Task - Choose one non-human subject, and portray it in minimum 3 different emotional expressions.
I chose eggs to portray differing dimensions, i.e. not within one end of the spectrum.
Because eggs are so fragile, yet so strong, and have different meanings attached to it, I want to portray feelings of precariousness, danger, fragility, celebrations.. Initially I wanted to smash a lot of eggs and create the feeling of devastation, but I figured it would be a waste of good food. (I love eating eggs, especially the small quail ones1!) Hence I decided to make do with smashing one for trial. But the effect failed terribly, hence I didn't replicate it. The following are the end products of my week-long trials.
I started out with the idea of "The Odd One Out". Initially I wanted to use lots of white eggs, and a normal brown one within those cardboard trays, but my family didn't need so many eggs, and I didn't want to waste it. In the end, I found some cute quail's eggs at the supermarket, and I was sort of enlightened. The odd one out doesn't have to be singular! They can just look very different, and different they do look from the normal eggs.
I increased exposure of the original picture, and added the Black-Transparent Gradient layer that I Overlayed onto the picture to create this film-like effect. I wanted to emphasise on the fact that a difference in society, be it race or language, is real, and the effects are felt and recorded. Everyone sees it.
I took this picture on a white egg, and initially, it was really difficult to see the cracks on the shell because the cracks were faint and the shell was light. I was hesitant to make the cracks bigger because the egg wasn't cooked and I didn't want the contents to spill out.
Finally, I gingerly knocked the shell and plucked out some to create the more malevolent looking cracks. While I had started out with a theme of Fragility, I thought the scene felt more like someone whose soul is broken. Hence I created the B&W feel to complete the gloomy feel of this picture, and gave it a tighter crop.
I like the effect. And the specks on the egg's surface (:
I chose eggs to portray differing dimensions, i.e. not within one end of the spectrum.
Because eggs are so fragile, yet so strong, and have different meanings attached to it, I want to portray feelings of precariousness, danger, fragility, celebrations.. Initially I wanted to smash a lot of eggs and create the feeling of devastation, but I figured it would be a waste of good food. (I love eating eggs, especially the small quail ones1!) Hence I decided to make do with smashing one for trial. But the effect failed terribly, hence I didn't replicate it. The following are the end products of my week-long trials.
Pariah
I increased exposure of the original picture, and added the Black-Transparent Gradient layer that I Overlayed onto the picture to create this film-like effect. I wanted to emphasise on the fact that a difference in society, be it race or language, is real, and the effects are felt and recorded. Everyone sees it.
Loom
I took this picture on a white egg, and initially, it was really difficult to see the cracks on the shell because the cracks were faint and the shell was light. I was hesitant to make the cracks bigger because the egg wasn't cooked and I didn't want the contents to spill out.
Finally, I gingerly knocked the shell and plucked out some to create the more malevolent looking cracks. While I had started out with a theme of Fragility, I thought the scene felt more like someone whose soul is broken. Hence I created the B&W feel to complete the gloomy feel of this picture, and gave it a tighter crop.
I like the effect. And the specks on the egg's surface (:
Mixed Blessings
Singapore is a curious society. While we are striving towards capitalism, democratisation, and in the process, undeniably Westernisation, we love the fact that we do have unique cultural roots. Research had shown that Singaporean youths, like those of India and Korea, prefer a cultural middle ground that is a comfort zone between liberalism and staying true to their cultural roots.
Since eggs is a notion of celebration both in the Chinese and American culture, my aim was for this picture to put across this curious blend. Red Eggs signify the celebration for the month-old baby, and colourfully decorated ones are a symbol of Easter Day. Since it would be jarring for both kinds of eggs to appear in the same picture (I didn't see the point of it - too literal), I used modern furnishings to signify modern times and Western influence instead.
The gold mesh-lined basket, and the potpourri is reminiscent of spas and luxury, what we easily identify as modern. By putting these and the red eggs together, it creates a culturally exciting atmosphere, something like that of a shophouse - modern and Western-influenced, yet reminiscent of Asian influences.
I love the eclecticism in this picture.
Since eggs is a notion of celebration both in the Chinese and American culture, my aim was for this picture to put across this curious blend. Red Eggs signify the celebration for the month-old baby, and colourfully decorated ones are a symbol of Easter Day. Since it would be jarring for both kinds of eggs to appear in the same picture (I didn't see the point of it - too literal), I used modern furnishings to signify modern times and Western influence instead.
The gold mesh-lined basket, and the potpourri is reminiscent of spas and luxury, what we easily identify as modern. By putting these and the red eggs together, it creates a culturally exciting atmosphere, something like that of a shophouse - modern and Western-influenced, yet reminiscent of Asian influences.
I love the eclecticism in this picture.
Labels: Assignment 5, Assignments