《忆》Memory
The final presentation of "Memory" is based on the gradual transformation of understanding the park environment through continuous shooting practice.
Regarding the motivation for shooting, I initially did not have a specific direction because the theme of "the park" is quite expansive, encompassing different parks, various people within the parks, and the events that occur within this unique setting.
Therefore, in the "preliminary" phase of creating the collection, I spent approximately three weeks aimlessly photographing Century Park across the street from my home, trying to capture interesting moments and experimenting with different film simulations in order to discover a theme and mood that I liked and could work with.
Eventually, I shifted my focus to the children in the park to present my understanding of "the park." There were two main reasons for this choice.
First, through observation, I noticed that on weekends, the park becomes a gathering place for children to play and have fun.
Their expressions, actions, and diverse activities would allow me to capture and photograph various states of the same group in the park, ensuring the richness of the content produced.
Through photography, I hoped to capture the sense of discovery and interaction by portraying the park from the perspective of a young adult, offering a glimpse into the world of children and their activities in the park.
Through the documentation of these elements, I aim to convey the timeless commonality of parks and the intriguing aspects of children's presence in the park. Below, I will describe the creative motivation, the process, and reflections on the overall documentary photography mode.
Overall, the construction of the entire photography collection aims to provide viewers with a nostalgic experience.
I hope to focus primarily on children, capturing their expressions, behaviors, and interactions with the surrounding environment when they face the camera.
It's a complex web, and without practical involvement, I personally found it challenging to ensure that my ideas could be captured effectively during the execution.
Additionally, I could be more flexible in adjusting the presentation of the theme according to my changing ideas. Initially, I wanted to capture the contrast between the middle-aged and elderly groups and children in the park, highlighting the differences between age groups. Later on, I shifted my focus to capturing the activities of children in the park, making them the central figures of the park. Through their activities, I aimed to convey an experience of reminiscence and nostalgia.
The second reason was the unique role of children in the urban environment of the park. The park, as a rare green space in the city, is an indispensable part of urban life.
Century Park, as one of Shanghai's largest urban parks, serves different groups with various functions. If the middle-aged and elderly view the park as a place for socializing and leisure activities (such as playing chess or dancing), and young adults may engage in park activities as a form of ritual (graduation trips, cosplay photoshoots, etc.), what significance does the park hold for children?
This was my primary motivation for shooting. Therefore, the presentation in the photography collection is quite diverse, including direct interactive shots where children notice the camera and exhibit various reactions to being photographed, reflecting the motivation of "interaction."
There are also candid shots where the subjects are unaware of being photographed, reflecting the motivation of "discovery."
