I hate crying! My eyes will go bonkers and puffy :(
Seriously love this pair of heels! OMG
(Source: killingheels)
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TADA! Here’s the first page of our final prototype! Looks awesome right! :D
Even though we had really limited time to finish up everything and to work on more interactivity, I am really proud of my group!! Besides that, we have gotten pretty positive remarks from our ‘play-testing’ sessions! :)
Fortunately our project went on pretty smoothly with little hiccups, just more and more enhancements to bring in depth to the final prototype. We took some photos after our first presentation during tutorial and as mentioned previously, we had pretty good feedbacks as well as constructive comments.
Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the second presentation during our last tutorial but I have heard some really positive feedbacks from my groupmates. Although we need to retake the photographs to be used in our project, Jing likes our scenarios chosen for the project just that we can be even more dramatic.
To add in more ‘layers’ and depth to our project, Jing also suggested to design our project into something like a comic, to give it a fun style of a comic.
I am really thrilled to complete this project! And I think the comic twist will work perfectly on our idea of corporate world. The combination of “fun style of comic” and the “seriousness of corporate world” is ironic and contrasting, which fits in to our idea that corporate world is confusing and complicated.
I really cannot wait to see our final prototype! :D
After many rounds of brainstorming, my group has finally come up with a concept to work on for our final project.
We had several interesting ideas however we were limited by techniques and time constraints, which were really such a pity. Therefore we decided to approach this project in the simplest manner, to keep it concise.
The theme of corporate world is pretty much over-used or cliched, but we are giving it an interesting twist and perspective to this idea. We will be touching on all the stereotypes and phenomenon observed in the office setting. And the twist is that we will lead the audience on by directing them into having a wrong perception of what’s happening and then on closer look (and second thought), the same gesture has a totally different meaning from what they have perceived.
For example, a simple gesture like a pat on the shoulder seems nice and comforting but on second thought (closer look), the same action draws resemblance of someone stabbing his victim on his back.
Besides that, during tutorial discussion, Jing has provided really insightful comments and led us think of more ideas for our project. Initially we were thinking in a narrow-minded direction, just focusing on the negativity of ‘rat race’ and Jing has provided us with a new perspective that the corporate world is not just about the bad happenings; there is always positive side to everything.
After the first presentation of our chosen idea, Jing has also given us inspirations and prompted us to look deeper into the idea of corporate world - the corporate world is confusing and how are we supposed to show this idea in our interactive project?
It was quite a confusion after Jing dropped the bomb about our ‘untitled’ final interactive project for this module.
No one in CNM has done it before and even Jing herself was new to it. However, I am looking forward to this project though there is no previous standards to follow and we have to start everything from scratch.
Really challenging!
Hello everyone! Here’s my new photomontage. Well, I guess my Photoshop skills are still as bad but I have worked on the perspective in my new piece.
I took extra attention on the perspective such as further object is smaller and darker and things like that. :)
I was inspired by the idea of globalisation and its effects on the modern people of our times. My very first idea was to focus on the impact on women, which draws me to research on feminism.
Through my brief research, I found out that lipstick is a symbol of female and empowerment. To include the lipsticks in my montage is to signify that the female is gaining power in the modern society. And to superimpose the lipsticks on a ferris wheel shows that the empowerment has given female a chance to find ‘fun’ and pursue their dreams.
However, I have also added another element which is fountain pens, symbolising knowledge. the fountain pens form a fence in front of the ferris wheel, implying that we need knowledge to breakthrough and pursue the ‘fun’ in life. Fountain pens are a symbol for successful men, which brings my other perspective that female is struggling between being a women and also fighting with men for recognition in regard to career.
I have chosen barbie and ken as subjects because we all know that barbie dolls are plastic and fake, which resonates with our impression that people are fake when it comes to the ‘rat race’. They are attached with price tags because people are being evaluated and labelled with values according to their capabilities and influence and social value. Human beings are being commodified in this world and treated like ‘products’; they is a loss in humanity.
I have removed their eyes and mouth to show that people are ignorant and refuse to do anything about changing the world (that is becoming more and more cold and heartless).
Lastly, I have photoshopped in a ‘saw’ that resembles a flight a stairs to symbolise that the corporate ladder is dangerous and anyone can get cut by it.
oh my holy mama! I swear my eyes bleed doing assignment 3.. T-T
Here’s my final product for my tutorial critique!
Totally not satisfied because I find that my techniques do not match with what I wanted it to be :(
Hais. It was so difficult to find the appropriate photographs to tweak with too. Double HAIS. D:
I was inspired to do a replica of the famous Iwo Jima picture but I guess this really kind of failed. :(
In preparation to Assignment 3, we had a pretty intensive crash course on Photoshop. Jing had gone through some of the fundamental techniques such as layer mask and smart object.
Personally, I have done a couple of works with Photoshop and Illustrator as I took several design-based modules in the past semester. However Jing’s tutorial came in handy in refreshing my memory.
It is very difficult for me to pinpoint any techniques that are new to me but I have learnt the importance of undestructive photoshop skills, whereby the original picture is not “damaged” and we can easily restore the picture into its original state.
During the tutorial Jing showed us how to select our object accurately using various tools such as brush, pen tool, lasso tool, quick selection tool and etc. Personally, I did similar designs to my assignment 2 where I did a colour isolation to make my ‘apple’ stand out. I had some difficulty in selecting the apple during my edits. So now, I have a better idea on which tool to use.
In Jing’s tutorial, she used a function called the “Smart Radius” but she was using CS 5 and I am using CS 3. But fret not, I did a quick search and found a good way to select hair strands in CS 3! Using the highlight tool under Extract, I can also select the frizzy hair accurately using CS 3. (I have posted this on IVLE forum as well)
I think it is not difficult to understand what the tools and functions can do to our photographs but it is the mapping of your art concepts to how you are going to achieve the effect through the use of tools and whether or not it will give the desired effect is another question.
Back to the days when I was in secondary school, you are considered trendy if you own a handphone. It was a common sight to see students sms-ing under their school desk during lessons and making sure they are not caught by teachers or worse, principal!
Well, technology has advanced and the handphones (that used to function simply just for making calls, sending short messages, making reminders and notes, sometimes even as a portable radio) nowadays are made to stick to you like a personal secretary, a best friend, as diary or even a playmate!
And now, the handphone can be even used as a camera, a pretty decent one. I am not an Iphone user (soon-to-be) but my current LG phone plays quite a satisfying role as a portable camera where I can just point and shoot anytime, anywhere.
Currently, the handphone industry has evolved tremendously and you even have a phone that is SMART! Talking about smartphone, the Iphone is definitely the first that comes into people’s mind. It might not be everyone’s favourite but it is arguably the most impactful one that has revolutionised the whole market.
Whether android advocates love it or not, IPHONES ARE EVERYWHERE!
Iphone users have their iphone everywhere they go, it seems that the phone is undetachable and inseparable in their lives. Iphone has became a necessity and they seem to can’t live without that smart gadget anymore. Iphone has integrated into their lifestyle.
I think it is kind of sad that people are so attached to technology that they forgot to look what’s beyond the tiny screen, they get so self-absorbed in their own world they forgot to communicate face-to-face meaningfully.
Therefore, I decided to touch on this Iphone Phenomenon for my assignment 2. Instead of showing the iphone itself, I have used an apple to represent the phone. The purpose behind the use of apple as it is the brand logo of Iphone. The bitten apple logo is one of the most iconic symbol of all.
From my series of photos, I want to show that people bring their iphone around everywhere, everyday. Without looking at the context of the apple being a representation of an Iphone, audiences might find it ridiculous for someone to bring an apple around - be it sleeping with an apple, bringing apple into the toilet, carrying it around for a jog.
An apple a day, keeps everyone away.
Drop your iphone, don’t get too self-absorbed and forget about how to make meaningful interactions in real-life! :)
“Leaving” by Barry Kite
I really like Barry Kite’s work because his work tells a rebellious story. Coming from a literary background, Kite, via his compelling titles, seeks to establish a dialogue/tension between his words and images.
Jing shared some thought-provoking issues on aesthetics of photography and it set me thinking for quite a few days.
She asked if we still stand on the notion of taking photos “as it is” in this era where post-processing is so widely available, easy-to-use and capable of enhancing our photos in ways that we did not imagine before.
Well, I believe that it would be best to present the raw form of photographs however, to edit and post-process transcends the idea of mere photo-taking, it grants more room for self-expression and enhancement on the message that a photographer wants to convey. We should not reject the idea of post-process and neither should we abuse the use of technology. A picture should be edited with purpose - to create a certain mood, atmosphere or to communicate a message - not just for the sake of aesthetics.
In short, unedited photographs capture magic of the moment (with great stories behind) while processed photographs evoke certain emotions and feelings. There is definitely no right or wrong in using editing tools.
After a short sharing session, we were given a topic to work with during the tutorial - favourite part of the tutorial! :D
Like Jing said, different people have varied guidelines in judging beauty/aesthetics, I have my own set of expectations too.
I love listening to stories and I usually access (any form of) artworks according to the narratives/meaning behind - that is why all artwork has a short write-up attached to it! When an artwork comes alive when it is bestowed with a meaning. Therefore, I expect an artwork to have a purpose, a message or some form of takeaways - not just pleasing to the eyes.
Here are some of my shots:
Spotted some beer bottles near the Arts canteen so I took a snapshot on it. But it does not seem to fit the topic…
My last attempt when I was on my way back to playroom - the “abandoned” corridor outside of CNM department. The mosaic wall and the unique metal gate are certainly architecture features in the 90s, which makes it pretty special in modern times now.
I decided to give it a consistent 90s feel using sepia filter found in my humble handphone.
After adding a “lomography” filter to the original picture, the processed picture possessed a different mood - with the additional vignette and yellowish tint it somehow seems to be more aesthetically pleasant. Perhaps it is the warmth that the yellow gives to the picture.
Here’s a shot of a lecture class in one of the seminar rooms along AS1. I found the sight interesting as it seems like the students are in a cabin. Well, I guess we all came to NUS to embark on a learning journey with our fellow peers, friends, coursemates, etc… :D
My most satisfied photo for the short exercise though it is not really relevant to the topic. It is intriguing to see distance between the indian workers and the man who is talking on the phone. There is a physical distance and then there is the employer-employee kind of distance between them.
Alright, that aside, here is our chosen piece for the mini competition:
Sugar Daddy! That is the name of this picture, taken by Serene. The photo is blur (unintentional but inevitable) however, the picture is oddly pleasing to the eye. A classic phone photography where hand shake is evident.
The reason why I voted for this picture (among my group and tutorial mates) is the message behind. Seeing Indian worker carrying a bag of white sugar seems expected and not worth any of our (and the bystanders’) attention because it is just a mundane and ordinary job; and a pretty common sight in Singapore. However, people overlooked the fact that the white sugar he delivered is the same sugar used in our food and beverages. We are actually connected to him in a very subtle way, in a very extraordinary way.