artistic
Although I've been taking photography as a serious art for maybe 7 years now, it is only recently that I've really focused my energies into it. I like being the "photographer", I like to try and capture a unique perspective of what I see through the viewfinder. Sometimes it comes out well, sometimes, mediocre. But I keep trying, and sometimes I get a gem.
monochrome
For some time, I held the personal belief that black and white photography was more suited for artistic photos, whilst colour photography was more mundane. Although I have long since discarded that idea, and recognise that colour and monochrome photography each have their own niche and purpose, I still feel that the lack of colour helped to focus more on the subject of the photography, and even the most normal things can be transformed to something beautiful. That is, in some way, the reason why I enjoy black and whites.
colour
Despite my misgivings at one point, I have grown to love colour photography. Partially because I started using black and white film more often, I have started to notice the need for colour in some of my photos. Although sometimes colour detracts from the subject of the photograph, there are other times when colour is absolutely integral to the photo. And there are times when colour is the main subject of the photo. The other reason why I haven't given up on colour photography is possibly because I've been using a much faster aperture nowadays...
series
Photojournals are little stories you tell with photographs. In a way, photojournals show action or motion where the photo itself cannot. I was first introduced to this concept in class, and had to shoot some for an assignment. Whilst sorting out my photos for the new design, I found several sets of photos which felt stronger when viewed as a series rather than individual photographs. Most of these sets were not shot intentionally to be photojournals; rather, it was simply a feeble attempt on my part to capture the right moment.
friends
In general, photographers like to shoot people they know, and people like to be shot by photographers that they know. For me, this is my newest passion: to capture my friends on film. In a way, it is to document the moment, to document a particular person at a particular point of time. When shooting people I know, I can take advantage of our familiarity to take close-ups, or interesting angles. It's also easier to capture honest emotions, expressions, feelings. I like taking photographs of my friends. It's one of the joys of photography for me.
