P I C T U R E S T O R Y
R E S E A R C H
T a s k 1
I’ve watched Schindler’s List quite a while ago when I was fourteen years old in a World Films class. I’ve always had deep interests in History, especially the period of the Holocaust. Since then, Schindler’s List became one of my favorite movies of all times. Every single time I watch it, I get chills up my spine and goosebumps on my skin. I can sense my eyes getting teary and becoming overwhelmed by emotions.
Schindler’s List is a black and white film. The only color in the film is the eye-catching red coat of a little Jewish girl. I was reminded about this film during class, which gave me an idea on how I wanted to portray and edit my photographs for Task 1.
Many may think that black and white is quite monotonous; however, it is able to convey the deepest emotions, thus I decided to complete my first task in black and white. In the film, the red of the little girl’s coat is shown because it is the color of blood and evokes stress and anxiety. However, in my photography, I wanted to highlight a variety of colors to signify the positive part of moving and change.
T a s k 2
Cian Oba-Smith
I really liked Oba-Smith’s style of street photography. It is very casual, natural, and spontaneous. He captures even the most random things he sees such as trash can, ceilings, unfinished buildings, and etc. As we can see, his photographs are warm and overexposed. I wanted to try and emulate to capture the impromptus and serenity in his photography.
John Rawlings
Though I liked Oba-Smith’s objects of photographing and its warm colors, I did not particular like the over-exposure style in his photographs. For me, over exposure causes the photographs to lose important details. Thus, I took John Rawling’s photographs as reference for colors. I really like John Rawling’s photograph’s color scheme. It is warm, low-saturated, and low-contrasted. All these facets give the photographs a retro aura to the person, place, and object being photographed.
P R O C E S S
T a s k 1 : Object and Representation of Self
For Sherry Turkle, the things that matter to her are probably key chains, souvenirs, and photographs she found in her grandparent’s kitchen closet. However, for me a suitcase is the object that matters to me.
What do you think about when you see a suitcase? Most people will probably connect it with vacations and travelling. Me too! But more than that, suitcase symbolizes changes, moving, and a range of emotions; nostalgia accompanied with hope; regret accompanied with excitement; nervousness accompanied with anticipation… and much more feelings. The suitcase is just like the melting pot of all these emotions.
- Close-up of the object in a neutral background
- Full figure shot (head to toe) with object
The camera did not focus well… had to constantly make sure and adjust.
Note: Originally, I wanted this to be a perpendicular bird’s eye view shot; however, my tripod was not long enough. Thus, I had to put it on the bed to make it taller and that position did not allow me to shoot a perpendicular bird’s eye view shot. Thus I ended up with a high angle shot, which had a nice effect as well.
- Full figure shot (head to toe) with object
For the first few trials, my head kept being cut off. Thus, I had to change the subject distance and zoom several times to test.
- Mid-range shot of interacting with object
- Close-up shot of interacting with object
T a s k 2 : My World
It was quite hard for me to find a place that had some sort of meaning for me here in Singapore since I’ve just been here for only a month… I thought maybe the dorm? or the ADM building? since I spend most of my days there… Then I remember that first week I spent in Singapore with my family… We stayed at a hotel near Kallang Mrt.
Singapore reminds me of several places I’ve been. For example, this image reminds me of the Unite States;
this of Taiwan; 
and this of Honduras.
My eyes were just looking for sparks of familiarity, and together, these sparks created the Singapore in my eyes.
Over-exposed, had to change to faster shutter speed.
I took a picture of the Shell gas station, because I haven’t seen the brand for a long time, so I was quite surprised to see it again.
A lot of things were quite fresh when I first came here. I found it interesting that people here drove on the left side of the road.
and that there were a lot of electric scooters on the streets…
I went back to the dim sum place where my family and I ate breakfast the second day we arrived to Singapore and the last day they were here.
I ordered some foods we ordered before…
The following are some of the other photographs I took:
F I N A L R E S U L T S
T a s k 1: Object and Representation of Self
- Shot Size: Extreme Close-Up
- Angle: Dutch Angle
- Diagonal Lines
- Signifies direction and movement
- Moving to a new place
- Signifies direction and movement
- Shot Size: Full Shot
- Angle: Hip Level Shot
- Composition: Rule of Thirds
- This photograph is meant to portray the reluctance, and sadness at the moment of leaving a place, your friends, and family. But at the same time, carrying hope and anticipation towards the future.
- Shot Size: Full Shot
- Angle: High Angle Shot
- Composition: Golden Ratio
- Fitting myself into a suitcase, signifies the fear of change and going to a new place. However, at the same time, change can be quite colorful. Change is part of growing. Through change, we learn, get new opportunities, meet new people, and gain unforgettable experiences.
T a s k 2: My World
Coming back to Kallang, no longer with my family but alone, I took these pictures. These images are meant to provoke strong emotions and nostalgia. Thus the warm, desaturated, vintage effect.
- Shot Size: Long Shot
- Angle: Eye Level Shot
- Composition: Rule of Thirds
- Shot Size: Close Up Shot
- Angle: High Angle Shot
- Composition: Rule of Thirds
- Shot Size: Full Shot
- Angle: Eye Level Shot
- Composition: Centered
- Shot Size: Medium Shot
- Angle: Low Angle Shot
- Composition: Diagonals and Triangles
- Shot Size: Long Shot
- Angle: Eye Level Shot
- Composition: Rule of Thirds
R E F L E C T I O N
Through this project, I was able to discover a lot of photographers I did not know. I grabbed what I liked about each artist and combined them into my final work. I was also able to spend time with myself, contemplate on my feelings, and really think about what matters to me in my life. Moreover, I was able to touch on self photography, which is something I lack experience of, and practice some techniques, and problem solving skills.
Better Pics:
https://entuedu-my.sharepoint.com/:f:/g/personal/shuang029_e_ntu_edu_sg/Epce5D5c1-FKjZ2rY63vKN0BEsi1VSdXfY3sdRR9DDIIfg?e=3nfMpN
B I B L I O G R A P H Y
https://bygonefashion.livejournal.com/195868.html
https://www.sbs.com.au/movies/article/2017/03/31/schindlers-list-one-most-visually-powerful-war-films-ever-made
https://www.cianobasmith.co.uk/woolwich#