Object and Representation of Self
I have always been fond of exploring the world around me, ever since I picked my first camera I’ve been diving into forests across Singapore in search of stories and solitude. This interest, of course, started from my childhood.
Digging through from my box of childhood items, from dusty albums of my baby photos and my old chou chou, I found my toy binoculars. I was immediately reminded of the days I believed the world was a forest and hid behind furnitures like they’re trees. I looked through like I was the next Indiana Jones searching for a hidden temple.
I aimed to capture this sense of wonder, adventure and excitement my binoculars brought me through my portraits in a series called ‘search‘.
Story: The thrill of being an explorer is more than just the destination, it is also in the journey. As a child, I’ve always been excited to find new places around my home. my parent’s wardrobe they told me not to rummage through when they’re not around? Check. The space behind the washing machine they told me not to squeeze between? Check. My sister’s delicious white chocolate hidden behind the fridge? Check. It was always being mischievous and not getting found out that excited me, rather than achieving it.
To me, my binoculars were my eyes to avoid getting caught.
Technical: Through cropping, there is a strong emphasis on two things in this picture – the binoculars and the smirk. Framing the binoculars in the center draws the user’s eyes to it first bringing forth the idea of play and adventure. The viewer’s eyes are then drawn to the smirk bringing forth the idea of mischief. Cropping below the eyes draws attention away from the the face at first glance, but also allows the binoculars to be my ‘eyes’ in this portrait. The bright, warm lighting sets a happy and pleasant mood to emphasize the idea of childhood play.
Story: The world around me wasn’t always steel cabinets, plastic chairs and mahogany tables – it’s towering trees and forbidden rock temples. My house was an unchartered island waiting to be explored. I was always curious.
They were my portal to a make believe world.
Technical: This frame consists of a midground and a background. Inspired by Wes Anderson’s framing this emphasizes the space, whilst still creating depth in the image. The wide framing also shows the setting – a forested world and the subject being small is to show a juxtaposition between the huge make believe world and a small character in it. Capturing it in a subtle low angle upwards shows the world and how the trees seem to tower over the character, but not in a menacing way, but in a mysterious yet exhilarating way that invites you to explore. The subtle purple hues evokes a sense of magic and make believe of a world imagined.
Story: No longer a child, now I see the world as it is – maybe not entirely whimsical – but much more serious. I guess I sometimes feel like a retired Indiana Jones, no long thrilled by his treasures from his adventures, and just being part of a world.
Now, it is a piece memory of what made me excited to explore.
Technical: Shooting from an over the shoulder with a high angle brings forth the idea of reminiscence, longing and nostalgia. There is a foreground, a mid ground and a background – the subject in the foreground, speaks of the protagonist in this story, looking down at his old toy binoculars (the midground) in reminiscence of his adventures in his younger days in the forest (the background). The warm hues and bright lighting adds a sense of warmth, joy and safety.
click here for the next series and here for the process
okay bye