photography – deb ng

2D II: Zine

I was pretty stoked for this zine project, because I have an undying love for handmade zines and magazines in general. It was even better because Shirley allowed us to use personal works for the contents of our zine. Right off the bat, I thought about making a travel zine. I’ve been wanting to compile my travel photos somehow, instead of having them sit in my hard drive. This was a good chance to actually make something presentable (and hopefully pretty) out of them.

My zine is a photo log of my trip to Sydney right before I entered ADM. I often look back at those eight days fondly. It was a such a good trip, with just the right amount of down time and adventure. The zine is split into three categories:

“Listen to the sea” — photos of the ocean

“Take the open road” — road tripping

“Appreciate the silence” — nature

They represent my favourite parts of the trip.

I wanted to maintain a clean, understated feel with a tinge of wanderlust. I went with a muted pink as my main colour, and made Quicksand my main font, a san-serif typeface with cute rounded edges.

Process

I made a vector illustration of the opera house, and three simple icons for the inside pages.

Icons representing my different spreads

Experimentation for opera house vector

Finalised vector

I spent a lot of time on the opera house vector, because I couldn’t decide on the colours. After experimenting with different colour schemes, I decided to keep it simple with shades of purple, as pink and purple are analogous colours and I thought they looked quite nice together.

While arranging photos, the three column alignment helped a lot! I made the photo arrangement of the three spreads different, so that the photos didn’t look too static. There are short blurbs on each spread, featuring some anecdotes from the trip.

The layout utilises two main principles of design: directional force and emphasis. In each spread, there is a main photo surrounding two to three smaller ones. It guides the readers’ eyes, telling them where to look first.

V1: Words were arranged vertically, Shirley said it was uncommon to arrange it this way unless it was Chinese characters. I also felt that the icons looked a little odd at the bottom.

V2: I changed the orientation of the words and moved the icons to the blurb section. I also made the text slightly smaller.

Final

Overall, I’m pretty happy with how this zine turned out. It’s a nice way to end the school year, utitlising skills and design principles we have learned during these two semesters in 2D. :>

2D II: Typographic Portraits

Task: Create typographic portraits by using your name (or part of it) to describe imaginary professions and/or affirmations.

Before fleshing out any ideas, I came up with a list of personal traits, professions or objects I felt reflected my personality.

I AM INDECISIVE
I AM A DAYDREAMER
I AM TIMID
I AM IDEALISTIC
I AM A CUP OF EARL GREY TEA
I AM A COMFY OVERSIZED SWEATER
I AM A PERFECTIONIST
I AM A WRITER
I AM A MEDIATOR
I AM A SLOTH
I AM AN ORGANISER
I AM A PEACEMAKER

With my list, I started to think about the traits I would be able to portray or capture visually in an eye-catching way. I initially wanted to stick with a main theme so that all my pieces had a unifying factor. I was inspired by the works of Kyle Pierce, an American illustrator who layers photographs with hand lettering and illustrations, producing a raw and candid feel.

I wanted to implement his style into my pieces by placing transparency paper on top of a supporting image, and writing my name in different styles on the transparency sheets. Later on, Shirley pushed me to think further — just by looking at the font, how could someone guess what personality trait I was trying to portray? I needed to communicate my intended idea solely through the font. With this in mind, it was harder to come up with ideas, but also pushed me to go beyond the surface. Breaking down the meanings behind the personal affirmations I chose was helpful, and served as a guide that I could look back on at every point of the project.

I AM A CUP OF EARL GREY TEA

Meaning: When I think of something that brings me peace and calm, I think of a cup of earl grey tea. I am quite serene and calm most of the time, though if you knew what was going on in my mind, you’d think otherwise. I often strive to keep a level head, and keep calm in all situations, so emulating the personality of earl grey tea has become my inner mantra.

IDEA #1:

I decided to play with food typography for this composition. I’ve always loved what people can create out of everyday food items, and was inspired to try it out. Tea is often associated with elegance and class, so I was thinking of using a serif font. I wanted to make the first letter of my name out of loose earl grey tea leaves, resembling a monogram. The ‘D’ would be printed on transparency paper, and underneath, I was thinking of a plain texture, like white sheets, to keep the royal theme. I rejected this idea later on because I felt it wasn’t dynamic enough.

IDEA #2 (chosen):
I decided to make a calligraphic font out of the tea leaves, as I felt that it would look less static than my initial plan to use a serif font. I tried to bring out a laidback and gentle vibe with stray tea leaves, a mason jar and my kindle.

Inspiration

Process

First, I wrote my name many times on a piece of paper, varying the flourishes to get my desired look. Then I arranged the tea leaves with the help of a spoon to clean up the edges. It took me a REALLY long time for me to get the font exactly how I wanted it, and I initially wanted to do my whole name, but realised my tea towel wasn’t big enough for it to fit. I was cool with leaving it as ‘Deb’.

Final

I AM TIMID

Meaning: I don’t like admitting that I’m quite a timid person. It’s probably because I often over-think things, and although I don’t suffer from anxiety, the worrying does get in the way sometimes. I tend to get myself out of situations or hide from things when I feel uncomfortable or afraid. On a separate note, I often find myself in awe of Mother Nature’s wonders, I’m also quite afraid of natural disasters and things than man can’t predict or control.

IDEA #1:

I initially wanted to emphasize the desire of hiding when I’m feeling timid, so I thought I could use layers of paper with leaves and flowers painted on them, and have part of my name peeking out in the corner. Another method was using layers of clothes to symbolise the desire of hiding under many layers. This idea didn’t work out in the end, because I was using visual aids to communicate the idea, and not utilizing the font to tell my story.

IDEA #2 (CHOSEN):
I wanted to play with the idea of feeling small and withdrawn when I’m scared, so I cut out a rounded font using paper that I crumpled and rolled slightly, and placed them behind roots and leaves, as if the font was hiding from the elements. I set it down on the floor to emphasise how small I feel. I also put it amidst to symbolise my fear of Mother Nature’s wrath.

Inspiration

Jon Gray

Process

(PHOTOS OF PAPER TEXT)

I printed out my name in the font Montserrat, a nice rounded typeface, then traced it on drawing block and cut the letters out. I attached the letters on satay sticks so they would stay up, then brought them down to the park to get some shots. It took me a few tries to get the position exactly right, because I wanted the text to be hidden at some points, but I didn’t want it to look too forced.

Final

I AM A COMFY OVERSIZED SWEATER

Meaning: I am a fan of anything that keeps me comfy, and that means beanbags, cold weather, and above everything else, soft oversized sweaters. I also like giving people hugs.

IDEA #1:

I have quite a lot of old clothes lying around at home, and I was thinking of finding interesting fabrics, cutting them up and pasting them on an A5 base. On transparency paper, I would write my name, partially hidden by the fabric layers. I was trying to portray the idea of being a creature of comfort who likes being bundled up and comfortable. I rejected this idea because it was pretty similar to my ‘timid’ composition.

IDEA #2 (CHOSEN): To highlight the oversized-ness, I figured I could make the font look like it was so huge that it didn’t fit the frame. I would use pastel colours to accentuate the comfy aspect, and also because I love pastels.

Process

This composition was done digitally from scratch. I started with a clipping mask of the texture, then used the brush tool to add the fur along the sides, then blended more and more to achieve a more natural look.

Final

I AM A WRITER

Meaning: For a long time, I was pretty sure I was going to be a journalist once I graduated with my Mass Comm diploma. I worked as a beauty/lifestyle writer for almost 1 year and I loved what I did. It was intriguing to me that although my name must have been seen by many people, almost noone would know me personally, or even want to know more about me. The story always comes first, and a good writer doesn’t do it for the fame. As a writer, you’re sort of hidden behind the words you write, for better or for worse.

IDEA:
I decided to use negative space to communicate the idea of hiding/residing behind the words.

Inspiration

Process

I first created the paragraphs with InDesign using lorem ipsum text, then used the text wrap effect so the words would “avoid” the huge D E B letters. Then I brought it over to Photoshop, adding a vignette effect, some brushes and a crumpled paper effect for interest.

Final

Reflection:

This assignment was really enjoyable for me, because I’ve always been fascinated by typography and its versatility in evoking different meanings and themes. I’m glad that Shirley pushed me to think harder about how to make the fonts convey exactly what I intended, and I hope the audience can relate to what I’ve created.

In-class artist research: Jo Spence (with Elaine and Longfei)

“I see myself neither as ‘heroine’ or ‘victim’, but merely as a person in struggle.” – Jo Spence

Jo Spence was a British photographer (June 1934 – May 1992) who started out in commercial photography, specialising in weddings, family portraits and actor portfolios. Her career peaked in the 1970s when she started to shoot more personal projects, often using herself as a subject. Together with lifelong collaborator and friend Terry Dennett, she co-founded the Photography Workshop Ltd, a roving platform that acted as an open resource and initiated important photography projects like ‘Who’s holding the baby’.

The woman of many talents was also an educator, writer, organiser and broadcaster. Many of her later works center around her struggle with breast cancer and leukemia, with deeply intimate photos showing how her illnesses left scars on her body and soul.

REMODELING PHOTO HISTORY (1982)

This project was co-produced with Terry Dennett, and this image in particular explores the relationship between naturalism (using a human body) and the industrialised landscape, in a time where technological advancements were all the rage — and still is today. It seeks to show the harmful effects of mechanisation of society.

It draws a link between humankind (Jo Spence’s pure, unmasked body) and the era of mass industrialisation (wires and cables). Priorities shift towards technological and economical advancements, and the society gradually loses its human-ness. It also highlights the objectification of women, suggesting that the archaic mindset must change along with the advancements of industrialisation.

References:

http://www.jospence.org/index.html

http://www.c4gallery.com/editions/industrialisation.htm

Curating self

Assignment objective: creatively introduce yourself through 3 series of images with varying themes

Task 1: Me

It’s hard to sum up a clumsy, weird over-thinker in three images, but I tried to think of the top three things that make me, me. Incidentally, I also struggled with finding a balance between what I think of myself, and what I want the world to think of me.

MUSIC | I’ve loved music for as long as I can remember. It’s become more than just a passion to me, and everyday I’m still discovering new forms of music (and racking up lots of Spotify playlists along the way). The instruments placed around me are what I’ve picked up over the years of playing music. They form some sort of shield around me, because playing music makes me feel safe and happy. On the flipside, I always find myself being very critical about my skills, and I often end up feeling inadequate. But I’m trying to use this to fuel my desire to keep learning and practicing.
CONVERSATION | One of my favourite things to do is to wrangle my closest friends together and engage in conversation (preferably over a basket of truffle fries). We don’t get to meet often because life gets in the way, but a solid hour or two of pure conversing always refreshes my mind, and sometimes I walk away with a different outlook of life. I think it’s important to get into the head of others in my environment, because everyone thinks differently, and having more diverse views can do you good.
BOOKS & MAGS | I am a self-confessed hoarder of many things, books and magazines especially. When I go abroad, I never fail to pick up a magazine or two (I’ve even brought home foreign newspapers… I have a problem). I think it’s highly fascinating to see what people are writing about in their local context. The beauty of words is something I hold dearly, and my past as a Mass Communications major has greatly influenced my love for writing and reading. I guess it’s also a way for me to hold on to a part of myself as I enter the design world — a thrilling and largely intimidating place.

Task 2: Object and representation of self

I chose a pair of Converse Chuck Taylors that has been with me for 8 years and counting. They’ve literally been with me throughout the most important period of my life thus far — a timid teen growing into a young (still slightly timid) adult. They’re incredibly worn out and yellowed now, with holes everywhere, and I see these as battle scars from my many ~~foolish~~ adventures. Shoes are seen as a necessity, a means of getting around, and occasionally a fashion statement. But these sneakers hold much more meaning to me than just that. They remind me of youth, spontaneity and wonder — things that I fear I might gradually lose as I continue growing up.

1. Medium long shot of sneakers hanging on a tree. The earth tones of the background allow the red hue of the shoes to pop. The subject is kept to 1/3 of the picture.2. Close-up shot of shoes on a tree stump. Brought up the aperture to produce a shallower depth of field, allowing viewers’ eyes to focus on the subject, while creating a slightly dreamy effect with the bokeh. (Tricky image to capture on my own while being in the shot!)3. Long shot of me and my sneakers. I like the clean circle ledge on a pastel wall, with my sneakers just barely popping out of the circle.

The location was inspired by local photographer Nguan, who captures dreamy shots of Singapore neighbourhoods and beyond. I like the minimal, ethereal feel of his photos, and how he makes ordinary items like slippers by the void deck look like they mean something.

Task 3: My world

My idea of a perfect afternoon includes a cup of Earl Grey tea, a good read and my bed. The location I selected is my room, where I store most of the stuff I’ve hoarded as aforementioned. It’s also the place I feel the most comfortable and at ease. I’ve lived in my flat all 21 years of my life, so my room holds lots of memories for me. It’s probably the one place that truly encapsulates what I’m like as a person.

1. BOOKSHELF | My shelf (which is never this neat under normal circumstances) holds some of my favourite books, magazines and DVDs I’ve collected, as well as a Bombay Bicycle Club album (one of my fav bands), a film SLR that was passed down from my Dad, and an embroidered hairbrush from a vintage store in the UK. This is my go-to corner if I’m in dire need of a pick-me-up. I tried to capture the natural light coming in from my window in this image.2. WALL | This wall is located just beside my bed, so it’s what I like to stare at just before going to bed, or while waking up. The items on the wall are a mixture of cool garment tags, interesting artwork, and stuff that are monumental in my personal life. They include a poster I designed for my good friend’s Nepal earthquake fundraiser, a placard from my sister’s wedding, and admission tickets to Singapore Fashion Week from previous years. They remind me of how far I’ve come in life, and how much more I have to go. I didn’t keep everything in focus to make the photo look more interesting, and took it from a side angle because I like the shadows produced by the items.

3. MOON CLOCK | I bought this clock a few years ago on a whim, after quickly falling in love with it in an accessories shop. The clock face is an image of the moon, which I personally find incredibly intriguing and mysterious. It reminds me that I’m a small speck in this large universe, and my huge problems don’t matter in the grand scheme of things. The battery in the clock died quite long ago, but I haven’t bothered replacing it, and I think this speaks volumes about how I admired its aesthetic way more than its actual use. I kept some of my wall items in frame, to help viewers visualise where exactly the clock is located, and so it doesn’t look as detached from the rest of my room.

4. BEDS | I have two super-single beds in my room, one of which belongs to my sister. She recently shifted out with her husband, so I have the room to myself now. She’s 9 years older than me, but we’re still super close, and I never went to sleep without hearing her drift off to sleep. It’s quite sad that she’s shifting out, but the family’s happy she’s carved out her own happy path.

5. DRESSING TABLE | I stand in front of my dressing table every day for about 3o minutes getting ready for the day, and winding down for the night. There’s just something about applying makeup and grooming my skin that’s therapeutic to me, even though it’s largely seen as a superficial act. I feel like I’m putting on warpaint that will help me tackle the day’s challenges, and when I’m removing my makeup, I’m washing away the stresses and problems I’ve accumulated that day. The actual problems in my life don’t exactly go away, but that sliver of me-time makes all the difference.

I kept myself in the frame (blurred out) to channel my inner Vivian Maier, a reclusive individual whose stunning photographs were only discovered after her death in 2009. She deliberately kept her photographs a secret, and they were never about attaining fame or personal success. It’s creating art in its purest form.

Our first foray into photography assignments was equal parts scary and exciting. The nature of the project is very personal, and exploring the inner workings of my mind (and my classmates’) has been pretty insightful. It’s not every day you stop and think about what you are as a person and how your quirks and interests speak about you. The three themes sub-consciously prompted me to dig deeper into self-discovery, because I had to visually represent my life in just 11 images. To see my thoughts and personality traits displayed for everyone to see made me feel really vulnerable, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless, and there are things I wouldn’t have known about myself, let alone my classmates, if this assignment didn’t exist.

My project would have been more successful if there was more thought put into the placement of images (e.g. if the series were placed further apart, provide some breathing space). Every element, from start to finish, should be intentional and well thought out.