art3606kan42

 PROJECT

Initially, I started out with ideas of complex architectural designs, and people working around a weird space-like machine. The theme here was hard work and going to the extreme where things in real life does not happen. I wanted to move away from the organic to a more rigid and strict measure of composition. I was still very adamant about the whole process until I saw Da’s individual long wooden sticks.

When Da composed his object, I just started adding my pieces and it jumped started our project. We were also very interested in found object, as a means of reconstructing the city.  Another interesting idea we chanced upon was the fact that since the reconstruction of a city does not only include found objects and the reuse of rubbles but also new objects, we decided to built our own forms and objects. We also realized that the need to have people in the scene was eminent to the concept, people of the community helping to rebuild a shattered city, creating unity, and solidarity. In taking the pictures we faced a few technical difficulties. I had difficulty with getting the right F-stops, light meter, adding the filter and making the choice in the adjustments after we added it.I was very interested in the  manipulation of the camera as it was my most interesting technique. The camera itself almost became a composition of some sort as we moved it in all direction. Bending, lifting it high, zooming in and out, rotating and finding all sorts of ways to take interesting pictures. At one point we took the camera totally from the tripods and placed it on a different support (table) to take some interesting shots.

I was very curious, during the process as I went around the other groups to see what they were doing and i gained a lot by doing that. I was very impressed by the way other groups were using their light sources and also how they worked with other light materials. With what I had observed from the other groups, I started to think about the idea of capturing different day light settings, morning afternoon and evening. In the technical aspect of using the light, we used some interesting materials. We used cardboard to block some lights and also project light onto certain spots. At the same time, swe had the reflector also projecting some deflected light.We used the reflector to channel light onto certain core areas of the image.The use of lightening also created projected shadows of some of the structures.

 

Our last creative rendering of the project was to not only use the objects and materials, but also use the platform on which the composition or the city was built.  We chose the wooden support because it was a great resemblance to the theme of construction and with the lightening techniques, we created a shadow, which elevated the whole piece making it float as though defying gravity. This illusion to space was a suggestive approach to longevity and eternity as we tried to make a statement that this form of disaster will not happen again.

Working with a partner was very productive. The sharing of ideas was vastly fruitful as it was expressed every step of the journey. We disagreed with ideas, and agreed on ideas and on some we had to choose the best possible option out. Not only did working with a partner enhance the production of the work all together, but in sharing ideas, we got to know little things about the process of photography from each other that we would have otherwise never learned if we weren’t working together. The climax of the project was when we found our work developing into exactly what we wanted it to be. The expression of joy proved that our tireless effort came to a successful ending.

• HAPPY ENDING (video)