For National Integration Council, one of their objectives is to increase the awareness of the importance of integration.
Experimental photography as well as an alternative digital capture (A flatbed scanner) was used to capture these images.
BARRIER In this experiment, models are asked to place their face onto the scanner and to stay still till the scanning is over. The idea is to make it look like there is an invisible barrier (results of using a scanner at 600dpi) in front of the people, where their faces are also squashed against the ‘barrier’. It is also to represent metophorically how foreigners may feel when they first enter Singapore - trapped, squashed and suffocated even in their jobs or daily lives.
For the tone of voice, it is more serious, as the portraits are also not smiling and most parts of the photo is dark. The objective for the images I chose is to be able to raise awareness to people to be more open to foreigners in Singapore.
After exploring more, objects relating to the models were also added to the scanner, such as the cadet captain badge as well as a necklace.
Overview of the BARRIER series
Model was told to stay still for the whole scan. It was captured with 600dpi.
Models were told to stay still while the scanner scans their face. However the cadet captain badge was being moved constantly throughout the scan.
Objects were being moved and replaced as the scanner scans at 600dpi. This results in slightly warped objects. This was taken in warm lighting.
Personal Reflection
On the first day of Imaging Lab, we were being exposed to alternative digital capture. Alternative digital capture means that it is another digital alternative other than a digital camera. We were told to experiment with a scanner using it’s different resolutions,to capture images. At first, I was feeling pretty skeptical about scanners capturing images, especially portraits! It never occured to me that scanners could produce such mysterious looking outcomes. When my friends I first started with the scanning, we started with the lowest resolution.
We noticed that the objects captured had a smoother appearance due to it’s low resolution.
While using the scanner, we experimented with different materials to overlay to create the image. One of the objects we used were colour gels as well as denim jackets to create more visual interest in the message. I also went home to research more on scanography and found some interesting materials that can be used such as the clear film.
The whole process was very enjoyable due to the freedom to expriment as much as we want! Now we all know the unique outcome of alternatice capture.
