ePortfolio Week 14 - Final Project - Pasar Siti Khatijah

14.11.13 (Week 14)
Vanessa A/P Ah Lir, (0315830)
Introduction to Photography
Final Project - Pasar Siti Khatijah


Instructions

Choose a Subject of Interest, i.e.: Architecture, Landscape, Peoples, Person, Still Life, etc. and capture a series of 5 pictures and print them.

When all your 5 pictures have been approved you shall then begin the final phase of the project, which is to print your pictures from a photo lab and then present it in class.

Presentation method: 5 printed photographic prints, Full frame pictures with a white border around the image. Size 8×10” Matt or Glossy. Please Submit all 5 printed copies in an A4 Clear book.


Pasar Siti Khatijah

Pasar Siti Khatijah is a wet market located in the heart of Kota Bharu town, which is also a popular tourist destination and also for anyone who wishes to visit. It is the biggest market in Kelantan and there are a variety of items sold there. At the Ground Floor, traders displayed buckets of seafood ranging from mackerels to clams, rows of de-feathered chicken, and baskets of vegetables from tomatoes to lettuces. There are also people grinding old coconuts and collecting the grated powder and milk. These stalls surround a large inner circle in the middle of the market where the sunlight shines through the roof onto vegetable traders with their goods. The Second Floor has traders selling souvenirs like key chains and postcards depicting Kelantan culture. Gold and silver jewelry are sold out in the open, placed on low tables without their protective casings. Dry goods like curry powder, traditional cookies and crackers are sold in big tubs where the price varies according to the weight.

What makes this wet market so special is that traders can sell their goods basically anywhere as long as they have a place to sit or stand. It is not necessary to have a stall to display the items. All they need is a floor and they are considered ready for business. Some only have a small chair to sit on, while some only sat on the greasy floor without a slight worry of getting their clothes dirty. Others have rectangular tiled concrete slabs where they can place their goods on. Some of the traders are new but most of them have been there for many years already, doing their business in the market as a big part of their lives, depending on the customers as their sole income. The challenge was trying to ask them if they would allow their pictures to be taken. Thankfully, they were not too shy when approached by a camera. In fact, they even posed so that a good shot could be taken. Their smiles reflected courage, having dealing with challenging environments, determination to continue living and their hope for the better future.

Screenshot

FEEDBACK

1. General Feedback

• Our liberty of choice in our preferred topic and manner of execution is FAR worse when the lecturer took us on a field trip.
• We should get out of our comfort zone. There is no way we can do something safe and yet looks good.
• Designing is a form of self expression.
• Good photos must have 'holding power'.
• The lecturer gauges our learning progress and expression, and whether we can surprise him with something unexpected and exemplary.

2. Specific Feedback

Before submission

Mr Vinod: Vary your composition, engage with the people try to get a reaction. When you stand in front of a person with a camera, you will get a reaction, it may be pleasant, surprise, or mooted - these may all be normal photography wise, to achieve something more, you need to engage with the personality, by asking questions, ie: how long have you been working here, how many kids do you have, etc. While she replies you keep your camera ready, and study her mannerisms, when you see a certain reaction that's different, continue that line of questioning, and take your pictures. You have to wear two hats as a photographer and a historian or a sociologist.

After submission

Mr Vinod: Good photography brings a good feeling when looking at pictures and it also arouses emotional reaction.
In terms of choosing 'market' as a subject topic: Market is a rather difficult topic to attempt as there is always a lot happening in the background and it might serve as a mess in a photo. I was said to be unable to see potential problems in a photo like how to background affects the overall quality of a particular picture. Lighting in the picture is not really in sync with the time period. A morning shot looks like an afternoon shot because it is quite dark. It is advisable not to use auto focus as it is not as effective as using a focus ring in regards to clarity.


REFLECTION

I was a bit cautious and wary at first when approaching the traders. In the beginning, I took photos of still life like fruits, vegetables, bloody fish and meat. Then I thought that my series would look really dull if I did not include people as well, which was one of the main highlights of the entire market. It is very important to learn to engage with the people you are taking pictures of.

You cannot just walk straight at them, take a few quick shots and leave. It is quite impolite and it is not the way a photographer should behave. You got to make them feel at ease, open their hearts and you then take pictures. This way, it would not be too offending and at least they would be more inclined to let you take their photos and their expressions will be far better looking than if you approached them in a rather direct, offensive manner.

A photographer does not only take photos, he learns the story of the subject.

ePortfolio Week 13 - Studio Lighting

1.11.13 (Week 13)
Vanessa A/P Ah Lir, (0315830)
Introduction to Photography
Studio Lighting


LECTURE

1. Main light
- Most important light because it illuminates a major portion of the image. All the other lights are constructed around this light. The first light to be put in position is your main light.

2. Fill light
- The fill lights function is to basically relieve the shadow areas created by the main light, thereby reducing the contrast.
- This light produces detail in the shadow area. Sometimes a fill light can just be a reflector bouncing off the main light.
- In the case of a still life there can be many tiny fills positioned around the still life to illuminate or relieve shadows.

3. Rim light

- This light gives form or structure around the object or subject being photographed. 

- It creates a silhouette around the subject / object thereby revealing its shape.

- It most often acts as a highlight.

4. Hair light

- It illuminates and gives texture to the hair. 

- Without this light the hair texture would essentially not be visible and the hair will look like one black mass.

Exercise - Studio Lighting

Instructions

1. Students are required to find a studio photograph with the 1940s - 1950s theme.

2. Students will then imitate that particular photo in terms of outlook and studio lighting.

Screenshot

REFLECTION

 

For this week, it was my turn to be a model. My previous assumption that becoming models are easy jobs because you only have to don on an outfit, wear makeup, take photos and get your paycheck instantly. I had never been so wrong. The entire process was extremely tedious and tiring. The makeup was very uncomfortable which made me felt as if I had a second layer of skin on my face. Fake eyelashes are painful torture objects.

When I was asked to pose accordingly, my classmates who were assisting with the camera and lighting had to take some time with all the adjustments to make sure that the exposure was perfect. My back started aching, my hands felt like they were about to fall off and I thought my neck will never be able to bend again. Becoming a model is tougher than I thought.

ePortfolio Week 12 - (Attempt) Theme Based Project and Overall Feedback

25.10.13 (Week 12)
Vanessa A/P Ah Lir, (0315830)
Introduction to Photography
'Tree Bark Textures' Attempt and Feedback

Instructions


Choose a Subject of Interest, i.e.: Architecture, Landscape, Peoples, Person, Still Life, etc. and capture a series of 5 pictures and print them.

When all your 5 pictures have been approved you shall then begin the final phase of the project, which is to print your pictures from a photo lab and then present it in class.

Presentation method: 5 printed photographic prints, Full frame pictures with a white border around the image. Size 8×10” Matt or Glossy. Please Submit all 5 printed copies in an A4 Clear book


'Tree Bark Textures'

FEEDBACK

General Feedback

- Know what topic you will be focusing on before starting on the photography session. This will ensure that you will take a lot more similar shots that will make a good series rather than taking random shots and making a series out of them.

- ePortfolio is extremely important. Do not have the mindset that portfolios need to be done because of the marks alone. When we reach a higher level of education, we probably need to hand in our portfolios to be assessed.

- We might need to visit a place or subject matter several times before we can get the exact  few photographs we want.

- Photography is not about approaching a subject matter and take lots of pictures about it. It is also about studying and researching the nature and behavior of the subject matter itself.

- Share feed backs with the class! Embrace peer to peer learning!

Specific Feedback

The theme 'Tree Barks' is not really that interesting and I did not manage to make my photos attractive enough to pull the attention of viewers.

Taking photos in the afternoon sun is a bad idea.


REFLECTIONS

I think it is better if I change my subject matter to a rather different theme. I would be heading to Kelantan in a week's time and I think that place shows a lot of potential. Unlike the urban feeling of a big city, Kelantan is a quiet and quaint place where traditional and cultural values can still be seen clearly even if we are now living in the 21st century. It will definitely be more of an attention puller compared to tree barks.

ePortfolio Week 11 - Pangkor Island

18.10.13 (Week 11)
Vanessa A/P Ah Lir, (0315830)
Introduction to Photography
Exercise - Final Five Pangkor Island pictures


Instructions

1. Visit Pangkor Island

2. Take pictures of the elements of the island and choose five final photos

1. A broken net buoy

2. A random fisherman

3. Feet soaked by sea water

4. A rope knot

5. A makeshift swing

Screenshots

FEEDBACK

Overall: It's not a very "tight" series, meaning consistency is there but not very strong as to the direction or the point of interest.

Fig 2: The man fishing was placed to far in the corner

Fig 3: The shot of the feet in the water was best exposure and composition wise.

The other pictures were okay, the picture of the rope with the flotation thing on the beach was also nice.

REFLECTION

I think I have got a little hang of what makes a series. It is an improvement from the last exercise and I will definitely get better shots in the future in terms of composition and exposure.

ePortfolio Week 10 - Chow Kit Street

11.10.13 (Week 10)
Vanessa A/P Ah Lir, (0315830)
Introduction to Photography
Exercise - Final Five Chow Kit Street pictures

Instructions

1. Observe Chow Kit street - the people and its surroundings
2. Take pictures and choose five final photos

1. A barber and his shop

2. A bicycle by the shrubs and fence

3. An old tricycle

4. People at the wet market

5. A lonely chopper knife

Screenshot

FEEDBACK

Mr Vinod commented that the market workers (Fig 4) and the chopper knife (Fig 5) could have made a good series if I had continued with that area of focus. The bicycle (Fig 2, 3) and barber (Fig 1) do not fit with the above two mentioned. 

REFLECTION

I must learn to understand which pictures are able to fit as a series and which do not. I think I am doing alright so far with exposure. However, it is still quite difficult for me to decide how I should capture certain subjects - from which angle, composition-wise,. The entire process takes time, yet subjects can change or be interrupted in matter of seconds. Another tip to be a good photographer - be proactive and efficient.

ePortfolio Week 9 - Batu Caves Trip

4.10.13 (Week 9)
Vanessa A/P Ah Lir, (0315830)
Introduction to Photography
Exercise - Final Five Batu Caves pictures


Instructions

The instructions were to capture five images that maintain a level of consistency in topic area. Put to use what you have learnt in regards to exposing (zone system), composition and editing (Photoshop). Post all results and update your ePortfolio by Sunday.

1. Burning incense

2. Damp brick floor

3. Two people sitting cross legged facing opposite directions

Credits: June Chai and a random guy who happened to be there

4. Classmates' shadows

5. A bicycle by the brick road

Screenshot

FEEDBACK

Specific Feedback

Picture 1 and 4 - Very well exposed and composed.

Picture 3 - Failed to pull it off

Picture 5 - Fine, so-so, not much interest

Picture 2 - Normal texture and lacking point of interest


REFLECTION

Capturing photos in a practical environment is more difficult than I expected. The key is to capture the right subject at the right moment, and that moment might just come and go so fast that you are still in the middle of fumbling for your camera. What to capture and how to capture is also a difficult task. That subject you are taking might be static, but you have to figure out a way to shoot that photo so that it looks exciting and alluring.

ePortfolio Week 8 - Extra exercise Cam whoring

24.9.13 (Week 8)
Vanessa A/P Ah Lir, (0315830)
Introduction to Photography
Exercise - Cam whoring (Optional)


LECTURE

It was a rather relaxing lecture at first. Mr Vinod taught us how to edit pictures with a very sophisticated editing software, Photoshop. He said it is important that we edit photos in such a way that viewers can never tell if it has been edited before. He also taught us some handy new tricks on an innocent man whose picture was randomly taken from Google Search.

1. Dodge Tool - lightens areas (the man became so fair that girls would have been jealous)
2. Burn Tool - darkens areas (the man suddenly had dark eye bags)
3. Stamp Tool - duplicates certain areas (Mr. Vinod duplicated a nice section of the man's skin and used it to cover up all the pimples)
4. Blur Effect
5. Feathering - making the edges of an object blurred

Then he said we will be cam whoring ourselves. The lecture was suddenly not relaxing anymore.


Instructions

Exercise - Cam Whorring

Students are required to take a selfie of themselves and edit it with Photoshop.

Before editing

After editing

Screenshot

FEEDBACK

Specific Feedback

• The mood of the picture is there but still prefers the one before editing.

REFLECTION

Editing photos are fine by me, but not with cam whoring. I do not know exactly why, but I am never a fan of taking my own photos and erasing the imperfection. Nevertheless, I did learn the basic editing by Photoshop.