Personal Reflection (NEWater visit)

1. What are the 3 key takeaways from today's visit?
- Singapore has managed to prevent the shortage of water and one of the factors is NEWater.
- About 1% of the NEWater water is pumped into the reservoirs during IPU.
- The water in NEWater has gone through several processes so it is safe for use.

2. Name 2 concepts that you have learnt today during the visit.
- There are 2 processes to filter out the substances in the water, one for large particles and one for small particles.
- The size of the pores in the filtration equipment are small enough to allow only water particles to pass through and not other particles.

3. What is 1 interesting thing that you have learnt today?
-NEWater is not suitable for daily consumption by humans as it does not contain the minerals that is needed for us.

4. What are the things you can do to help with water conservation in Singapore?
-Refrain from wasting water, reuse water (e.g. using water from washing rice for watering plants).

Personal Reflection (8th March 2010)

1. What are the 3 key takeaways from today's lesson?
-I learnt about the different ways to improve the environment and help to prevent pollution. 
-I learnt how to improve designs and prototypes using questions.
-I learnt about the different ways to design an item for the same purpose.


2. Name 2 concepts that you have learnt today pertaining to design and describe why is it important in design?
-The design must be feasible and practical as a far-fetched design would not work well.

-The design should be able to solve the problem as directly as possible so it would be simpler to accomplish the goal of solving the problem.

3.What is the 1 interesting thing you have learnt today?

-I learnt that in order to make a feasible design there is usually something to inspire the design.

Photography (people)

Ziying standing on the second floor, taking photos of everyone while we take photos of her.

Harsh and me taking each others' photos.

A picture of Grace while she takes a photo of the field. She looks very focussed on the task at hand.

People are engaged in different activities.

Shawn is standing beside reflections of other people and he is the only one is full colour.

What is the best time for photo-taking?

Ans: Early mornings and late afternoons.

Photography

Types of Photography

Photojournalism

Although amateurs may break into this field without formal training, photojournalism is often limited to professionals. One reason photojournalism is generally practiced by professionals is that serious photojournalists must be sure that their shots maintain the integrity of the original scene.

Photojournalism requires the photographer to shoot only the facts: no alteration or embellishment of the photo is permitted. Photojournalism pictures are often powerful images that engage the viewer with the news story. Knowing how to take such shots to capture the original emotion is often learned only through years of practice and experience.

Documentary

Documentary photographs tell stories with images. The main difference between photojournalism and documentary photography is that documentary photography is meant to serve as a historical document of a political or social era while photojournalism documents a particular scene or instance.

A documentary photographer may shoot a series of images of the inner city homeless or chronicle the events of international combat. Any topic may be the subject of documentary photography. As with photojournalism, documentary photography seeks to show the truth without manipulating the image.

Action Photography

While professionals who take action shots may specialize in a variety of different subjects, sports photography is one of the fastest and most exciting types of photography. As with any action shot, a good sports photographer has to know his or her subject well enough to anticipate when to take pictures. The same rule goes for photographers taking action shots of animals in nature or of a plane taking off.

Macrophotography

Macrophotography describes the field of photography in which pictures are taken at close range. Once restricted to photographers with advanced and expensive equipment, macrophotography is now easier for amateurs to practice with digital cameras with macro settings. Macrophotography subjects may include insects, flowers, the texture of a woven sweater or any object where close-up photography reveals interesting details.

Microphotography

Microphotography uses specialized cameras and microscopes to capture images of extremely small subjects. Most applications of microphotography are best suited for the scientific world. For example, microphotography is used in disciplines as diverse as astronomy, biology and medicine.

Glamour Photography

Glamour photography seeks to capture its subject in suggestive poses that emphasize curves and shadows. As the name implies, the goal of glamour photography is to depict the model in a glamorous light. Consequently, many glamour shots carry flirtatious, mysterious and playful tones.

Aerial Photography

An aerial photographer specializes in taking photos from the air. Photos may be used for surveying or construction, to capture birds or weather on film or for military purposes. Aerial photographers have used planes, ultralights, parachutes, balloons and remote controlled aircraft to take pictures from the air.

Underwater Photography

Underwater photography is usually employed by scuba divers or snorkelers. However, the cost of scuba diving, coupled with often expensive and unwieldy underwater photography equipment, makes this one of the less common types of photography. Similarly, if an amateur has the equipment and the scuba know-how, taking shots underwater can be complicated, as scuba goggles are magnified and distort the photographer’s vision.

Art Photography

Artistic photography can embrace a wide variety of subjects. While a nature photographer may use underwater photography to create an art show based on sea life, a portrait photographer’s show may feature black and white artistic portraitures. In all cases, the photographs must have aesthetic value to be considered art.

Portraiture

Portraiture is one of the oldest types of photography. Whether the subject is your family or your pet, the goal of portraiture is to capture the personality of the subject or group of subjects on film.

Wedding Photography

Wedding photography is a blend of different types of photography. Although the wedding album is a documentary of the wedding day, wedding photos can be retouched and edited to produce a variety of effects. For example, a photographer may treat some of the pictures with sepia toning to give them a more classic, timeless look.

Advertising Photography

Because photography plays a vital role in advertising, many professional photographers devote their careers to advertising photography. The need for unique and eye-catching advertising copy means the photographer may work with multiple types of photography, including macrophotography and glamour photography.

Travel Photography

Travel photography may span several categories of photography, including advertising, documentary or vernacular photography that depicts a particularly local or historical flavor. A travel photographer can capture the feel of a location with both landscapes and portraiture.

http://www.photography.com/articles/types-of-photography/types-of-photography/

Equipment

-Camera

-Camera phone

-Colour chart

-Digital camera

-Digital single-lens reflex camera

-Dry box

-Film base

-Film format

-Film holder

-Film scanner

-Film stock

-Filter

-Flash

-Grey card

-Lenses for SLR and DSLR cameras

-List of photographic equipment makers

-Monopod

-Movie projector

-Perspective control lens

-Photographic film

-Photographic lens

-Reflector

-Rangefinder camera

-SD card

-Single-lens reflex camera

-Slide projector

-Soft box

-Still camera

-Toy camera

-Tripod

-Twin-lens reflex camera

-Video camera

-View camera

-Zone plate

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photography

Aperture

Referred to the lensdiaphragm opening inside a photographic lens. The size of the diaphragm opening in a camera lens REGULATES amount of light passes through onto the film inside the camera the moment when the shutter curtain in camera opens during an exposure process. The size of an aperture in a lens can either be a fixed or the most popular form in an adjustable type (like an SLR camera). Aperture size is usually calibrated in f-numbers or f-stops. i.e. those little numbers engraved on the lens barrel like f22 (f/22),16 (f/16), f/11, f/8.0, f/5.6, f/4.0, f/2.8, f/2.0, f/1.8 etc. Each of this value represents one time the amount of light either more or less in quantity. Meaning to say, f/16 will let in 1X the amount of light than a diaphragm opening of f/22 and so forth; while on the other hand, an aperture of f/4.0 will let in 1X lesser than that of f/2.8 etc.

http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography/fototech/apershutter/aperture.htm

Focus

The distance from the surface of the lens to the focus point is called the focal length and is measured in milimeters. Most lenses are described by their focal length. Zoom lenses have a range of focal lengths, a feat which is accomplished by using a complex series of lenses which can be moved relative to each other. The mm number translates into a real distance, from the front of your lens to the chip of your camera. In that way you can tell that a 400mm telephoto lens will be much longer than a 24mm wide-angle, without even looking at the lens.

If an object is close to a lens, even several hundred meters away, its reflected light entering the lens isn’t perfectly parallel. The closer the object to the lens, the less parallel, and the more the lens must be moved in order to keep focused. This change is much more noticable when objects are very close to the camera, and is one of the reasons why the depth of field in macro photos is so small.

http://digital-photography-school.com/photography-101-lenses-and-focus

Shutter Speed

The shutter blocks all light from exposing the film until you press the button. Then it quickly opens and closes, giving the film a brief flash of light.

You can control the length of time the shutter remains open by setting the shutter speed.

http://www.photonhead.com/beginners/shutterandaperture.php

ISO Speed

The current International Standard for measuring the speed of colour negative speed is called ISO 5800:1987 from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Related standards ISO 6:1993and ISO 2240:2003 define scales for speeds of black-and-white negative film and color reversal film. This system defines both anarithmetic and a logarithmic scale, combining the previously separateASA and DIN systems.

In the ISO arithmetic scale, corresponding to the ASA system, a doubling of the sensitivity of a film requires a doubling of the numerical film speed value. In the ISO logarithmic scale, which corresponds to theDIN scale, adding 3° to the numerical value that designates the film speed constitutes a doubling of that value. For example, a film rated ISO 200/24° is twice as sensitive as a film rated ISO 100/21°.

Commonly, the logarithmic speed is omitted, and only the arithmetic speed is given; for example, “ISO 100”.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Film_speed

Metering

Spot metering
Spot metering takes a reading from a very small part of the image (between 1 and 5 per cent), and ignores the exposure of the rest of the scene. While this area is usually in the middle of the scene, some cameras allow the user to select a different part of the image from which to take a reading, or to recompose the shot after taking a reading. Spot metering is good choice for high contrast and backlit scenes but needs to be used with care, and aimed at an area that will form the mid-tone part of the final image.

Zone metering
A type of metering first introduced by the Nikon, zone is a type of metering which takes readings from several different areas - or zones - within the scene to produce a calculated average. The number of different zones used can vary dramatically from one camera to another, but the end result is usually just an average of them all. This is useful for general scenes with low contrast.

There are other various types of metering, but these tend to be a variation of the three types mentioned above.

Having different metering modes available becomes more useful for when you start to progress to more advanced photography, for example, subjects backlit by the sun. This is when modes such as Spot or Centre -weighted metering will become appropriate.

Centre-weighted
Here a metering is taken from the whole of the scene first, then the central spot. The result is the average reading, but with extra weight given to the central part. Some cameras allow the user to change the amount of weight given to the central area but as a general rule, around 60 to 80 per cent of the sensitivity is directed towards the central part of the image, making it a good choice for portraits.

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Beginners-Guide-to-Photography--Metering-6351

White Balance

White balance (WB) is the process of removing unrealistic color casts, so that objects which appear white in person are rendered white in your photo. Proper camera white balance has to take into account the "color temperature" of a light source, which refers to the relative warmth or coolness of white light. Our eyes are very good at judging what is white under different light sources, however digital cameras often have great difficulty with auto white balance (AWB). An incorrect WB can create unsightly blue, orange, or even green color casts, which are unrealistic and particularly damaging to portraits. Performing WB in traditional film photography requires attaching a different cast-removing filter for each lighting condition, whereas with digital this is no longer required. Understanding digital white balance can help you avoid color casts created by your camera's AWB, thereby improving your photos under a wider range of lighting conditions.

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials/white-balance.htm

Composition (Rules)

Composition is the combining of distinct parts or elements to form a whole. In photography that thought is very important in taking good pictures. The following guidelines are just to be thought about though, it is not necessary to try to use them with every picture you take or there wouldn’t be any creativity in your work. Once you learn these rules and strategies you will be more prepared to find great picture spots and opportunities.

Before you just step up and take a picture you should consider what you want your viewers to look at and how you should display main points of interest. You should ask yourself, what is the main subject? What angle should the light be hitting in my picture? Is there anything that could accentuate the main subject? Where should the main subject be in the frame? These are all important things you should consider, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you need to follow the rules exactly.

Rule of Thirds

The Rule of Thirds has been used for centuries and is probably the most important of all the composition techniques. The Rule of Thirds means that the frame can be divided into three horizontal sections and three vertical sections and therefore, where the horizontal and vertical lines intersect makes an ideal location for the more important parts of your picture. By locating your main subject at one of the four intersections you give the subject more emphasis than if it was right smack in the middle of the picture. This is also a good technique if you have more than one important subject, the intersections can still work even if there’s a subject on more than one. The divisions can also be helpful in setting up a picture, they can for example, help you determine how much horizon you want. Most famous photographs or paintings in the world today have the rule of thirds applied to them in some way.

Simplicity

Simplicity is the method of keeping the information in a photograph relatively simple. If your main subject is close, then your background should be very simple to avoid distractions. You should try to keep everything not important much less interesting than what’s important in the frame. Especially avoid lines or objects that lead the eye away from the subject.

Framing

Framing is the tactic of using natural surroundings to add more meaning to your subject. It could be anything such as bushes, trees, a window, or even a doorway like in the picture at the top of this page. In the process of doing this you need to be careful that you don’t only focus on what’s framing your subject. Make sure you focus on the main subject, and also it is a good idea to use a narrow aperture (high f/stop) to achieve a high depth-of-field. It also wouldn’t hurt if the part of the picture framing the subject was darker so make sure you take your light reading on the main subject.

Texture

Texture can add a significant amount of interest in any picture. When people see texture in pictures they start imagining what it feels like to touch what’s in the picture. Texture is a good idea when your taking pictures of rocks, walls, surfaces, someone’s hands, or leaves. In order to make a picture reveal a texture you must make sure the light is coming almost exactly from the side of the surface so it creates shadows in places key places.

Leading Lines

Leading Lines are used to lure the eye deeper into a picture or to an important subject. Straight, curved, parallel, or diagonal lines are all good at promoting interest. Good examples could be roads, rivers, streams, bridges, branches, or fences but there are endless things that could be used.

Colours

Colours are what add heart and emotion to your pictures. Certain colour configurations can inspire awe and amazement in onlookers. Colours can be used to add all sorts of accents and effects, but you must be careful to not draw attention away from the main subject.

Techniques

-High speed photography

-Tilt shift photography

-Black and white photography

-Motion blur photography

-Infrared photography

-Night photography

-Smoke art photography

-Macro photography

-HDR

-RAW Processing

-Panoramic photography

Difference between Isometric, Oblique and Orthographic Drawing

Isometric means "equal measurement". The true dimension of the object is used to construct the drawing. You get the true dimension from either orthographic views or by measuring the object. Because of the convenience of using actual measurements to create the isometric image, it has become the industry standard for parts manuals, technical proposals, patent illustrations and maintainance publications.

The height of the object is measured along vertical lines. The width and depth of the object are measured along the 30 degree to the horizontal plane.

Source:http://www.foothillsgraphics.com/iso.htm

Example:

Image from http://www.personal.psu.edu/bjr231/IMG/isometric%20paper%201.GIF

Oblique drawing is the crudest '3D' drawing method but the easiest to master. Oblique is not really a '3D' system but a 2 dimensional view of an object with 'forced depth'.

When using oblique the side of the object you are looking at is drawn in two dimensions, i.e. flat. The other sides are drawn in at 45 degrees but instead of drawing the sides full size they are only drawn with half the depth creating 'forced depth' adding an element of realism to the object.

Even with this 'forced depth', oblique drawings look very unconvincing to the eye. For this reason oblique is rarely used by professional designer and engineers.

Source: http://www.ider.herts.ac.uk/school/courseware/graphics/oblique.html

Example:

Image from: http://www.ider.herts.ac.uk/school/courseware/graphics/oblique.html

Orthographic Projection is a way of drawing an 3D object from different directions. Usually a front, side and plan view are drawn so that a person looking at the drawing can see all the important sides. Orthographic drawings are useful especially when a design has been developed to a stage whereby it is almost ready to manufacture.

Source: http://www.technologystudent.com/designpro/ortho1.htm

Example:

Image from: http://www.hollyzell.com/images/art121/orthographic.jpg

Definition of Theme - Environment

Environment is everything in our surroundings, including plants, animals, buildings and people. It is the totality of circumstances surrounding an organism or a group of organisms, especially the combination of external physical conditions that affect and influence the growth, development, and survival of organisms and the complex of social and cultural conditions affecting the nature of an individual or community.

(adapted from: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/environment)

It is the aggregate of social and cultural conditions that affect nature and the factors which affect the survival and form of organisms and objects. It is the position or characteristic position of a linguistic element in a sequence.

(adapted from http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Environment)

Environment is the external conditions, resources, stimuli etc. with which an organism interacts. It includes all of the biotic and abiotic factors that surround and affect the survival and development of an organism or population. The environments maybe regarded as natural environment or built environment. They may also be marine, atmospheric, or terrestrial according to their attributes.

BIOTIC: of, relating to, or resulting from living things, esp. in their ecological relations

ABIOTIC:physical rather than biological; not derived from living organisms.

(adapted from http://www.biology-online.org/dictionary/Environment)

In short, environment is our surroundings, affects us and others, and is affected by us.

ADMT Lesson 1 : Personal Reflection

Art is the way of expressing oneself to the world using beauty. There are many forms of art, for example, paintings, sketches, collages, music, or even putting on make-up. It is arranging certain elements to make something appeal to someone else and stir feelings and emotions on the person appreciating it.

Design is planning for a piece of art. It may not be the physical piece, but it is what every piece of art begins with. It can be blueprints for a new building or a toy, or it can be how someone imagines a piece of art to be before he or she starts to make it. In short, it is a plan for the artwork.

Media is a form of communicating with people surrounding us. It tells people what type of person we are when we display something.

Technology deals with human as well as other animal species' usage and knowledge of tools and crafts, and how it affects a species' ability to control and adapt to its natural environment. The word technology comes from the Greek technología, the study of something, or the branch of knowledge of a discipline. A strict definition is elusive; technology can be material objects of use to humanity, such as machines, but can also encompass broader themes, including systems, methods of organization, and techniques. The term can either be applied generally or to specific areas: examples include "construction technology", "medical technology", or "state-of-the-art technology".

Art, design, media and technology means to combine all four to create something new, a form of art made with a meticulous design, created using technology.

Technology adapted from wikipedia.org.

Others with help from wikipedia.org.

My Sketch