Portraying through Portraits

Portrait photography is usually use to shoot a subject, be it a person or a group of people where the mood, the facial expression and details of the face is often captured in order to emphasize the facial features.

This photo is also a bust shot portrait with two subjects is definitely a high key picture as it emphasized on the beautiful flowers and the colour contrast was obvious between red and yellow gave a pop to the portrait. The good vibes can be felt when looking at this photo and this can also be a featured photo.

This photo is a bust shot portrait of two subjects and it combines with a movement shot as the falling flowers were also captured in motion. This portrait can be a feature photo and also a high key photo because the mood of the photo defines happiness like the feeling of experiencing Fall season. The challenge in taking a motion photo takes a lot of skills and speed as it is not easy to take a clear photo of moving things.

This picture is a portrait of two people and it is a full shot of the subject. The technique used in this picture was to shoot the entire subject but still leaving enough headroom and space to allow the environment to be seen as well. 

Subjects: Yeow Pui Foong and Aina Rashidah

Pictures taken by: Yong Suk Zanne

Assisted by: Elaine Chow

Featured Photos

Nowadays, we can see that online contents have become more visual in terms of nature. That is why featured photos have become more and more important these days.

So, what are featured photos?

According to www.mitostudios.com, featured photos are images that represents contents, mood or theme found in our post. 

Here are three examples of featured photos.

The first example is a muslim man surrounded by dogs.

Photo adapted from The Star, Oct 7, 2013.

This photo is considered as a featured photo because it is a type of scenery that we can normally see and it grabs attention. This photo is suitable with the subject of the news content as it directed its focus on a muslim man trying to find a perfect shelter for his dogs. The technique used in this photo is a wide range shot as it captures the main characters which is the man, his wife, dogs and his surrounding. 

Next, the below is the second example of a featured photo, showing children from Ethiopia are trying to camouflage between those trees with their painted face. 

Photo adapted from National Geographic, 2016.

This photo is considered as a feature photo because it is rare and grabs attention. Featured photos are photos that are not normally seen in our daily lives. Technique used here are midrange shot, which is a general shot that focuses on the subjects. 


Lastly, the third example of a featured photo shows a baby is resting on his or her mother's chest in a sling. 

Photo adapted from The Star, February 28, 2017. 

This photo is a featured photo because it is heart warming and evokes viewers' emotions. This photo is suitable with its article which focuses on celebration of baby-wearing at city's Northern Sling Exhibition. In terms of techniques, a close-up shot is used, which focuses on the baby sleeping soundly inside a sling. 




References:

"Baby-wearing is celebrated at city’s Northern Sling Exhibition", adapted from http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/baby-wearing-is-celebrated-at-city-s-northern-sling-exhibition-1-8402014 on 19th March 2017. 

"Good Photos In National Geographic", adapted from http://www.boredpanda.com/ on 19th March 2017. 

"Finding A Home for His Furry Pals", adapted from http://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/people/2013/10/07/finding-a-home-for-his-furry-pals/ on 22nd March 2017.

Lynsey: Capturing Pictures and Creating Advocacy

The role of a photojournalist is not just about capturing images through the lens of their camera. The images captured acts as a powerful weapon to make changes in the world. While clicking the shutter button, they are also advocating for those in needs. Being a photojournalist has enable them to show a different perspective of a story. They are able to share happiness and joy despite being in a crisis and restriction. For example when Lynsey Addario captured a wedding ceremony that was held hidden from the Taliban Regime. Being a photojournalist, permits us to report what is happening at the ground level, capturing and witnessing what is happening right before their eyes. Thus, allowing us to capture a wide perspective of an issue.

However, as interesting and fun it may sound like, it also comes with a huge risk. When going through an area of crisis, our safety is not always guaranteed. We have to sneak in and cross borders illegally for the sake of photos. The laws and authorities can’t help to back us up. Lynsey Addario, a female photojournalist who went through a lot of threats and dangers in order to be able to capture the pictures for the purpose of telling the world of issues happening in an area of crisis. She risks her life whenever she is on assignment. 

Money is no longer the main motivation here, it takes passion and courage to get through your job. We are often found stuck between being a human and photojournalist. This is where the issue of ethics come into the picture. Lynsey Addario, despite knowing the true criteria of newsworthy photos has decided not to photograph a woman in labour when she was a job assignment back when she was in Afganistan. Besides, Lynsey has shown people that being a photojournalist needs to be mentally strong. She was kidnapped and got threatened by people around her when she was on an assignment. Even so, those negative experiences have never stop her from continuing her job.

When capturing a photo story of an event, Lynsey Addario has a tendency to focus more on the humanistic side of the issue. In most of her photos, she showcases pictures of humans and not much on the destruction aftermath of the issue a contrast to the works done by James Nachtwey. Lynsey Addario captured the grassroots problems of the issue instead of just focusing on the bigger picture. 

Lynsey Addario often potray women as the main subjects in most of her assignments. She showcased women in the military, the unsung heroes of the front line. Her coverage of the everyday life of  women in the base camp has cultivates a better understanding and appreciation towards women in the military. She also depicts the issue on women's rights in Afganistan in her photographs by showcasing the cultural control that women faced every day. She showcased the issue of subordination and discrimination they had gone through that affect their freedom and how their basic human rights has been violated. 

When she covered the issue of maternal mortality in Sierra Leone. The heartbreaking coverage was able to trigger the government to act and alter their policy to meet the women practical gender needs that were hinder due to geographical factor and the lack of the number of professional health care officers despite having free heatlh care services. Lynsey was also able to engage with Doctors without Borders (MSF) where they have provided 5 ambulances on each of Bo's province that offer 24 hours emergency service to women in that province. The change in the Sierra Leone government's policy has decrease the rate of maternal mortality by 60 percent. This reflects how photojournalists are able to be agents of change in the society. 

She was able to showcase the timeline of maternal mortality that has been growing rapidly in Africa.  Her pictures were heartbreaking and eye-opening as her explicit photographs have truly reflected on the critical issue of maternal mortality. Her narrative that follows the heart wrenching photos were able to trigger the emotional side of the audiences besides giving them better understanding of the critical issue.

By doing so, she is able to bring forward women’s issue for everyone to ponder and take action upon. As women are often forgotten and neglected in our society, especially during the time of crisis. Her coverage has given women a platform to voice out their need for help and protection for survival. Lynsey has not only manage to bring forth women's issue but she has also showed empowerment through her courage and passion as a female photojournalist.

(Collaborative writing between Aina Rashidah, Suk Zanne and Pui Foong)

Shots With Meanings

When we look at a piece of photo, certainly we will have a certain feeling for it. Our attention often caught by the subject, background and colours of the photo. We can see photos through different shots, but have we ever wonder about the meaning behind all shots? Have we ever think about the purpose of choosing this shot and not that? Every shot has its own meaning lies within it. 

To explain the meaning that lies behind a certain shot, I decided to explain it through photos that I have taken from Mini Carnival KEBATIM which was held in 5th Residential College, University of Malaya. Mini Carnival KEBATIM is an event held for the purpose of allowing KEBATIM to sell food products in order to raise funds for orphans and also at the same time, bring along orphans to enjoy themselves wholeheartedly in an explore race which was specially planned for them by the KEBATIM's committees. 

Observing HardWorking Committees

The shot above is a point of view shot. What is the meaning of point of view shot? Point of view shot is basically a type of shot that focuses on what the character is looking at and also to see the reaction of the character. In this shot, it is clear to be seen that the character which is the photographer is looking at her committees through her phone's camera. This also shows that she is trying to snap down the moment of her committees working hard and cooperate with each other in setting up the camp for their mini carnival. 

Dance Away Your Worries

This also an example of a point of view shot. This photo shows that the photographer is looking at her committees and underprivileged children enjoying themselves by doing aerobics.

Sponsored Buns Always Taste The Best

Quench Your Thirst With POKKA

Mini Carnival KEBATIM is sponsored by BurgerLab, POKKA, Tiara's Shaky Ice Cream and Gempak Starz. Both shots above is focusing on sponsored items. This is what we call as Close- Up Shot. A close up shot is a type of shot where the subject takes most of the frame. In both shots, we can clearly notice that the buns and drinks take up most of the frame, where those two food products are the main subject or focus of both photos.

By reading examples above, it is easy to understand and interpret meanings and purposes behind point of view and close- up shots. Besides, by understanding meanings that lie within shots help us to take photos with purpose and also in a way, know how to convey message that we want the audience to receive effectively. 

References 

"The Power Of Point Of View". Retrieved 5th March 2017 from https://www.premiumbeat.com/blog/power-point-view-pov-shots/ 

"Close Up Shot". Retrieved 5th March 2017 from http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/closeup.html

Shots in a Fruitful Frame

A photo is only worthy if it is taking a right thing at a right time but most importantly at a right angle with the right shot. A good photojournalist is good at determining what to shoot and how to shoot to produce an impactful photo. A good shot will not only ensure the visuals or subject to be in the frame but the size and angles of the visual or subject. Otherwise, the photo can be perceived differently than what the photographer is intending to show.

For this task, I have chosen to test my skills in the latest event organised by our very own Mediavengers. Media Camp was held last Saturday (3^rd of March 2017) at Foyer Jabatan Media from 6:30pm to 11:30pm. The main highlight of Media Camp was to view the Short Films and documentary that was produced and made by our very own Media students to appreciate their work and also to give enlightenment to juniors or anyone who is interested in the production line to get a taste of what it is like to produce a short film or documentary.

A wide shot also known as long shot is usually for when there is a close relation between the subject and the environment (MediaCollege.n.d). This shot is used when the photographer tries to show the size of the scale of the subject and also the surroundings but with a comfortable amount of headroom in order to not make the photo looked cramped.

This photo was to show the crowd that was there during the opening of Media Camp.

A cut in also known as a close up shot is usually applied when the photographer wants to shot the subject in detailed. The outcome of the photo may appear bigger than the actual size of the subject because the photographer want to show even the smallest details.

This photo showed one of the decorations that was used to lighten up the mood during Media Camp and it made it look merry.

Point of view shot is usually used when the photographer intends to show what they see and put audience directly into the head of the character (Dize, 2016).

This shot was taken as my point of view as a way to pass my ‘awe’ to the audience as I was amazed by this poster of Media Camp because we were part of the committee that made it happen.

References:

MediaCollege. (n.d). Shot types. Retrieved 5 March 2017 from http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/

Justin Dize . Filmaking101: Camera shot types. Retrived 5 March 2017 from https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/video/tips-and-solutions/filmmaking-101-camera-shot-types

Type of shots: An enabler in making picture tells a thousand words

The phrase "a photo speaks a thousand words" is a common phrase used when it comes to photography. But have you ever wondered how a single picture could convey a lot of meaning? What are the mechanisms behind a piece of a photograph that able them to "speak" thousands of words? This is where the role of a photography shot came in. 

Just like when an artist draws a drawing, they need to choose what to focus on in their drawing that will later be the main subject of their artwork. The same rule applies to photography. The photographer needs to choose what they want to focus on as the main subject of the picture that would later help to convey a message to the audience. A variety of shots plays an important in emphasising and showcasing the message the photographer tries to convey through their works.

To showcase the variety of shots, I have decided to use Kedai Jalanan at Medan Tuanku as the subject for this assignment.

Kedai Jalanan is a unique a pop-up store that serves the homeless and urban poor as their customers. Kedai Jalanan gives out free clothes and toiletries to the homeless and urban poor in a set up of a retail store. Dr Rusaslina Idrus first initiated this project together with the help from students of the University of Malaya as volunteers. Using the same concept of a retail shop complete with racks to hang the clothes, Kedai Jalanan gives the chance to those in need the freedom to choose the items that they want.

(Hariati Azizan, 2016) 

An establishing shot is used to showcase the subject’s surrounding (Stovall, 2005). It is used to showcase a general overview of the subject without focusing solely on them (MediaCollege, n.d). It gives the audience/reader a better visual understanding of the scale and magnitude of the event. It also helps to showcase the motions that are happening during the event. 

Hectic preparation at Medan Tunku

The preparation for the store opening

These pictures showcase what is going on during the event. It depicts the scenarios of the event. It also gives the audience/reader a better visual understanding of the set up of Kedai Jalanan. 

Midrange shot is used to put a subject in a context (Stovall, 2005). Compare to establishing shot that showcases a general shot of the whole event, midrange shot focuses on the subject during the event. It still showcases the event but with a little more emphasis on the subject (Stovall, 2005). 

A welcoming sign for those in need

The picture puts the store sign as the subject. The store sign is the indication that Kedai Jalanan is open for their customers and that they are welcome. It also acts as the project’s identifier.

The male section of Kedai Jalanan

This picture puts the racks of shirts as the subject. It is to showcases the options Kedai Jalanan has to offer for their customer. It also gives a closer view of the set up of Kedai Jalanan. 

In short, there are a different kind of shots in photography that able the pictures to tell stories without words.

References

Stovall, J. G. (2005). Journalism: Who,what,when,where,why and how. Boston: Pearson Education, Inc.

MediaCollege. (n.d). Shot types. Retrieved 3 March 2017 from http://www.mediacollege.com/video/shots/

Hariati Azizan. (2016). More than just a kerb store. Retrieved 3 March 2017 from http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/05/15/more-than-just-akerb-store-it-is-not-just-provisions-that-student-initiative-kedai-jalanan-bring-to/