Sometimes I ask myself this question: Why do I want to take photos? What takes me on this visual journey?
I visited a Hong Kong photographer, Simon Wan's studio during yesterday's afternoon. He taught us through several talks at uni about the value of photographs. The visit was termed as a 'field trip' to make the course complete. Originally I wanted to back out but on second thoughts, I had the intuition that there must be something thought-provoking after the visit, so out of my packed schedule and with an assignment to be finished, I went ahead to Sheung Wan, somewhere which is near yet unfamiliar to myself.
I remember posing this question to myself when I was in Sydney last year:
Why I enjoy taking photos of the same subject matters over and over again?
Why aren't I bored from it?
Why I carried all these heavy instruments around this unfamiliar city?
Why didn't I just stare at it for a while, admire in awe and leave a place instead?
Why didn't I just write my feelings, why was there a need to record with the visual?
Where did my motivation come from?
The hardest question of all: What is my voice?
I browsed and picked up books from COFA and the Customs House library randomly to just widen my views about photos. I've looked at fashion photographs, very experimental photographs, documentaries ... and yes, I still haven't really found the answer as to what I want to do with photography.
Simon raised this question quite at the right time ... I need to find a reason because I have to choose my subject matter carefully and this will give me the passion. On reflection of the incidents happened recently:
I felt extremely unhappy when I lost photographs from my portable hard disk
I was very insistent on recovering data despite the potential high price I have to pay
Images of the past just kept of flashing from my brain
I was very emotional at the time when compared to a lot of harder falls
Besides, when I start to work this August / September, how can I sustain my interest and keep on doing photography? Will I feel bored if I find my images repetitive? Will I then decide to put aside my camera and lens?
Yes, I got to spend time and mull over it ... this city isn't that encouraging and thoughtful in terms of supporting creativity, this is a commercialised, consumerism-led city, it is always harder to stand firm in the fast-flowing stream of over-diligence and in the midst of an attitude where work is an equivalent of life.
So my one of my new-year wish to myself is to spend time and sort out what does photography really means to me, so I won't be taking silly, meaningless photos. Cameras are saturated in the city, but do those people ever think what is the worth of photographs?
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Quoting from Cartier-Bresson:
'For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously. In order to "give a meaning" to the world, one has to feel involved in what one frames through the viewfinder. This attitude requires concentration, discipline of mind, sensitivity, and a sense of geometry. It is by economy of means that one arrives at simplicity of expression. To take a photograph is to hold one's breath when all faculties converge in a face of fleeing reality. It is at that moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.'
'For me the camera is a sketch book, an instrument of intuition and spontaneity, the master of the instant which, in visual terms, questions and decides simultaneously. In order to "give a meaning" to the world, one has to feel involved in what one frames through the viewfinder. This attitude requires concentration, discipline of mind, sensitivity, and a sense of geometry. It is by economy of means that one arrives at simplicity of expression. To take a photograph is to hold one's breath when all faculties converge in a face of fleeing reality. It is at that moment that mastering an image becomes a great physical and intellectual joy.'
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What is 'Natalie in June'?
'Natalie in June' is a site dedicated as my photo journal, putting together selections of images. My interest in capturing images began in high school when I did video recording and until I bought my first Canon A70 when I entered university, I made use of my father's Nikon film camera at times. I am now using Canon 350D to capture my images. The subject matters span through the artificial cityscape and the natural landscape. I also enjoy documenting how city changes or impacts lives.
Why did I name it 'June'? My birthday is in June and it is always significant. It also reminds me how time passes by and that I have grown to understand, observe and experience things around me. As my photos narrates what I perceive, 'June' will mean giving life to thoughts.
Why did I name it 'June'? My birthday is in June and it is always significant. It also reminds me how time passes by and that I have grown to understand, observe and experience things around me. As my photos narrates what I perceive, 'June' will mean giving life to thoughts.
1 comment:
first time visit to your new home on the net.
i don't have answers to your questions, but I do remember someone said that "you don't find happiness in the absence of problems; you find happiness in spite of problems." i suppose that it is great to continue to take photos and ask those questions.
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