Assignment 4: Urban Fantasy/Surrealism (Take 1)

This week's assignment was on Surrealism and the theme was Urban Fantasy/Urban Phenomena.

My interpretation of Urban Fantasy was magic in an urban real world. Hence the first thing that came to mind was Disney's Princesses. I wanted to use them to portray consumerism in society. Snow White came to mind first. I used the Apple iPod to replace the poisoned apple that killed Snow White. The song playing on the iPod is 'Toxic' by Britney Spears but it seemed to small to be noticed but I generally wanted to use current brands to portray consumerism and using the princesses's signature scenes to beautify it.

However I am disappointed with my picture. It seemed to lack the wow factor. And I think it looked alittle boring and abstract for some people.

Final Picture!

Snow White

Picture Breakdown:

Here is the second picture for this assignment. I call it Cinderella because she inspired this picture. I originally wanted to put both Snow White and Cinderella together in one picture but I worry and think that it might be too messy. Hence I decided to seperate them. I think what I am missing is a clock or something that is more significant for Cinderella.

Cinderella

Picture Breakdown:

Assignment 3

For this assignment, we were to portray certain techniques through our photographs.

Perspective

Aperture: f/4 Shutter Speed: 1/13 sec ISO: 1600 Focal Length: 17mm

This shot makes the bridge looks longer than usual. However I think this picture lacks something to elongate at the centre.

Zoom Shot
Aperture: f/22 Shutter Speed: 2 sec ISO: 200 Focal Length: 17mm

This is a shot of the newly erected Christmas tree at the top of Vivocity.

Close Up
Aperture: f/14 Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec ISO: 800 Focal Length: 60mm

This was taken at the Botanic Gardens with a 70-200mm lens.

High Key

Aperture: f/29 Shutter Speed: 1/20 sec ISO: 200 Focal Length: 38mm

This was taken at the new NUS Guild House. It was one of 10 short white statues against a white wall.

Low Key
Aperture: f/4 Shutter Speed: 1/100 sec ISO: 400 Focal Length: 135mm

This is my favourite shot so far. Using a 70-200mm lens, this shot was taken at night on the roof top of Esplanade building. I took multiple shots but only a few turned out well. This is one of the very few that turned out good.

After all the technical aspects of photography, we were given our very first conceptual photography assignment this time round too. The theme: Symbolic of the Sun.

Symbolic of the Sun
Aperture: f/32 Shutter Speed: 1/160 sec ISO: 800 Focal Length: 60.0 mm

Basically I wanted to use a common tool, the umbrella, to depict that we not only use them during rainy weathers but also under a bright hot sunny day also. The umbrella symbolises the Sun, and the rain.

Assignment 2B: CNM class activities

Aperture: f/4.6 Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec ISO: 400 Focal Length: 17.0 mm

Aperture: f/5.0 Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec ISO: 400 Focal Length: 17.0 mm

Aperture: f/4.6 Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec ISO: 400 Focal Length: 17.0 mm

Aperture: f/5.0 Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec ISO: 400 Focal Length: 17.0 mm

Aperture: f/6.4 Shutter Speed: 1/30 sec ISO: 400 Focal Length: 53.0 mm

Basically these are my 5 best shots from the class activity. It was Miss Jing's NM2208 class on Monday 12-2.

Overall I think the problem encountered was the space. The classroom constraint our movement. We could not move around and take pictures without interrupting their discussions held at the back and front of the class simultaneously. Furthermore the majority of the crowd is seated quite a distance from the presenter therefore there are some difficulties encountered trying to capture both the audience and the presenter into one picture. Thus framing problems were encountered.

Most of my pics are taken from the front because I was in a corner and trying not to interrupt the class discussion with my movements, I took most of my shots there. Most of the shots see people walking up close to the boards and discussing among themselves. These were taken after the class when they were allowed to walk around to discuss and view other people's work.

The lighting was rather bad as well. Hence much was done to the pictures to bring out a better contrast. I also wanted to put in more emotions into the pictures, hence my best 5 shots show a form of emotion.