack a punch”
Insight: Breaking outside my comfort zone in photography brings new perspectives and interpretation of a photo.
Sally Mann: There is a great quote from a female writer. She said, “If you don’t break out in a sweat of fear when you write, you are not writing well enough.” I tend to agree. I think my best pictures come when I push myself and tell myself, “That’s not good enough. I could do better”. Working with Larry, there were times when I knew I was close to a picture, but it was not quite there. So I said, “Let’s just work a little more”. I was out of my comfort zone and started to have anxiety about these pictures. I would wonder if maybe some pictures were too risky or too revealing, that maybe this picture makes Larry look bad. There is one in which he is curled up in a fetal position and looks so helpless. I saw that scene and said to myself, “Do I dare take a picture like that?” I was sweating, but I did. You have to be overcome your fear of the picture and take it.
Insight: Take pictures that inspire me. It’s not a job or requirement in taking photos. Let it lead me to getting inspired as I discover the world around myself.
Sally Mann: A lot of writers don’t know how their books will end until they get there. They start writing to find out what will happen to their characters. I start to take a picture because something interests me visually. Then I build on it and the context that surrounds it. So my projects find me.
Insight: To make art more special, different, unique, express things differently, experiment, expression.
Sally Mann: To express their intellectual curiosity. Just like Emily Dickinson said, to reinterpret the obvious world in the way that enlightens it and enriches it. As artists, we have the obligation to do so, because we have the gift to see things differently from other people. If the world we present to the viewers can challenge them, provoke them, and even change their situation, so much the better. And if it is beautiful at the same time, that’s icing on the cake. That’s my own mandate: to make beautiful art that also is about something. I want to make the ordinary resonate for my viewers in a universal way.
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FEELING IT FIRST
Side note: First off, I didn’t immediately analyse and break down Sally Mann photos/art. Instead, I let myself feel the photos and fill me with emotions, and gaining inspiration from it, This allows me to subconsciously understand what significance/meaning is all about. A photograph that speaks to you.
Sally Mann Family Pictures 15
My Internal Dialogue: There are so many things this photo is telling me, it is like the girl is trying to tell me so many things emotionally, but I couldn’t quite get it. I can feel the various emotion that stirs within me. There is a lot of suspense that this photo has created, as it didn’t tell me where it begins and its ending, I sort off being place at a random part of a story and have to figure out with all the clues provided in the picture.
Wall Drip With Plug, 2012
My Internal Dialogue: I can only feel, I can’t get a specific answer out of this. The Wall Drip With Plug, what is it Sally Mann is trying to tell me? The artist finished his work? Is it a deliberate marking? Whats with the plug and filter got to do in the picture. I can feel a sense of abandonment and loneliness, as people have left this place a long time ago.
Remembered light: Untitled Solitary Print On Wall
My Internal Dialogue: Solitude? Alone? It seems like Sally Mann wants to convey loneliness, an isolated world. It used to hold memories that matter to the person looking at the wall and picture, but that is the past already, and the subject is all alone in that world again, reminiscing the past.
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ANALYSIS OF PHOTOS
Filters Brings Out The Emotional Undertone Of The Photo
The filter creates a bias and emphasis on certain type of emotions. A black and white normally portray negative and neutral emotion more than the positive ones, depending on its gradient. This gradient of highly contrasting black and white photo in the photo shown above excludes out emotion such as excitement, happiness, hopeful, etc, but it conveys more of sadness, isolation, helpless, pain, suffering, etc. To convey my message better, use an appropriate filter enhance the emotions in the photo.
Unique Vantage Point To Create More Interesting Photo
The vantage points of her photos are extremely unique. In terms of vantage point, based on the photo above, her shot is upfront or she might be standing on top of the subject who is lying down. This itself is a unique way of shooting an object or subject differently already. Rather than taking a full body shot with my subject facing directly in front of me, I can always choose to shoot sideways, slanted, top down, down top, flat, and in any angle so long it shows the full body. She had also mentioned the way she avoids shooting her subject ‘flat’ in the interview. As such, to create interesting photo, I should be challenging the norm as well as divert out from how I normally shoot, while at the same time conveying the message I want to bring across
Capture Subtle and Uncommon Gesture To Convey The Same Message
She captures her subject through noticing the subtle gesture to bring about interesting and engaging photos that engage the audience. This is the same lesson I have learned in class about semiotics, that it is not so much about the obvious things that bring out the message, but rather the less obvious ones that set the tone and vibe of the photo. For example for the photo above, Sally Mann capture the shoot of the man above who is lying down, from his lower stomach up till his neck, with his hands fully wide open. His body language indicating that man is feeling really tired. Rather than shooting a person who is yawning, or a tired facial expression, like how everyone shoots, instead explore shots on how the subject is resting. In addition, a body which is lying down in a curl up position or lying down flat portray different emotions, feelings and shows different intensity of tiredness. Look to explore and capture those posture and gesture that brings out my message the most instead. As such, it is important to prevent myself from shooting the obvious and common ways to convey my message in my photos, but rather find the less obvious, the subtle motion, gesture, the small habits that I know subconscious, but have consciously overlooked in my daily life, then capture it to portray the same message, in my photos.
Creating Suspense
Her photos don’t show the complete picture of the story. It hooks people in and leaves you stranded to guess whats the following story. In the photo above, the photo hooks me in that the subject looks tired, then she crops out his hand and surrounding, and use a dark shadow to cover the expression of the face, which I have no idea if the subject is sleeping or staring somewhere else(this cuts out vital information of the story in the message), and I am left guessing what else I can depict off from the picture. It is like trying to guess a person emotion by only covering the top or bottom half of its face and leaving the other half for the audience to interpret. I would consider it as an art of creating suspense in a story of photo. Based on the picture above, By doing so it this leaving the audience wanting to know more about the story, and also contributes to a more interesting composition in my shots.
Being Experimental And Pushing the Boundaries
Experimentation is key. Her photos are truly unique, and this comes from trying out many different kinds of shot and sees what works, then refine it.
(All of the above insights that I have discovered complements what she said in the interview research that is presented above. As such this serve as a reference example of her mindset or approach towards photography and provides a better understanding of creating better shot. )
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MORE OF SALLY MANN PHOTOS AS REFERENCES
Sally Mann Proud Flesh 08
Sally Mann Proud Flesh 10
Sally Mann Proud Flesh 01
Sally Mann Faces 03
Sally Mann Family Pictures 02
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CITATION
Interviews
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfPBfqE9sCs
http://www.npr.org/2015/05/12/405937803/making-art-out-of-bodies-sally-mann-reflects-on-life-and-photography
http://www.americansuburbx.com/2013/01/interview-sally-Mann-the-touch-of-an-angel-2010.html
Photos
Family Pictures
Faces
Proud Flesh
https://www.artsy.net/artwork/sally-mann-remembered-light-untitled-wall-drip-with-plug
https://www.artsy.net/artwork/sally-mann-remembered-light-untitled-solitary-print-on-wall
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IDEATION
Task 1: Object Of Self
Crafting My Written Content – Why is book significant to me?
Write down
the main pointers that allow me to expand on it afterwards.
- Allow me to achieve the things I wanted out of life
- Accompanied me on the journey of self-development
- Compulsory Mind Food for my everyday life and habit in life
I have crafted several pieces of the essay online, unfortunately, I didn’t save it and place a screenshot of my process here. I also did 10 or more edit on the current essay that I have chosen to best bring out the story I want my audience to know.
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Finalise Story
Books have been one of the main reason that allows me to achieve the things I set out to do. By providing me with the fountain of knowledge, it points me in the right direction to tide through the obstacles and problems presented in the journey, be it a physical problem, or an emotional problem. Through self-education, knowledge allows me to improve on the things that I desire to achieve, such as learning a new skill, ways to establish good communication with people, overcoming negative beliefs, getting out of depression, how to get fit, etc. It propels me forward in life by incorporating values of hard work, discipline, focus, as well as maximising my time by cutting back insignificant activities and work on what matters instead, to create the results I want.
My journey in self-development where obsessive self-education and striving to maximise my productivity becomes a key part of this journey, as well as it became my identity. Knowledge plays a big part in my work and my passion, that by having knowledge inspire me to think of creative ideas to constantly improve and expand my knowledge on what I desire to achieve. Pushing myself to my limits and trying to maximise my productivity each day is a norm. I believe that life is short, therefore it is important to work on things that matter to me, which in this case is my passion. Seeing myself grows emotionally through real life experiences, and intellectually through the knowledge that I gained from books, gives me the most fulfilment in life. However, while I constantly push myself to my limits, such as depriving myself of sleep just to go the extra mile to get more things done than what is required, causes me to suffer from many burnouts, that eventually leads me to get high fever, cold, flu and some other health and mental problems. Overall, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone fuel my happiness tremendously despite all the pain and struggle.
Next, books itself becomes a compulsory mind food that I thrive off every day for my overall happiness and personal growth. However, I do not just read any books, I read books that are related to my career, dreams and life. In addition, being a productive junkie, I also do not tolerate myself idling or wasting too much time on unimportant activities. As such, I seek to maximise my learning in my everyday routine, that includes reading or learning something while waiting for transport, friends, or when taking a transport. Whenever there is extra time to improve my knowledge and skill, I will actively channel my effort and energy, towards doing things that bring positive improvements in my life.
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Crafting My Shot To Convey The Mood Of The Story
Requirements For The Shots
- Full figure, Mid figure and Close Up Shot
- Aim to capture my feelings when interacting with the object
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Images that best convey the mood, significance and the meaning of your story.
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Referencing some thoughts based on researching Fan Ho’s Mindset
Being true to my photo is so important. Often times, I take a shot just because of wanting to get great pictures, as such I rushed through the project and produce shots that was only mediocre, and that it didn’t speak to me as much as I wanted it to be. Being patience and honest to every shot I take so important to delivery pictures that speak to my audience.
Use photography to express words and meaning.
Your Emotion Will Tell You If What You Are Shooting Is Significant To You
Referencing some thoughts based on analysing Fan Ho’s Photo
Clarity and message that speak directly to the audience – Visual Metaphor
Semiotics to enhance the significance and meaning of the picture
Shadows to bring out more tone, emotion, depth, etc
Space, composition, proportion
Usage of background
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Referencing some thoughts based on researching Sally Mann Mindset
Always be curious in the way I normally take photo. Ask questions on the possibility and the things I might want to explore and reflect on it. If I feel sort of feel inspired, take action and explore that inspiration I have, and see where it leads me.
Take pictures that inspire me. It’s not a job or requirement in taking photos. Let it lead me to get inspired as I discover the world around myself.
Experiment on what fascinates and inspire you. It is key to experiment and explore on taking photos different whenever I feel inspired to. It allows me to experience photography and capturing photos differently.
Referencing some thoughts based on analysing Sally Mann’s Photo
Filters Brings Out The Emotional Undertone Of The Photo
Unique Vantage Point To Create More Interesting Photo
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Initiating My First Shoot
First, I thought of shooting something that is real to me, something that inspires me and is truthful to my own life, just as what Fan Ho inspire towards when he snaps a photo. Fan Ho says whenever he click his shutter, he can feel his shot. As such, I believe that the key to taking photos that touch the heart are photos that can speak to me and as well as my audience. Till today 90% of my photography in my journey has been shot for the sake of aesthetics, and it doesn’t make me feel or communicate anything to me, I do it just for the Instagram likes. As such, hearing his inspiring talk, I felt that photography has to be more than that. I have to make it my own, something that I feel deeply towards, and something that ‘meant’ and is significant to me.
As such some few inspiring moments for my photos pops into my mind. First is maximising my productivity, where I usually force myself to not waste time and read things to improve myself all the time. Examples such as reading while waiting for a friend, family member, lesson, appointment, taking pubic transport, and even walking! As long as there is a pocket of time where I have nothing to do, I will pop my book up. Why I find it memorable? As it comes from a place of self-discipline and perseverance. To me, pushing myself to maximise my productivity holds a contradictory feeling where, on one hand, I don’t enjoy constantly reading and not leaving space in my life to enjoy what I want (due to laziness and wanting to not put any effort). On the other hand, for the sake of what I want to achieve in life, as well as that I find joy in pushing myself and live life at the edge, I find deep fulfilment of living life that manner as well. As such, it is a memorable experience in living life that way, which I find it inspiring to have it being capture and photograph the exact scenario that speaks to my own heart.
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1st Day Of Shoot
So I went down to Bugis to do my first shoot. Why bugis? As my dad wanted to go to Sim Lim to get some hardware, and I also thought that place is pretty crowded, which is a place perfect for shooting me reading while waiting for my friend or walking.
Why do I want to shoot in a crowded area? I thought in terms of using situations as semiotics to enhance my message that I want to bring across, where I the audience can contrast my behaviour with the mass huge majority of people when they are free, as that could bring out the meaning and significance of my obsessive behaviour in trying to maximise my productivity.
Most people when they are free tend to not read a book (it is not a judgemental statement, I just choose to be productive). Especially youth, they might surf social media, listen to music and stare into the space, or even just looking at random stuff on their phone all day long when they have nothing to do. While in comparison with my behaviour, I am reading a book and trying to improve my own knowledge. I will read anywhere as long as I am free. With this kind of two contrasting behaviours on the street, this can bring out the message of me being obsessively maximising my productivity, as stated in my story.
Below are all the shots I explore on the first day.
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Chosen Photo For The First Trial Shoot (Subject To Changes In My Upcoming Shoot, No Filter Added Yet)
Thoughts Process On This Chosen Photo
I consider this photo as it aligns with my written story on how a book is significance to my life, and how this photos speaks of it significance and also convey the mood of my story :
Storyline: “Next, books itself becomes a compulsory mind food that I thrive off every day for my overall happiness and personal growth. However, I do not just read any books, I read books that are related to my career, dreams and life. In addition, being a productive junkie, I also do not tolerate myself idling or wasting too much time on unimportant activities. As such, I seek to maximise my learning in my everyday routine, that includes reading or learning something while waiting for transport, friends, or when taking a transport. Whenever there is extra time to improve my knowledge and skill, I will actively channel my effort and energy, towards doing things that bring positive improvements in my life.”
First off, this photo speaks to my of what I truly do in my real life, which is significant and memorable to me, even that I still do it time to time. I take this photo as it ‘meant’ something to me and also it touches my heart, even though it might not be the most aesthetically pleasing photo yet. As I believe what Fan Ho says is right, is that photography should be expressive, not impressive.
It also aligns with my story that I have written, and shows how books are significant to the subject, as a “compulsory mind food in this journey of self-development”
Next, in terms of semiotics, the people at the background of the photo does exactly what I predict, in which they will be enjoying their time in life with their family or friends (not a judgemental statement again, it is just the way I choose to live and what brings me fulfillment in life!), while I am pushing myself out of my comfort zone to do the things that are needed to be done in life, which is reading in this case.
Thirdly, the composition of subject right being at the centre of the image brings the most focus to the subject, other than the rule of third. The space around me in the picture give the audience space to interpret the people around me and the situation, in comparison to my behavior, which it further enhance the action of the subject, which is being focused in being productive (as mentioned in the story), and how book is a significant part of his life.
Lastly, I thought that there is still space to further bring out the meaning of maximising productivity, is by if there are more people in the background who goes about their day relaxing in life, it can even further bring out the significance and meaning of what I want to convey in the picture.
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2nd Day Of Shoot
For the second shoot, I am inspired to shoot at home, the place where I usually burn midnight oil, and sometimes for two days straight. It is another inspiring moment that I want to capture and show it to my audience.
For this 2nd trial shot, I also placed more emphasis on semiotics to enhance the image that I initially want to portray. Since that is what I have learned in 4D lesson, might as well put it to use right?
So I thought of the possible items of semiotics for burning midnight oil photo. For my usual days where I am studying till the wee hours, I will have a coffee mug, multiple books, notebooks, full scrap paper, pen, a switched on iMac in front of me, etc. One thing I realised is that I should have done more research on studying and workplace semiotics before taking a photo like this, but for this round of trial, I referenced it from my real life experience instead
(Will update my natural workspace semiotics pictures for process purposes)
Below are all the shots I explore on the second shoot.
Chosen Photo For The 2nd Trial Shoot (Subject To Changes In My Upcoming Shoot, No Filter Added Yet)
Thoughts Process On This Chosen Photo
Based on storyline, this photo aligns with my storyline and it conveys the emotion and mood as well.
Storyline: “My journey in self-development where obsessive self-education and striving to maximise my productivity becomes a key part of this journey, as well as it became my identity. Knowledge plays a big part in my work and my passion, that by having knowledge inspire me to think of creative ideas to constantly improve and expand my knowledge on what I desire to achieve. Pushing myself to my limits and trying to maximise my productivity each day is a norm. I believe that life is short, therefore it is important to work on things that matter to me, which in this case is my passion. Seeing myself grows emotionally through real life experiences, and intellectually through the knowledge that I gained from books, gives me the most fulfilment in life. However, while I constantly push myself to my limits, such as depriving myself of sleep just to go the extra mile to get more things done than what is required, causes me to suffer from many burnouts, that eventually leads me to get high fever, cold, flu and some other health and mental problems. Overall, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone fuel my happiness tremendously despite all the pain and struggle.”
How does this image best convey the mood of your story?
Amongst all the photo, I choose this photo as compared to the rest of the shot because of its vantage point, as it brings out the essence of the semiotics, the environment, and my body language for the storyline. The semiotics and layout are the same for all the shot this time around, I vary the vantage point and, it shows a complete picture of what is going on in the environment and the subject itself.
However, I have to consult Ms Ruyi, and apparently, there is some problem with the body language, in which I look very stress as if I am trying to rush for my exams, rather than I am working on myself. So I am looking to explore more vantage points and the way I pose with my body language, with the same surrounding. Why with the same body language? Because I felt that there is a lot of potential in the location itself.
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3rd Day Of Shoot
For the 3rd shoot, I felt that there is still potential in capturing a better shot at the same location because it represents what I do and I love the ambient as well. As such I wanted to explore further with even more different vantage point as well as my body language as well.
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Chosen Photo For The 3rd Trial Shoot (Subject To Changes In My Upcoming Shoot, No Filter Added Yet)
Thoughts Process On These Chosen Photo
Based on storyline, this photo aligns with my storyline and it conveys the emotion and mood as well.
Storyline: “My journey in self-development where obsessive self-education and striving to maximise my productivity becomes a key part of this journey, as well as it became my identity. Knowledge plays a big part in my work and my passion, that by having knowledge inspire me to think of creative ideas to constantly improve and expand my knowledge on what I desire to achieve. Pushing myself to my limits and trying to maximise my productivity each day is a norm. I believe that life is short, therefore it is important to work on things that matter to me, which in this case is my passion. Seeing myself grows emotionally through real life experiences, and intellectually through the knowledge that I gained from books, gives me the most fulfilment in life. However, while I constantly push myself to my limits, such as depriving myself of sleep just to go the extra mile to get more things done than what is required, causes me to suffer from many burnouts, that eventually leads me to get high fever, cold, flu and some other health and mental problems. Overall, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone fuel my happiness tremendously despite all the pain and struggle.”
How does this image best convey the significance an the mood of my story?
So the mid range shot is basically an improved version of the rejected photo during the critique. I change the body language, included more semiotics into the shot.
Why I choose this mid range shot? Basically, amongst all the rest of the shot, this shot is the most aesthetically pleasing. Since the set up of the semiotics, layout and environment is the same, the difference is in using the vantage point.
As for the close-up shot, I cropped one of the mid range shot to only show my facial expression, which is also my emotion when interacting towards the subject. I felt this picture shows a lot of intent and also focus on what the subject is studying, as compared to the rest of the shots that I have, this shot conveys the mood for the story itself.
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4th Day Of Shoot
For this shot, I explore more my shoot at a different location. This time I feel inspired for a totally different shot, in which I wanted to capture a shot when I fell asleep while studying, and also referencing from a book for information while working on a project with another person at the same time.
Apparently, I didn’t select any photos from this shoot due to the bad lighting.
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Editing The Shots
Mid Range Shot
Why do I make it black and white?
Based on storyline, this choose this photo as it is the best picture that represent a paragraph of my storyline.
Storyline ” My journey in self-development where obsessive self-education and striving to maximise my productivity becomes a key part of this journey, as well as it became my identity. Knowledge plays a big part in my work and my passion, that by having knowledge inspire me to think of creative ideas to constantly improve and expand my knowledge on what I desire to achieve. Pushing myself to my limits and trying to maximise my productivity each day is a norm. I believe that life is short, therefore it is important to work on things that matter to me, which in this case is my passion. Seeing myself grows emotionally through real life experiences, and intellectually through the knowledge that I gained from books, gives me the most fulfilment in life. However, while I constantly push myself to my limits, such as depriving myself of sleep just to go the extra mile to get more things done than what is required, causes me to suffer from many burnouts, that eventually leads me to get high fever, cold, flu and some other health and mental problems. Overall, pushing myself outside of my comfort zone fuel my happiness tremendously despite all the pain and struggle.
How does this filter convey significance and the mood for my written story?
For my mid range shot, black and white brings out a sense of loneliness, isolation and solitude, as it ’empty out’ the surrounding with darkness, and make it seem like the subject is the only person that lives in that world in the photo. Therefore, the black and white filter convey a more emotional undertone.
A black and white photo reference to my written story better, as the subject in the story is written that he is still working hard towards achieving what he wants out of life while he is also struggling at the same time. Therefore, I thought of placing a black and white filter to enhance the meaning the negative mood of my story.
In addition, I have reference the black and white filter from what I have learned in 4D lesson on ‘flat’ colours vs ‘chiaroscuro’ colours, where one brings out a more neutral mood, while the other brings out a more dramatic or intense mood. Next, based on my research on Sally Mann photos, her photos that are black and white, it brings out a sad and emotional feeling even though her subject might shows a neutral expression or body language. Therefore using a black and white filter only to portray a negative and sad emotion will enhance the depth, and the emotions even further in my photo.
Burden, 1958
Subsequently, in researching Fan Ho photos, ‘Burden, 1958’, where the subject is clearly showing that he feels extremely fatigue, tired and sick, the black and white filter makes his emotions more dramatic, as compared to the same photo with flat colours.
Close Up Shot
Why do I make it black and white?
Storyline for the close up shot : Books have been one of the main reason that allows me to achieve the things I set out to do. It brought me out of my own depression, my failures and my struggles in life. By providing me with a fountain of knowledge, it points me in the right direction to tide through the obstacles and problems presented in my journey, be it a physical problem, or an emotional problem. Through self-education, knowledge have allows me to improve on the things that I desire to achieve, such as learning a new skill, ways to establish good communication with people, overcoming negative beliefs, getting out of depression, how to get fit, etc. It propels me forward in life by incorporating values of hard work, discipline, focus, as well as maximising my time by cutting back insignificant activities and work on what matters instead, to create the results I want.
I did the same black and white filter for my close up shot as well. The reason being is that I placed this photo to represent another emotional part of my story, therefore using black and white filter best convey the mood of the story.
Fully Body Shot
Why do I make the colour more saturated?
Storyline: Lastly, books itself becomes a compulsory mind food that I thrive off every day for my overall happiness and personal growth. It had made my life better, as well as a happier person in general! However, I do not just read any books, I read books that are related to my career, dreams and life. Being a productive junkie, I also do not tolerate myself idling or waste too much time on unimportant activities. As such, I seek to maximise my learning in my everyday routine, that includes reading or learning something that I am passionate about while waiting for transport, friends, taking a transport, and even walking towards my destination. Whenever there is extra time to improve my knowledge and skill, I will actively channel my effort and energy, towards doing things that bring positive improvements in my life.
How does this filter convey significance and the mood for your written story?
For my full body shot, I did the opposite to the colour of my photo, instead I added more saturation to this picture to make it more lively. The reason being is that I this photo is explaining about the happier moments in the written story. As such. to reflect that emotion, I felt that the colours have to pop out and gives a more positive emotion.
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IDEATION
Task 2: My World
Crafting My Written Content – Why is my room significant to me?
Write down
the main pointers that allow me to expand on it afterwards.
- A place where my dreams and future build.
- A place where I heal from negativity in life
- I do deep work within my room that brings me true fulfilment in life
- A place where many things is provided to me to make my learning effective
Before coming to the finalise story, I have written a few more version before this. Unfortunately I didn’t save it to present it on OSS as documentation
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Finalise Story
My room has accompanied me on the roller coaster ride in life, where there are many ups and downs. It served many different aspects to my needs in life that I have forged a strong sense of belonging at. I often called it as my sanctuary.
My sanctuary holds all kind of memories in my life. It is a part of me and my life.
My sanctuary is a place where my dreams and future build. I spend many nights in this room clocking in only 4 hours of sleep, sometimes not sleeping for 48 hours, as I spend my time grinding it out to work on my passion, honing my skill, trading, building my freelance business, and self-development. Not getting enough sleep is a norm to my lifestyle, but I truly enjoyed it from the bottom of my heart. At midnight, the traffic outside the window subsidies to emptiness, when everyone had already tuned into their dreams, sleeping soundly, everything will gradually quieten down as the night proceeds. At that moment, I can feel the space of my room distinctly, as if its presence subtly surround me, while a sense of blissfulness and gratitude fills me, I truly feel grateful to have a room for myself. As the night follows, I bury myself into a world of knowledge once again.
Next, my sanctuary is a place where I longed to heal, during moments where my life crashed into a wall of disappointment, where I face tremendous setbacks, and fear, pain and doubts began to overwhelm me. I might begin to form all sorts of negative and limiting belief within me. At those moments, I will always return to my sanctuary with the hopes to heal myself.
As soon as I stepped into my room, the pieces of emotional pain will slowly begin to diminish into the thin air. What happened? I would begin to reflect, pen down my thoughts, introspect and lock myself in my room as I spend my time in solitude. I would either go to the window and gaze out into the distance, take a deep breathe and think about my problems then proceed to form a solution afterwards. Or, I would just walk to my favourite workplace to surf the internet for life perspectives from some of my favourite self-development speaker. Each time after recovering from my low mood, I truly appreciate how much I needed a place of solitary, to be away from all the chaos in the world.
Next, my sanctuary is also a spot where I do deep work that brings me true fulfilment in life. I love what I do and I drive myself hard towards working on my passion. I try to not see the outcome as the reward, but the continuous learning journey that I able to learn new things, that makes my life so exciting. Not forgetting that my room has always been the place that provided me with all the comfort and facilities to facilitate my learning effectively.
Subsequently, there are other facilities that are place in my room such as my notice-board and goal planning board, where I used it to plan my upcoming week on the things that I need to do in order to maximise my productivity, to take note of the things I missed, to notify myself of my future plans in my life on where I wanna be, what I am gonna do, and other miscellaneous stuff as well. At the top right of my room, there holds a bookshelf, where my fountain of knowledge is. As you might have guessed it, it is a place where I gain wisdom from, most of the time, including my life experience as well. Books have made me developed me into a better person, brought me out from the lowest point in life, taught me skills that I wouldn’t be able to learn outside, it had changed my life.
At last, my sanctuary had been one of the most important pillars of my life to bring me through the battles and obstacles I face in life. It gave me the space to do anything I want, to build my life on it, to think creatively, to recuperate myself, etc. As I go about my everyday life, my sanctuary has naturally blend into my daily lifestyle, and it became part of me. It is almost as if it holds a deeper meaning than just a mere room itself. It felt like my identity existed within this very space itself.
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Crafting My Shot To Convey The Mood Of The Story
Requirements For The Shots
- Take a series of photographs and ensure that I investigate various shot making choices to help me capture the sense of place
- 3-5 Images that best help convey the world that is significant or fascinates you
Referencing some thoughts based on researching Fan Ho’s Mindset
That Scene Should Belongs To You, It Is A Part Of You, Its A Story You Want To Express Because It Is Important To You And Significant To You
Being true to my photo is so important. Often times, I take a shot just because of wanting to get great pictures, as such I rushed through the project and produce shots that was only mediocre, and that it didn’t speak to me as much as I wanted it to be. Being patience and honest to every shot I take so important to delivery pictures that speak to my audience.
Use photography to express words and meaning.
Your Emotion Will Tell You If What You Are Shooting Is Significant To You
Referencing some thoughts based on analysing Fan Ho’s Photo
Clarity and message that speak directly to the audience – Visual Metaphor
Semiotics to enhance the significance and meaning of the picture
Shadows to bring out more tone, emotion, depth, etc
Space, composition, proportion
Usage of background
Referencing some thoughts based on researching Sally Mann Mindset
Always be curious in the way I normally take photo. Ask questions on the possibility and the things I might want to explore and reflect on it. If I feel sort of feel inspired, take action and explore that inspiration I have, and see where it leads me.
Take pictures that inspire me. It’s not a job or requirement in taking photos. Let it lead me to get inspired as I discover the world around myself.
Experiment on what fascinates and inspire you. It is key to experiment and explore on taking photos different whenever I feel inspired to. It allows me to experience photography and capturing photos differently.
To make art more special, different, unique, express things differently, experiment, expression.
Take pictures that inspire me. It’s not a job or requirement in taking photos. Let it lead me to getting inspired as I discover the world around myself.
Referencing some thoughts based on analysing Sally Mann’s Photo
Filters Brings Out The Emotional Undertone Of The Photo
Unique Vantage Point To Create More Interesting Photo
Capture Subtle and Uncommon Gesture To Convey The Same Message
Being Experimental And Pushing the Boundaries
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Initiating My First Shoot
For this round of shoot, I am quite inspired by how Sally Mann uses unique and uncommon gesture to capture interesting composition. As such, to convey the message I want in my photos, I want to be a little bit more experimental in my approach of photography this time round but still keep my pictures relevant to the brief. In addition, this brief is to capture the sense of space, so maybe I can use movement within my pictures to allow the audience to feel the space itself is ‘interactive and alive’, rather than just a static picture.
Next, the way I go about doing my shoots is to shoot whatever that comes to my mind, but I also place additional emphasis on the places that matters and inspires me, like my workplace, window, bookshelves, entrance of my room, etc. So I will play around, see how it leads me to taking more inspiring photo, just like what Sally Mann mention where she let her feelings lead her to getting inspired and discover the world around her.
Most importantly, I must capture the essence of space and the significance I felt for my room.
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1st Trial Shoot
Why Do I Capture This Shot To Represent ‘My World’?
Since our task is to present images that best convey the world that is significant to us, as such, this shot best reflect my written story about introspection (stated below). In addition, it is also the better photo in term of aesthetics, amongst all the other shot that I have taken.
Storyline: “Next, my sanctuary is a place where I longed to heal, during moments where my life crashed into a wall of disappointment, where I face tremendous setbacks, and fear, pain and doubts began to overwhelm me. I might begin to form all sorts of negative and limiting belief within me. At those moments, I will always return to my sanctuary with the hopes to heal myself.
As soon as I stepped into my room, the pieces of emotional pain will slowly begin to diminish into the thin air. What happened? I would begin to reflect, pen down my thoughts, introspect while locking myself in my room as I spend my time in solitude. I would either go to the window and gaze out into the distance, take a deep breathe and think about my problems then proceed to form a solution afterwards. Or, I would just walk to my favourite workplace to surf the internet for life perspectives from some of my favourite self-development speaker. Each time after recovering from my low mood, I truly appreciate how much I needed a place of solitary, to be away from all the chaos in the world.
Secondly, for this shot I choose this photo to best convey my world that is significant to me, is because it isn’t just a static picture of me gazing outside of the window to represent introspection. This photo shows the process behind on how I goes about doing my self reflection by the window. This help convey more significance in my shot, as it holds a lot more emotional value, by me showing my audience of how I go through the process, and how I carry those emotion with me as I interact with the room. In this case, this picture shows how I slide the curtain aside to allow the sunlight and fresh air penetrate into the room, before I start self reflecting.
In addition, I believe that most people can image how a scene of a person doing self reflection by the window looks like. So I find it more interesting to show a different twist to my shot as I mentioned in my previous paragraph. As such, by capturing the scene a step before the self reflection happens, it creates a better visual experience of how I interact with my room, and how do I go into the phase of self reflection, and this also allows the audience to see the space, my body language, my emotion, and the atmosphere within the room, to better understand my world in a deeper manner. By that, it enhances the emotion, meaning and significance of ‘my world’
2nd Trial Shoot
A part of my identity, unedited
Why Do I Choose This Shot?
I want to provide my audience another dimension of the experience of my world . I believe that in addition to showing the space in my room plainly, an even better way to create depth in the story and the message I want to bring across, is by finding ways present the audience with a unique experience rather than following the norm of capturing photographs. I can considering asking different question such as how does it feel like before I enter into ‘my world’? and set up a shoot to answer that question. As a result, this shot shows where my first point of contact between me and my room took place. In addition, I try to be creative with my shot by using a long shutter speed to capture the motion, and deliberately shows some of the surrounding outside of my room, to allow my audience to experience how the atmosphere feels like before the entrance. In this manner, the audience now can get a better understanding of ‘my world’ intellectually and emotionally.
3rd Trial Shoot
Notice-board, unedited
Why Do I Capture This shot?
The reason why I take this shot, because it shows a different point of view of my world. This photo allow me to show my audience the details that exist within my world, that is not shown otherwise in my previous few photos. This allows me to bring my audience deeper understanding how my world look like, and even give them a feeling of intimacy by letting them know more than just the surface of my world. In addition, this photo also reflect a part of my story as stated below.
Storyline: “Subsequently, there are other facilities that are place in my room such as my notice-board and goal planning board, where I used it to plan my upcoming week on the things that I need to do in order to maximise my productivity, to take note of the things I missed, to notify myself of my future plans in life on where I wanna be, what I am gonna do, and other miscellaneous stuff as we..”
Taking this photo creates a different contrast to the series of photographs I have taken so far, which are mostly wide angle shot.
4th Trial Shoot
Why Do I Chose This Photo?
This brings my audience to my workplace, but of course with the element of interaction in the photo again. This photo is quite straight forward, which is to shoot my workplace. In addition, this photo also creates an image for my written story as stated below.
Storyline: “Next, my sanctuary is also a spot where I do deep work that brings me true fulfilment in life. I love what I do and I drive myself hard towards working on my passion. I try to not see the outcome as the reward, but the continuous learning journey that I able to learn new things, that makes my life so exciting. Not forgetting that my room has always been the place that provided me with all the comfort and facilities to facilitate my learning effectively.
Selecting my fifth photo from a shot from Object of Self
As The Night Quieten Down, Unedited
Thought Process Using This Photo
I have shown all aspects of my world, and now what I feel it lacks is a clear picture of me using the room and conducting an activity insider he room itself, since the rest of the photo have covered different perspectives of my world. As such I scroll through the works that I have photograph and found the best suited photo to show the interaction of me using the room.
Next, it also gives an image for a paragraph of my written story (reference below), for my audience to better understand my world.
Storyline: “My sanctuary is a place where my dreams and future build. I spend many nights in this room clocking in only 4 hours of sleep, sometimes not sleeping for 48 hours, as I spend my time grinding it out to work on my passion, honing my skill, trading, building my freelance business, and self-development. Not getting enough sleep is a norm to my lifestyle, but I truly enjoyed it from the bottom of my heart. At midnight, the traffic outside the window subsidies to emptiness, when everyone had already tuned into their dreams, sleeping soundly, everything will gradually quieten down as the night proceeds. At that moment, I can feel the space of my room distinctly, as if its presence subtly surround me, while a sense of blissfulness and gratitude fills me, I truly feel grateful to have a room for myself. As the night follows, I bury myself into a world of knowledge once again.”
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Editing The Shots
A Process Of Editing The Photos
Introspection & Solitude
Works That Brings Me Fulfilment
Future Plans
Why Do I Have To Make It Black & White?
My Room is a place where it holds many deep meaning to me, as such, it has to hold a feeling of nostalgia. In addition, my research also inspire me that black and white brings out emotional qualities such as Sally Mann’s photos.
As such to enhance emotions and meaning I want to portray in the photos, also to be congruent with the story. I used black and white filter.
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Consultation & Feedback
Lecturer’s Comments
- Photos should be presented as a whole or a series that communicate the story. As such all my photo will need to convert to the same colour scheme to convey as a ‘body of works” (Feedback for both Object Of Self & My World)
- For the photos in ‘My World,’ my series of photo communicate more of my workplace rather than my room. I should try to shoot photos to communicate the significance of my world better.
- Try to capture your emotion in your close up shots (object of self)
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Another Round Of Shoot
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2nd Revision: Selected Photos & Editing It – My World
Reflecting By The Window
Bookshelves By The Door
My Rest Place
In a mess
Changes Made:
Try to shoot and explore more shot of my room, and selecting the best shot that showcase and bring out the significance of my room.
Converting all photos to black and white to showcase as a ‘body of work’
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2nd Revision: Selected Photos & Editing It – Object Of Self
Changes Made
- Changes all colour scheme to black and white to showcase as a body of work
- Choose another close up shot to show my expression when studying
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Submission Photos – Object Of Self
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Submission Photos – My World
My Sanctuary
In a mess
Introspection & Solitude
Workplace For Deep Work
My Rest Place
THE END!
