Wednesday, October 10, 2007

7:07 PM

Assignment 5: Creep
Objective: To create 3 images of an appropriate object that fits the theme, Creep by exploring 3 aesthetic intentions of a photographer, namely:
(i) realistic (an objective, neutral photo taken with a photo-journalistic style)
(ii) formalistic (explores patterns, light, shade and colour)
(iii) expressionistic (expresses the photographer's feelings at that moment or POV)

When Mr Reddy first announced the theme for the assignment, the first thing that came to mind was a song by Radiohead, entitled Creep. "I'm a creep...I'm a weirdo..."Lovely song........ and then, blank. This wasn't an easy theme to portray, much less x 3 with the same subj.

Did a simple search on dictionary.com and was amazed to find such an exhaustive list of the meaning of the word, creep:
1. to move slowly with the body close to the ground, as a reptile or an insect, or a person on hands and knees.
2. to approach slowly, imperceptibly, or stealthily (often fol. by up): We crept up and peeked over the wall.
3. to move or advance slowly or gradually: The automobile crept up the hill. Time just seems to creep along on these hot summer days.
4. to sneak up behind someone or without someone's knowledge (usually fol. by up on): The prisoners crept up on the guard and knocked him out.
5. to enter or become evident inconspicuously, gradually, or insidiously (often fol. by in or into:) The writer's personal bias occasionally creeps into the account.
6. to move or behave timidly or servilely
7. to grow along the ground, a wall, etc., as a plant.
8. to advance or develop gradually so as to infringe on or supplant something else: creeping inflation; creeping socialism.
9. to slip, slide, or shift gradually; become displaced
10. (of a metal object) to become deformed, as under continuous loads or at high temperatures.
11. an act or instance of creeping
12. Slang. a boring, disturbingly eccentric, painfully introverted, or obnoxious person.
13. Slang. an intelligence or counterintelligence agent; spy.
14. the creeps, Informal. a sensation of horror, fear, disgust, etc., suggestive of the feeling induced by something crawling over the skin: That horror movie gave me the creeps.

For this assignment, I had two attempts.
The first one, I approached creep as to advance or develop gradually so as to infringe on or supplant something else.

This first attempt very clearly shows my realistic, formalistic and expressionistic interpretation of the new braddell flyover (or rather, work in progress).

In my expressionistic shot, you can see how the highway or rather urban development is creeping towards the nature/environment. The framing of the picture is done deliberately to portray the engulfment of nature by the urban. And hopefully, it evokes a sense of suffocation to the viewer and draws a parallel between them and the environment... how the constant pressures to upgrade restricts and suffocates our freedom.

Now, for my second attempt...


While the meaning of 'creep' differs in the 3 aesthetic interpretations, I felt I was successful in conveying the theme throughout the same object - the HDB flat.
In my realistic shot, the theme creep comes through as the urban creep - how it is slowly but surely making its way into nature. Although some might feel that this is expressionistic, I genuinely wasn't trying to put any point of view across it, just capturing what I saw at that moment.
Perhaps I should attempt another realistic shot of the HDB flat, you think?

The second picture is made up of repetitive rectangles, quite evidently formalistic.
This picture undertakes the meaning of creep in a different manner. Here, it takes on the meaning as an intelligence or counterintelligence spy (as in definition #13).
Personally, this picture reminded me of the Big Brother in George Orwell's novel, 1984. The Big Brother essentially refers to an authoritative figure/entity that infringes on our privacy and never stops watching. The people are oppressed.
It's funny how this is part of the HDB design and esp ironic since Singapore has such a monopolistic govt. It seems to suggest a similar link, no?
Notice the looming shadow at the right side of the picture, it seems to indicate a sense of creepiness as well.

I don't love the third picture, but Mr Reddy says it works for formalism as well.
Which do you guys think work better for formalism?

In the fourth picture, one can interpret it in 2 ways.
Firstly, a POV shot a victim of killer litter (which in this case, the creep is the perpetrator).
Secondly, you know how the govt portrays the HDB as something Singaporeans should work towards to, as part of the Singapore Dream... I wanted to express how this dream is a meaningless one, that leads to nothing (notice the clear void). There are bigger things, dreams and ideals people can work towards to, esp Singaporeans who often seem like frogs-in-a-well when they travel overseas. I think there is a serious need for our people to broaden their mindset. The govt has kept us too safe in our little box. In this case, the creep here refers to the creeping (state) ideals and mindsets that the people are subjected to.

This week, I thought Jillyn nailed the assignment home man!
I'd give her 98!
Concept:50/50
Execution: 48/50
I initially wanted to capture snails too but couldn't come across one so kudos to her!
Her realistic, formalistic and expressionistic interpretations of the subject also came out very distinctly. Well done babe :)

In relation to her work, I'd give myself 88!
Concept: 48/50
Execution: 40/50
I assess myself lower on this as I felt that my pictures could come out with a little I don't know, sharper, more contrast. I really like the colours of say Jia Lin's, Paul's and Ivy's pieces. I'm not sure if it's the camera mode I'm using or my inferior skill in using light. Both attempts were taken around evening 5-6. Perhaps I could try taking in RAW mode the nx time round :(