Project 1: Picture Story – Curating Self

What defines you as a person?
I would like to think that we are not just defined by how we look, our personality or behavior, things that are distinctively “us”. We are also very much defined by external factors like our family, our friends, places that we have been to, experiences that we have had. And because of the many things that help shape us, we are not always “consistent”. Sometimes we are shy, sometimes we are chatty. I may love tea at first, then grow to love coffee after.
Hence, I wanted to show this variety and complexity within us through the photos in the 3 tasks.


Task 1 (Me)
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Task 1 (2.2)

Task 1 (3.1)

In the first task about “me”, I didn’t choose to feature myself in all 3 photos. I wanted to show my brother (the contrast between us bring out my personality even more), my collection (which reflects both my interest and my personality) and boiling water (to represent my temperament and health condition). 3 different subjects, 2 of which are metaphors (aka signified, application of theories learnt in class right here), for the different parts of me.


Task 2 (Object and representation of self)
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In the second task I purposely chose 3 photos of different subject distance. Full-figure, mid-range and close up. To show the different feelings and emotions I have for/ with my “Tao Tao” – happy, content, and sleepy (duh!) respectively haha.


Task 3 (My world)DSC_0084

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In the third task of my world, i have chosen my dad’s car as the place because when I’m in the car I feel safe (although it’s not really safe at all). I feel like I’m in another world without other people / troubles when I’m in the car covered with foam. I played with different perspectives and vantage points, e.g. my view as the driver, my passenger’s view of me through the mirror, again to emphasize how different I can be when I view myself vs others viewing me.
All in all to show the complexity of defining myself. Well, us humans are complicated beings after all.

Final Documentation IMG_9850

The black piece of paper represents my comfort zone. I don’t normally like to share my personal stuff with anyone. But for this project I shared one of my secrets to the class, which is why the picture (boiling blood) is outside of the paper to represent how I stepped out of my comfort zone.

 

Key learning points

  1. Present my photos in a more organized manner
  2. Learn and apply different photography techniques (low light, low key portraits)

Author: Wei Ming Tan

"Some people are artists. Some, themselves, are art."

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