Assignment 3 - Photostory

#1. What it used to be -- Kampong lifestyle Olympus E-300
focal length 14mm.
F/4. 1/200 sec. ISO-400.

#2. Cluttered Simplicity Olympus E-300
focal length 14mm.
F/5.6. 1/640 sec. ISO-400.

#3. It all used to be so simple. Olympus E-300
focal length 14mm.
F/2.8. 1/80 sec. ISO-100.

#4. Then came progress. Olympus E-300
focal length 24mm.
F/4.5. 1/320 sec. ISO-100.

#5. Towering skyscrapers everywhere. Olympus E-300
focal length 14mm.
F/22. 1/200 sec. ISO-100.

#6. Hurried pace everytime. Olympus E-300
focal length 14mm.
F/22. 1/8 sec. ISO-100.

#7. Stop and observe. Olympus E-300
focal length 54mm.
F/22. 1/5 sec. ISO-100.

#8. Did we throw away anything impt? Olympus E-300
focal length 47mm.
F/5. 1/40 sec. ISO-100.

#8. Who is this looking so helpless? Olympus E-300
focal length 54mm.
F/5. 1/40 sec. ISO-100.

#9. A plea for help Olympus E-300
focal length 54mm.
F/5.6. 1/60 sec. ISO-200.

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My Concept

We were asked to do a photostory of 8-12 photos. The theme was "Change".

It's probably one of my most commonly used word, along with the quote that "Change is the only constant thing around."

I've thought of shooting my own "evolution", the experiences I've been through my past 21years of life. Execution proves to be a difficulty for an photography amateur like me (esp with the use of DSLR, all the manual settings. Still learning, still learning.). I went as far as thinking up possible compositions for some of the shots, but let's just say I'm not quite there yet.

So, my second idea. Economical change sounds straightforward enough. Easy execution, simple delivery.

On the other hand, it sounded a bit too effortless, as if not much work done. I wanted my story to have an impact, to evoke thoughts upon my viewers. Is there anything that changed along with our economy? Did we all change for the better?

It may be a bit cliche, but I thought of our societal changes. The issues that we keep seeing on newspapers, the policies that our government keeps trying to revise to fit the "changing" Singapore.

I won't dare say I'm a great philanthropist who devotes much of my time in social work or volunteering, but I've always felt strongly about some of the social issues of our time and hoped to contribute however little my capabilities allow.

Hence, the emphasis of the 3 elderly people at the end of my story. Despite progress, we still have people picking at rubbish and people without homes sleeping under bridges (yes, you can really find homeless people in Singapore). Many of these helpless people are often the elderly. The traditional Chinese within me was like screaming 'Why? How? What?!'. Where have their kids gone? Why are they so alone?

We have progressed in development, we always boast. Have we really?

In the midst of progress, have we abandoned our social responsibilities towards other people around us?

Besides the changes that have already occurred, what other changes can we put forth to make everyone's lives a better one?

Life is short. Make it a meaningful one, for you and me and him and her.

Every little effort counts.

P.S. Pardon me for the incoherent philanthropic speech. Just some of my thoughts. Please feel free to comment. Thanks. :)

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Classroom Critique

For this assignment, there were a couple of interesting works in class.

My personal favourites were Gerald's "Dreams" and Yikang's "This was my JC".

Gerald's story idea was creative and fresh, an interesting approach to tackling the given topic. The execution style was clean and straightforward.

My only concern was the "mugshot" at the end (the one with a paper bag over his head). It looked a bit ambiguous and I wasn't quite sure of its meaning until he explained it verbally.

Yikang's photostory had a personal effect on me, as I came from PJC as well. My first year was spent in the old campus which he took his photos in, and seeing the photos did remind me of the days I've had there, as well as a distant sadness for the building's present desolated state.

I thought his wide shots expressed the space and emptiness really well, and the inclusion of himself in the photos with objects he'd use in the building's previous state was a nice touch, adding contradiction (and thus, depth) to his photos.

I did not really like the gloomy feel though, personal preference, but I guess the gloom does add to the expression of emptiness in his story.

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Assessment

Gerald's "Dreams" -- 8.5/10

Yikang's "This was my JC" -- 9.5/10

In comparison, I'll give myself a 8/10, scoring low on creativity, but making it up with a couple of points in execution, the angle/composition of some of my taken shots. :p