OCT 19

Photography & Moving Image workshop (Day 2)

What do you think is involved in producing a moving image portrait of someone else? Do you think you achieved this today?
- I feel making a compelling moving image portrait is undoubtedly a complex process, it can be easy to accidentally shift the focus away from my intended subject. Therefore, I think it is important to consider some key factors highlighted in today's presentation. Elements such as composition, perspective, frame, gesture (movement), and location play a big part in effectively conveying the subject of film. For my project, the primary focus was on capturing my model with her strawberries. I aimed to keep the attention firmly fixed on this subject. While it would have been ideal to have a red backdrop, which I had to digitally photoshop during day 1 of this workshop, I couldn't find a red backdrop around archway for my moving image project. I went through a few attempts to creating my moving image portrait. After reviewing my initial video, I was very unsatisfied and decided to entirely rewrite my storyboard, reshooting everything from scratch. Second attempt, I was more successful in manipulating the elements of location, frame, and gesture to convey my subject effectively. In contrast, my first attempt lacked movement within the location, the framing was awkwardly close to the subject, and the narrative seemed disjointed. Despite the improvements in my second attempt, I still found myself somewhat dissatisfied. I wished I had more time to plan the storyboard and felt that I had not pushed the boundaries of my creativity enough. As I approach Part 2 of CSM FAD, I have set a goal with this dissatisfaction, motivating me to think more expansively and creatively in my future endeavors.
You were asked to occupy the role of both photographer and subject today. Say a little bit about your experience within each role. Was it comfortable? Uncomfortable? Did you find it challenging? Or did it come naturally to you?
- Corresponding from the first day of this workshop, I have mentioned that I am very comfortable on camera, so I had lots of fun being directed by my partner, and using my skills of acting for her project. As of being the photographer today, since I have barely any prior experiencing to directing film or anything quite similar. I feel that this is great learning experience to exploring my creativity through filmography. Nevertheless, it is very rewarding to me to direct a moving image portrait, it is definitely very different from taking still images, because there is so much more different photography elements to keep in mind.
What were the responses to your moving image work, both from your subject and from the wider group? How would you extend the work you have done for this workshop if you had more time?
- My moving image work is definitely not my subject’s usual area of exploration, so she was looking at a quite new and refreshing version of herself on the screen. Overall, she found my project refreshing and fun to watch. Unlike her own and other films we saw of our peers, it wasn’t intense or held any specific strong message behind the video, soley a video to enjoy, like the cartoons we watch as kids. As for the responses from a wider group, they had similar responses suggesting that my film was a silly little film that brings a happy and lighthearted mood to audiences.

Reflections

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