Good day,

for the final approach of final pt2, I continued along the concept on “puddle vision” where I seek around Singapore streets during rainy time for puddle that give interesting perspective of building, streets, translating them into a surreal different world.

As a recap, I will approaching towards  street/architecture photography with the concept theme around ” utopia” through staging technique

Background/Concept

I love to picture our world into something imaginative. Whether is  sci fi, doom day or a dreamland, it excites me. Back then as conceptual architect student, I would always wanted to create a world that is dreamy and mysterious from a different dimension of the existing environment.  As such, I would like to use this final assignment to capture the many possible ways that i could imagine our reality co-exist with the imaginative world that I could think off.

The catalyst for this exploration first started when I was exploring Singapore city street, where I was fascinated by the many reflective surfaces that reflect interesting visions of architecture and human we never though of.   I would imagine that the surfaces could be the gateway to the other dimension of our reality, where it could be surreal, mysterious and up to us to imagine

Artist Statement(final

My photography work explores on turning Singapore streetscape into many possible mysterious surreal world through water puddle formed from rain.

Inspired by street photographer Michael Kistler who merge environment with reflection to create imaginative conceptual streetscape, my work explores more on finding interesting  perspective angle  of reflected streetscape and transform it into imaginative scene  in comparison with the existing environment.

In this series of work titled ” Puddle vision” ,  audience would get to see my exploration onto Singapore streetscape and my personal take on how I would I imagine Singapore streetscape to be in a mysterious surreal form

“Puddle Vision in one night”

As mention from previous As my concept revolve around the idea of  imaginative world with mysterious theme, my approach on capturing the my images at night have to produce out low key images . As such, my camera technical decision at a ISO of 200 with  aperture stay within 4.6 to 5.6.  The reason is to avoid digital noise and average of depth of field respectively.  As such,  I experiment between different of shutter speed  ranging 2 to 5 sec  with the assistant of a tripod. without further a do, let me have the chance to introduce my photo series puddle Vision, which consist of  5 pictures at the moment  and will be still be add on in the future

Picture  1 ( imaginative surreal world 1)

For this image, I was aiming to find angle that the water could reflect the beautiful structure of the building at he background, such that it give an illusion that there is a building in the water. This image  was taken with a 3s duration with F4.6  at ISO 200 to give a slight digital grain and a low key image exposure. 

For post , to  show surreal ideation of the reflected building, I approach on making the building cooler by  increasing Blue  and Green highlights in the Red channel HL layers, to give a surreal white glow to the building. Motion Blur is also add composite to add on to the surreal water reflection, making the reflect surface space more depth and more mysterious. 

 

Picture  2 ( imaginative surreal world 2)

For this image, I was aiming to find angle that the water could  give an illusion of surreal depth. Fortunately, I was able to find this water puddle in the street after a rain and the  angle have allow me to capture a infinity depth feel. I set my camera aperture to  F5.6 with an ISO of 200 to open up the aperture as it was extremely underexposed.  2 S is need to get the surreal lowkey shot of this where the highlight of the image is the building in the water puddle.

For Post I give the area in the water puddle a same treatment where I introduce Blue highlight in the blue channel. As the picture I took, the building in a greyish tone, to give a prominent  and surreal effect,  colour balance and blue soft light is added. lastly, to add surreal effect, motion blur is added as well as part of the series

 

Picture  3 ( imaginative surreal world 3)

for this image, I aim to go straight into a low angle shot. I spotted this water uniquely situated near street that is light only a 7 eleven store. The reflection give me a feel of how the street would like. I went took on the shot with a limited battery life as much as possible as I wouldn’t want to miss amazing water puddle formed in such a rare occasion. I shot the image at 1/25s to capture in the ambience lighting in to the image.

For post, I try my best to make drastic distinct between the reality and reflected world. I was unable to make a colour change due to the many different lighting reflect by the water. changing the colour will result in a very weird colour patch on it. Instead, I introduce more pixel into motion blue to the scene to give the surreal effect. Grains  are  added to emphasize  effect.

PSD layer ( imaginative surreal world 3)

 

Picture  4 ( imaginative surreal world 4)

For this image is taken at a rainy situation. I found this water puddle form is unique and as it have a longitudinal form that reflect a near by train station.  I shot this image at ISO 200 to maintain grain consistency and surreal effect

For post, I am aiming to create a surreal effect to the shot. I increase the blue highlights in channel masking to bring back the building form from low exposure.  Lastly, motion blur is added in for surreal effect

 

Picture  5 ( imaginative surreal world 5)

This image is shot the intention of the great reflected perspective. The angle and the water effect is nicely place.  I shot this image at 1/30 sec  with F4.5 to a balance low key image.

For post, I try to highlight back some of the building form from the reflected surface by a lifting the Blue channel  HL to achieve a cyan white tone for the building form in the water. The intention is give contrast with the real world yellowish building. I  slightly darken the image to create a sense a “mystery” to the image environment while still maintaining the yellow red tonality (which run across my photo series). Lastly, motion blur is composite in to  make surreal blur effect 

Picture  6 ( imaginative surreal world 6)

Spatial layout of picture series

below is my proposed  series arrangement. the arrangement are plan with the intention to show my exploration of water puddle in a chronological order. I choose to have my starter photo to be large, in order to get my audience attention quickly before they move on to see other part of the photo of what I trying to show about my concept of puddle vision. Furthermore, I personally felt that the left most picture is a good image to illustrate my series concept.

 

TIFF FILE  can be access from here.

 

Thank you