I'm Back!

Feet, originally uploaded by misterthomas.

It definitely feels good to be back blogging on blogger. Don't get me wrong, blogger hasn't been mistreating me; In fact, I have been the one neglecting the blog. I guess school work has really dealt a blow to my social life and whatnot. Nonetheless, I am now back to blogging.

I don't think people(if at all) visit this blog now, but it doesn't matter. Really. Because I think keeping a journal of my own progress will benefit me in the long run(somehow lah).

Thanks to school, I enjoyed a period of being content with whatever equipment I have, and was really happy to hear my friend exclaim, "Thomas, you really know your camera well huh!"

I guess that is the most important thing for anyone dabbling in photography: To know your tools well, and be willing to work with whatever you have.

Again, thanks to school, I was forced away from photography into painting, drawing and other stuff. I can say it was beneficial to me, because it really got me into thinking about images in terms of the formal elements and principles of art. Which I realise that I have unknowingly started appreciating in any image, more so in photography.

More on that next time I guess. For now, I shall continue working on the blog. In the meantime, I shall start posting some of the images that I have taken over the past few months!

As I begin to feel the many anxieties that result from knowing more photographers (really talented ones), I inevitably begin to ask myself what makes me call myself that as well. Am I only a maker of photos, or am I something more? If so, what?

I would like to think that my insecurities are getting ahead of me, but the contrast in the work is substantial. As others take off in all directions, I look at them with envy. I know for a fact that neither envy nor jealously will take me anywhere - Only action can.

But even so, I am not quite sure how to respond when I think of this question:

Where exactly do my passions lie?

There are some who come for a realization of their career. Others are here to sharpen their industry-ready skills. I come here, without much clue, lacking clarity in vision, and quite simply unsure of the future. What do I want to be?

All I know is I want to take photos, so take photos I will.

Home Away from Home

Came across this Saturday special on The Straits Times(18th April 2009), which talked about this photojournalist who stayed at a hostel for immigrant workers for a total of 5 weeks. In it were his experiences living amongst them and a photo essay which I thought was pretty outstanding. Great photography.

It fully encapsulated the little joys, frustrations, and moments of solidarity between workers of different races, origins, backgrounds, and reading the article- I could feel myself jumping into their world just by looking at the photos and reading their captions. It hit home the message that they're really not that different from us after all. I mean we all know that they are also human beings, have rights, etc etc, but I guess it takes a deeper level of understanding that in the end, their stories can only be as real as ours, and what they are going through probably wouldn't strike our fancy even a little bit. So, go and have a look, let me know what you think.

Soul

Someone once said when you take a photograph of someone, you take a part of that person along with you. People may like it, or people may not.

But one thing's for sure, a great photograph, like all pieces of art, will evoke a response from the person viewing it. A great photographer can even determine the kind of emotion that his works plant into the viewer. It speaks to them on a personal level.

That, is something special.

For me, until I get there, I'll probably keep trying.