Thursday, October 11, 2012

Street Life Through a Fishbowl - MAS110PhotoEssayKeithMartineAshaGopal




“Street life through a fishbowl”
 


“Street life through a fish bowl” surfaces the more secretive, colder and 'less pretty' side to Sydney, which is often overlooked by the everyday suburban man. With the many photos shot in and amongst the side streets of Sydney city, many alternative and confronting human ways were exposed. “Street life through a fishbowl” aims to bring out the other side of human experience abandoned by general society using various photography techniques, predominantly the fish eye.
 The essay consists of many ideas and reflections prevalent to the theme of “Street Life”. One of the many ideas recognized through the photos encompass unrecognized rundown businesses not aimed to the everyday man. The way in which the businesses “Men’s Tailoring” and “Adult Shop" are located one on top of the other respectively, the irony of men's only tailoring and the adult shop show to provide suspicion and openly visible sexual tension irony. The 'Ken Burns' effect further accentuates the ideas of street life presented in the essay.
 Similarly, the essay also reflects parts of society who show to be familiar with the ‘streets’. This is evident through the photos taken of the homeless people's belongings and hideaway. The stains captured within the pictures of urine together with the flies and sanitary belongings really set the street scene, differentiating it from the general suburban and city lifestyle. Moreover the shots of dark hideaways and the accentuation of unkempt buildings and entrances taken from different angles attempt to portray the mysterious atmosphere present in these side streets.
 Further highlighting street life is the powerful music set to back the images. 'Cellule' by Silence is a track which allows the viewer to experience the harshness and dryness of confronting oneself with abandoned streets. Ultimately, "Street life through a fishbowl" aims to surface the ‘other side’ to the luxurious Sydney city.
By Keith Martine & Asha Gopal





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