Creative Foundations

In my mood, I wanted to create a story for the audience by taking them through a journey of different locations in London and showing the effects of life in London. Also, I did include various street photographers in my mood boards as I was influenced by them, and this is shown in my work. 

However, from my street photography images, I took inspiration from Eric Kim, Daido Moriyama and Henri Cartier Bresson who are well-known street photographers, yet my work juxtaposes their photographs because their photos are in monochrome to create the effect of a lack of emotions that is seen in colour photography. Black and white (B&W) allows viewers to focus on elements like shapes, textures, contrasts and graininess rather than being distracted by colour. This is a common style that many street photographers use because of the graininess that the Black and White photograph style has, making photographs more gritty, compared to the smooth, crisp and silky colour images. Also, the high contrast in Black and &White images can make or break an image. It draws the viewer’s attention to the image instead of wandering off. Therefore, good contrast adds to the overall dynamics of the shot.

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My Decisive Moments a collection of spontaneous observations that capture the instant recognition of a single, fleeting moment, a momentary slice of life’s unfolding drama.

Of all images my favourite image is the middle row towards the right because of the audacity that is shown on her face. I chose to use a street photography font because it creates a gritty, urban feel that helps to convey the raw emotions and environment captured in the images. Also, it can enhance storytelling by creating a narrative of the photo, which reinforces the messages or themes the photographer wants to convey.

The Meaning of Colours Across Cultures

Yellow often represents happiness, positivity, and intellect. However, its meaning varies around the world. In France and Germany, yellow is linked to jealousy and betrayal, while in many African cultures it symbolizes gold representing wealth, quality, and success.

Red is a bold and energetic colour that easily draws attention. In Indian culture, it carries deep significance, representing purity, love, beauty, and power, and is especially important in weddings. In China, red is associated with celebration and prosperity and is worn during Lunar New Year and weddings to bring good fortune and happiness. In contrast, in South Africa, red is tied to mourning and serves as a reminder of sacrifice and struggle for independence.

Orange conveys youth, optimism, and enthusiasm. In many Western cultures, it’s seen as a fun and creative colour that symbolizes curiosity and new experiences. In the Netherlands, orange is the national colour and represents the Dutch royal family. In contrast, in Egypt and some Middle Eastern cultures, orange is associated with mourning. In Japan and China, it represents courage, happiness, and good health, while in India it symbolizes fire and spirituality reflected in the sacred saffron spice.

Blue is often connected with trust, calm, and authority. In many Middle Eastern regions, it represents safety, protection, and spirituality. In Latin American countries with strong Catholic traditions, blue is associated with the Virgin Mary, symbolizing hope, health, and purity. In Western cultures, it can represent calmness but also sadness as in the expression “feeling blue.”

Black signifies power, sophistication, and protection. In Western cultures, it’s often linked to formality and elegance, but also mourning and mystery. In China, black symbolizes good health and prosperity, while in other Eastern traditions it can represent rebellion or death. In the Middle East, black carries dual meanings of mourning and rebirth, and in many African cultures, it represents age, maturity, and masculinity.

Six glimpses of the everyday: breaks, conversations, and quiet moments that create the flow of city life.

Exploring Colour in Urban Spaces

I like the words “Cheeky Buns” in the top left picture, as it self-captions the image because it provides humour to a rough time for society. This image contradicts the reality of fast food by portraying it as art that is worthy to be framed. This is because it allows the viewer to look into the retro fast-food world, as it is not something that is examined on a daily basis. The image places the fast food in an unusual context in an unusual setting. In so doing, it moves fast food away from the glossy, manufactured images on billboards and brightly lit digital menus towards high-end art to avoid cliched images. This juxtaposition is further emphasised by moving the fast food from its normal fast-food environment of plastic, cheap tables, to that of a countryside and rustic setting.

This photography series captures how colour shapes emotion and meaning in everyday city life. Each image highlights the subtle ways colour interacts with people, places, and culture from vibrant storefronts and street scenes to quiet architectural moments.

The chosen palette reflects contrasts between tranquillity, tradition and modernity.

·  Green represents growth and balance, often found in markets and natural details.

·  Red evokes movement and connection, seen in cafés and city architecture.

·  Mint and Blue convey openness and reflection, often linked to light, conversation, and space.

·  Black and White introduce contrast, clarity, and focus, grounding the composition and drawing attention to human presence.

These colours tell visual stories about urban rhythm, social interaction, and the beauty of ordinary moments.

Decisive Moments: a series built on instinctive, split-second observations that turn everyday gestures into precise compositions, revealing the subtle drama of daily life.

Portobello Road: Capturing Colour and Culture

These photographs were taken on Portobello Road, capturing the vibrant energy and diversity of one of London’s most iconic streets. The images reflect everyday moments, people socialising, relaxing after a busy market day, or simply passing through. My aim was to document the rhythm, chaos, and character of this bustling environment, where culture and community intersect.

The colour palette enhances the emotion and movement within these scenes:

·       Black represents sophistication, strength, and contrast. Often linked with formality and mystery, it grounds the composition and adds a sense of power to the imagery.

·       Blue conveys calmness, trust, and unity. It brings a sense of balance to the liveliness of the street while suggesting connection and community.

·       Red evokes energy, warmth, and passion. As one of the most powerful colours culturally, it draws the viewer’s attention and symbolises vitality and emotion.

·       Pink expresses compassion, warmth, and human connection.

Across cultures, it represents love, care, and tenderness, softening the visual tone of the series. These colours capture the diversity, movement, and human stories that define Portobello Road, a place where culture, creativity, and community constantly interact.

Video Process

In this video piece, I explored the relationship between the viewer and the artwork using both diegetic and non-diegetic sound. The diegetic sound from inside the gallery, along with the opening interview, helped convey the experience of a visitor engaging with the artist’s work. The non-diegetic voiceover added a reflective layer, allowing the subject to share her personal thoughts about the exhibition.

If I were to develop this project further, I would refine the visual layout, specifically the use of the smaller interview screen, to ensure the audience’s focus remains on the main narrative while still including the secondary perspective effectively.

Audio Project Reflection

For this audio piece, I selected calming piano music from Premiere Pro’s library to create a relaxed and reflective mood. This choice was influenced by earlier feedback suggesting that overly emotional or sad music could distract from the narrative.

While editing, I learned to navigate new tools and controls, including input and output markers and the Razor tool, which I used to refine and remove sections that didn’t contribute to the overall flow. One of my main challenges was managing timing, particularly adjusting pacing and dialogue to keep the final piece within the required duration. Through this process, I developed stronger technical editing skills and a better understanding of how sound shapes audience experience.

Final Outcome

This is a video about a visit to the Daidō Moriyama exhibition at The Photographers’ Gallery, exploring the raw, restless energy of one of Japan’s most influential photographers. From his signature high-contrast grain and gritty textures to his unfiltered look at everyday city life, this exhibition reveals the beauty found in the ordinary.