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Artist Research
Fong Qi Wei
Fong Qi Wei is a singapore based photographer that focuses his work on the intersections of the art, sciences and technology. This has led him to create multiple projects which are visibly challenging the theme of time and the idea that a photo is just a single captured image. He believes photography is much more than what you see and more what you feel and think. Qi Wei wants his art to touch both the feeling and thinking part of his mind through a simple photograph. These also urges the focus of intersections. They go hand in hand.
Fong Qi Wei's work has been featured in selected exhibitions including Art Next Door 2015, Time is a Dimension 2015, Brush Strokes of Nature 2013, and Finalist Exhibition for France + Singapore Photographic Arts Award 2012. He has also received numerous awards for his art such as 1st Place in the International Photography Awards 2013, a finalist at the France + Singapore Photographic Arts Award 2012, and honourable mentions at the international photography awards 2006 and 2011. His successes also include selected publications and mentions.
Image Analysis
This collage was created Fong Qi Wei as part of his series titled 'Fragments of the Mirror World'. The Mirror World is a representation of the real world in digital form. This image consists of a number of cut outs from the original picture of a building. The light pink background was thoughtfully selected to compliment the hints of yellow and red among the collage. Qi Wei has used techniques such as lighting and colour/tone to make a successful photograph. This works because he focused on the different components which would fit well together to create a collage; the shade in the corner of the building gives depth within the crowd of cut outs and the colours make the picture stand out. The formal element shape has tactically been used in this collage as the different sizes and shapes makes the picture have a 3D effect to show the difference in distance within the original image.
I believe this photograph is successful because there are multiple techniques used in each collage; they all include taking an interesting picture which can be edited and then carefully selecting the areas to cut out each individual shape to form a collage which represents the original depth of the building. The idea that this picture is trying to portray is how enticing the Mirror World is. I think this is done effectively as the collage is a representation of a building from the 'real world' but made digital. I have been inspired by this artist because I like the way the whole image is put together - from the colours noticed when taking the original image to the oval shape the final collage has.
Responses
Image Development
Before editing (raw image)
To start, I edited the picture slightly to enhance the features and remove shadows as I wanted it to be as clear as possible due to the layer of colour that would be over it.
Next, I ensured the building was straight in the picture as the camera slightly distorts it. I did this using the 'Use profile corrections' tool.
Then, I loaded the edited picture onto Photoshop and placed a new layer and dropped the colour I liked onto it using the 'Paint Bucket Tool'.
In order for me to see what I was selecting and cutting out I turned the opacity down on the colour layer.
To create a collage similar to Qi Wei's, I used the 'Rectangular Marquee Tool' and chose a rectangle of my choice and deleted the selected area so it revealed a gap to show the original picture underneath.
As you can see on the screenshot to the left, I made selections of various different sizes depending on the section I was editing. I wanted to still show there was depth within the picture and give it an interesting feel. To do this, I deleted smaller shapes when I was in more detailed areas or places with shadow, but kept the rectangles large when I was focusing on the main part of the building.
Another tool I used was the 'Polygon Lasso Tool' on areas which weren't an exact straight rectangle but were in a shape similar. Therefore, I outlined the area with this tool to make a selection then deleted like I had with everything else.
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