Photographify

For the final assignment, we were to combine different images representing different cultures. The first row of photos are the dominant images in my culture clash, and the second one was the main subject matter of the third one. I wanted to focus a bit more on the surreal factor of the assignment, which is why I made it an object. I adjusted the opacity so that there would be a faint layer of frost on the photo.

By using the polygonal lasso tool, I got a cleaner cut to select the windows to remove the matter behind them. By zooming in to a great extent, I used the eraser tool to remove any untidy pixels. When the spaces behind the windows were empty, I put the photograph of Maine to fill it in. By using the magnetic lasso tool, I selected the squatting baby, adjusted the size, and put it behind the window in Maine.

By using the warp/distortion tool, I made it so that the image I created looked "bent" and was similar to the shape of the candle. This made it seem as if it was either a reflection or that the subjects of the photo were captured in the glass. The candle itself is in black and white, which brings emphasis to the color of the main culture clash.

Photo Challenge 12 - Photos that describe the May holiday and how Chinese citizens celebrate it

Photo Challenge 11 - Interview your parents. What was their first photo? Why was their first camera?

abstract

adjective |abˈstrakt, ˈabˌstrakt|

existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence: abstract concepts such as love or beauty.

"Abstract" is present in many forms, but I think art is the most prominent. This was the focus of this week, to focus on textures that are visually appealing.

This first photo (row one first photo), is of a small bag. The material the bad is made from had an interesting texture by itself, but the fringe and the zipper added to the photo. The colors are neutral, which makes the texture even more evident.

Once again dealing with fringes, (first row, right photo) I took this photo of a blanket. I thought that the way each individual piece of fabric went in it's own direction to create the fringe made for a nice photograph.

This cardigan (row two) has been zoomed in on, making it quite ambiguous what it could be. The way that the contrast in light and dark have been woven together to make an article of clothing looks rather abstract, and caught my eye to photograph.

Something incredible about abstract is that it's never quite closed to just one thing. This (third row left photo) photo is of none other than my blanket. I've always loved looking at the tiny dots and how they gradually get bigger, but looking at the bigger picture, it's open to all interpretations. The hues blend in correspondance with the size of dots, and the creases of the blankets add volume and three dimensionality.

This picture (third row right photo) has been taken of the coils which form the lid of a small basket. The color and texture gives the impression of authenticity, while the content of the photo is explicit in abstraction. 

These horizontal lines (last row left photo) have been taken at some of the doors in our school. They could just be lines, they could be stripes, they could be anything you want them to be. I love the imperfection of the lines, as well as the bright lighting.

Although this (last row right photo) was a painting done by someone else, I admired it too much to let it pass without taking a photograph. The texture from the paints was so explicit, while the colors create a mystical and dreamy atmosphere.

Abstraction allows the viewer to interpret it however they want.

Abstraction allows for creativity.

And as said by Jerry Saltz, 

The World Scholar's Cup Beijing Rounds has just been hosted by the International School of Beijing. 

The first row of photos is just about how many notecards it is possible to go through after just three rounds of debates. Yes, these note cards are double sided. My team and I furiously scrawled notes given the 15 minutes to prepare, and once the debate has commenced, we scribbled as many illegible rebuttals as possible.

The second row (third photo), is a representation of just how many trophies and medals there are to be awarded. Given the masses of student participating in such an event, this is only the table excluding all the honor roll medals.

Following this up, is that trophies and medals awarded to my team and I. I'm not going to lie; this was an incredibly exciting factor of the competition, the awards. The materialistic sides of us believed that this was all that mattered, we'd worked our way to these achievements. Yet the other sides of us knew that it wasn't over. The journey with education never is. Then again - Global Rounds are approaching. 

The alpaca is the mascot of World Scholar's cup. At each tournament, a stuffed alpaca will either be given to each participant. They come in every hue of the rainbow, and yes, that is a giant stuffed alpaca in the corner. And yes, they do bring it to all the rounds around the world.

This last row first photo is of my name tag. Why yes, I am the sample team and letter number for the Scholar's Challenge, 123 A. 

This last photo is of the Senior Debate Showcase. Based on their scores from round debates, 6 debaters will be selected to speak in front of the entire group of people. Nerve wracking as it is, the debate showcase puts a spotlight on some truly incredible speakers. 

IB Art Exhibition 

"What is your favorite thing about your job or Beijing? [你在工作或者在北京最喜欢什么？]"

"Uh..in Beijing, I really like the buildings [我最喜欢北京的建筑"

"What about when you’re at work? [那在工作的时候呢？]"

"During work…I really like the compounds scenery [在工作的时候最喜欢园区的风景]"

"What is your favorite thing about working here or Beijing? [你在北京或者工作的时候最喜欢什么东西]"

“*Laughs*, what do you exactly mean? [*笑*， 说的什么方面]”

“Like, why did you come to Beijing or what do you like most about Beijing? [就是为什么来北京或者你在北京喜欢什么东西]”

Photo Challenge 10 (continued) - Brandon Stanton style portraits and ask similar questions to your family members, ayis etc. 

"What one word would you use to describe yourself?"

Photo Challenge 10 - Brandon Stanton style portraits and ask similar questions to your family members, ayis etc. 

"If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?"

"To have a more symmetrical face."

"Why?"

"Import athletes"

"I hope that perhaps I would be retired, but even if I am I would still like to be consulting or working with education. Maybe I could help with some of the poorer areas around the world"

"Sleeping. I'm tired."

"20 years ago, where did you see yourself today?"

"Actually, when I was 20 I was thinking about going into a career with the law or government"

"Well, I want to work somewhere in public health or do Eco work in NGO or in the World Health Organization."

"I'd be taller if I could"

"Nothing. I'm perfect!"

"Be bigger, bulkier"

"I would like to be a teacher. Right now I'm a teaching assistant, but maybe one day I will be a teacher" 

Pretty much everyone on tumblr is probably aware of the Humans of New York blog. As an assignment, we went around the school and asked people questions, then took their photo. I found it intriguing how such deceptively simple questions were so thought provoking. 

The posts below consists of four questions we asked a variety of different people. The questions were:

How would you describe your childhood?

What one word would you use to describe yourself?

What was the happiest moment of your life?

Why do you live in Beijing?

Some of them we knew, some of them we didn't. I suppose that's all a part of the experience; learning bits about people to put the pieces together.

"It was happy. Oh, it was an ordinary childhood, I suppose. "

"Carefree."