daviswuardn

[daviswuardn]

Thought on Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People (2014)

This documentary serves as a reminder of the profound impact of photography in breaking down stereotypes, fostering self-representation, and driving social change. It illustrates how African Americans and other marginalized groups have often been relegated to invisibility or portrayed inaccurately in the media. The film delves into the painful history, from the era of slavery to the unsettling legacies of blackface and lynching, and reveals how wielding the camera as a tool for self-expression became an act of resistance and empowerment.

Also, the documentary prompts us to contemplate the potent role of photography in redefining identity. It hightlights the essence of not only merely capturing moments but also reclaiming one's narrative, confronting biases, and reshaping the story for those who have long been ignored.

[daviswuardn]

Steve Perry is an award-winning landscape and wildlife photographer based in America. He is an expert when it comes to shooting BIF (birds in flight) or capturing general wildlife actions. Unlike many wildlife photographers these days, he doesn't focus heavily on editing, but his photos never fail to amaze me every time I look at them. He is skillful and highly experienced.

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Simon d'Entremont is a wildlife, landscape, and nightscape photographer from Nova Scotia, Canada. Unlike Steve, Simon does more editing for his photos, and his photos tend to feature less action compared to Steve's work. However, I appreciate the way light is portrayed in his photos, and I also feel that Simon excels in storytelling compared to Steve. Capturing BIF is already challenging, so it's even more difficult to pay attention to composition, which is a crucial element in storytelling.

[daviswuardn]

I was lucky enough to meet the duck couple again this week, so I did some portrait for the male duck.

ARDN Self-directed learning W12 BY Davis Wu

[daviswuardn]

•What are the particular, peculiar oddities, beautiful, raw, hidden gems of your surroundings?

Wild birds who adapt the modern city environment.

•Where are your favourite hangouts, haunts, sites of leisure, places of meeting or gathering?

Auckland Domain. It’s the part where it connects to Stanley St, the boundary between city and habitat for birds.

•Are they interiors, exteriors, or both?

Exterior

•Where do you connect with people and places?

Human activities and wildlife activities

•What do these places look like?

A modern park, but with enough trees and bushes for wild birds to thrive.

•How might your photographs convey a connection to them?

From small things like plants to larger scale things like environment, and focus back on wildlife at the end.

[daviswuardn]

Photographer bio practice

Davis was born in 2000 in Tainan, Taiwan, a city located in the southwestern part of the country. His fascination with animals began during his childhood. In 2018, he embarked on his photography journey in Spokane, a small town in Washington state. Over the next two years, he dedicated himself to tracking wildlife in the hills near his home. Regrettably, the pandemic dramatically altered the course of his life, interrupting his ability to pursue his passion. In 2023, he arrived in Auckland, starting a new chapter with the hope of retaking his passion for wildlife photography.

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Born in 2000 in Tainan, Taiwan, Davis' lifelong fascination with the animal kingdom began in the heart of Taiwan's vibrant culture. In 2018, his journey into the world of photography commenced in Spokane, a quiet town nestled in the picturesque landscapes of Washington state. For two years, he roamed the hills near his home, capturing the untamed beauty of wildlife.

However, the world took an unexpected turn in 2020 when the pandemic disrupted his photographic pursuits. In 2023, he found himself in Auckland, New Zealand, commencing a fresh chapter. With renewed determination, he now seeks to rekindle his passion for wildlife photography

In Davis's lens, the creatures of the wild come to life, each frame telling a unique story. Through his unconventional and observant style, he invites you to experience the world's beauty in every shot. Davis' visual language is a bridge between his love for animals and his art, and he looks forward to sharing this journey with you.

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From Tainan, Taiwan, Davis was born in 2000, surrounded by the vibrant culture of his homeland. His fascination with the animal kingdom ignited in his childhood, laying the foundation for his journey.

In 2018, he started wildlife photographing in Spokane, Washington. Over the next two years, he dedicated himself to tracking wildlife in the serene hills near his home. However, the pandemic disrupted his course, momentarily suspending his passion.

Davis embarked on a new chapter in Auckland in 2023. There, he aspires to retake his fervor for wildlife photography. His lens captures the essence of untamed creatures.

Through his lens, Davis invites you to rediscover the wonder of the natural world. His visual narratives evoke a sense of connection to the wild and a deep appreciation for the beauty that surrounds us.

[daviswuardn]

Michele Bavassano is an Italian wildlife photographer who specializes in wildlife portraits. I truly admire the way he edits his work. The background is consistently clear and blurred, with a light source coming from a specific direction that illuminates the animals' faces. The way he adds vignettes makes his subjects stand out more and creates an immersive atmosphere.

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Richard Bernabe is an American photographer, teacher, and author, specializing in nature, wildlife, and travel photography. I appreciate the composition of his work. Instead of having one main subject occupy most of the frame, as is common among many wildlife photographers, he uses the background to assist in telling the story. His work illustrates how different lenses can create different ways of storytelling.

[daviswuardn]

This week, I focused more on storytelling. I used a 40mm lens (equivalent to 60mm). The shooting is more environment-based, and I particularly concentrated on small details. I decided to photograph everything inside Auckland Domain in order to connect with the brief.

ARDN Self-directed learning W11 BY Davis Wu

[daviswuardn]

Feedback and direction from this week

Rather than spreading my focus across different locations, it might be a more effective approach to concentrate on one specific area. Auckland Domain appears to be a promising location for this focused endeavor. Additionally, I intend to conduct in-depth research on the native and introduced bird species in this area and how their presence connects with Auckland. This research will serve as the foundation for my project. I will also initiate the process of documenting Auckland Domain using a variety of focal lengths and photography techniques. This comprehensive documentation will help me build connections that align with the objectives outlined in the project brief.

[daviswuardn]

Photobook analyze

I really appreciate the way BaBien utilizes black and white here. Personally, I tend to use black and white only when the image has simple components with a clear background. However, this picture shows that the black and white method can also be effective and strong in an image with complicated elements. He applies the rule of thirds in this picture, a very basic composition technique that works perfectly here.

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I appreciate Giorgio Barbetta's creativity in this book. He takes a simple photo of a scar on a man's back and turns it into sketches, then transforms those sketches into different sculptures and models using various materials. The entire book is focused on the expansion of the scar, and he never fails to surprise me as I go through the pages. All the pictures have a strong connection with each other, yet each one is unique in its own way.

[daviswuardn]

Lightroom classic book practice

It is challenging to find the connection between each endividual picture. I feel they are in a lack of consistency; it might be a good idea to try preset in lightroom classic.

[daviswuardn]

I used two different lenses for the one-meter square practice: a telephoto and a macro. I was able to capture extreme close-ups and distant shots. While I often feel uncomfortable with portrait or street photography, this feeling persisted even with a telephoto lens. However, I found that taking pictures of people was much easier than taking pictures of wildlife.

ARDN Self-directed learning W10 by Davis Wu

[daviswuardn]

These pictures were taken on Tiritiri Matangi Island. While they may not be of the best quality, my biggest takeaway from this photography trip was the importance of the environment and timing in wildlife photography. The island is home to many bird species that I couldn't find on the mainland. However, the dense bushes and trees made it challenging to capture good shots. There was always something obstructing my view between my subject and my camera. Additionally, the trees blocked much of the sunlight, forcing me to use a very high ISO setting, which resulted in a lot of noise in the photos.

ARDN Self-directed learning W9 (breaktime) by Davis Wu

[daviswuardn]

I think I've found a pretty good spot. In the early morning, there are multiple kingfishers flying between the trees here, and the lighting direction is ideal.

ARDN Self-directed learning W8(breaktime) by Davis Wu

[daviswuardn]

I tried shooting at a different time this week. All my previous pictures were taken in the afternoon, so I decided to shoot in the morning this time. The birds were quite active during this time, but I needed to be mindful of the direction of the light, which was obviously different from the afternoon.

ARDN Self-directed learning W7 by Davis Wu

[daviswuardn]

Tui is not a rare kind of bird in Auckland. However, it is not a very easy target when it comes to photography. It it not a small fast moving bird like fantail, so it is farely easy to captuire it in the frame. The most challenging part of taking pictures of tuis is its color. It requires very decent light with good direction, or it will look all black. I statrd photography a bit too early this week, the high light kills lots detail from my pictures.

ARDN Self-directed learning W6 by Davis Wu

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1/800, f5.6, 500mm, ISO6400

1/640, f5.6, 500mm, ISO2000

1/500, f5.6, 500mm, ISO2200

1/800, f5.6, 500mm, ISO6400

1/800, f5.6, 500mm, ISO6400

1/2000, f5.6, 500mm, ISO6400

1/3200, f5.6, 500mm, ISO6400

1/1250, f5.6 500mm, ISO1000

Week 6 progression session

[daviswuardn]

Most of the time, getting an eye-level shot is preferable. While I was able to capture the action of the birds, the overhead perspective made the background look messy and the images seemed less immersive for the audience.

ARDN Self-directed learning W5 by Davis Wu