Category: Altered Reality

Scaffolding

Lip Seng

I found this scaffolding at one of the buildings in Singapore and was attracted by the strong lines and pattern of the setting. I pre-visualized the effect that I could achieve once the light background is treated with my favorite colour derivation technique. One of my photography students volunteered to climb up the scaffolding to complete my perceived image of a man at work. The added bias relief treatment obviously boosted the visual impact of the image. This slide won the H. Morrison Medal of the 1984 Northern Counties International Salon, UK. It was an honour for me to be invited as a judge of the same salon in 1996.

A Little Rest

Lip Seng

The lines and curves are the main elements that give impact to this picture. The touch of colour and the highlighted human figure enhance and act as a centre of interest for the whole picture. The treatment of lith film for the sky area has further increased the dramatic effect of the image. This is an example of making use of simple elements to create an image with good pictorial impact. This image won the silver medal of the 16th Los Angeles International Salon, USA, held in 1972.

Final Rinse

Lip Seng

One of my successful slides in the interenational salons is this colour-derivation work with blue diazochrome film. The original image was captured at the Potong Pasir area where the worker was rinsing rattan in a pond for use in making furniture.

I wish that I had Photoshop during then! For this case, I spent a lot of time in retouching and working in the darkroom in oder to achieve the visual impact of this image. This slide won the PSA Gold Medal for the Best Slide of the show at the 8th Torreon International Salon, Mexico, held in 1975.