#6 Experimental Camera

Description

In this week's assignment, we created an experimental camera of our choice. Camera is a tool that captures moments, leaving a photographic diary to remember. As it is often used as snapshots, camera is also used to monitor and censor people. It is a medium that we use to look through to the other side, as a way of gazing. I became fascinated with this concept of voyerism, and wanted to explore the relationship between the observer and the one being observed.

Design Process

So in my design, I delved into three different ways to peak through the lens. First, I thought of creating a peering hole that moves around the composition highlighting parts of the camera view. This idea came from piecing together parts to create the whole image. My second idea was revealing parts to give the final image, mimicking the puzzle mechanism of adding up pieces. Lastly, my idea was pixelated abstraction of the image, which would detract information, making the viewer ponder about what, how much detail is needed/essential in postulating the entire image.

Reflection

This project was interesting in that it made me reflect upon the way camera operates, and how it is used. Instead of giving more information, I thought of how one can limit information and create the entire image. How much do we need to reveal to understand? How can use of color help us gather to make image? The pixelated abstraction shows just enough to protect one's privacy and share information.