Through the use of structure and content, the photographs collected express further meaning about the state of modernity, culture and relationships of individuals. Listed below is a breakdown of each photograph, including their metaphorical content and the structural appendages that uphold it.

Final 3:

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The starry night symbolises the reflection and the idea of the enormity of the world. Through positioning them against the black back, therefore, the technique underscores their luminance, which makes people contemplate their position in the universe. The application of long exposure may mean that the stars are permanent, and they are offering direction throughout the night. Such contrast to the other features of urban setting makes a guest appreciate the natural environment and its ability to offer shelter away from the human made structures. Finally, the stars point to the sky, and thus, along with the light bulb, cause people to think about attitudes toward goals and dreams and the world beyond one’s own limited reality.

where this statue in this image represents protection and serenity. Located in the heart of the green environment, it symbolizes the figure that enlightens people in the midst of mangroves of the world. This juxtaposition further strengthens the discourse that faiths are helpful and do remind each one of us of divine beings hovering above us, to fight for and comfort in the face of the unknown. Also in terms of techniques the picture could be discussed in the sense thatiedo the authors surround the statue with trees that give the shape of the frame, and so the subject of the picture is framed to draw the attention of the spectator. That is why the focus is made on this statue, greenery makes it pop and the use of gold again make the statue divine. Such relations not only draw attention to the figure but also create relations between the two worlds, seen in the work – the spiritual one and the world surrounding them.

While in the second picture, the statue itself is interpreted as the metaphor of enlightenment and knowledge. There is a sense of freedom from the clear blue background of the heavens above the moon. These images give people an impression of reaching up and embracing something noble and truthful. As for the technique used here, it is possible to outline that it has a minimalistic and symmetric nature. The statue is placed right in the middle of the photograph in front of the vast sky so that the statue has a foreground, and no other object interferes with it. It is in the simplicity and elegance of line that I underline the pomposity of that isolated figure and assert the importance of the figural. Minimalism in the patterns and a relative lack of objects around suggest enlightenment and meditation topics of the game.

• • Top Left: Urban Landscape at Night
    • Description: A city skyline illuminated by streetlights and building facades against a dark sky.
    • Technique: Utilizes low-light photography to enhance contrast and emphasize the glow of city lights. The framing captures a broad view, creating a sense of depth.
    • Metaphor: Represents the vibrancy of urban life, highlighting the contrast between darkness and artificial light, suggesting themes of connectivity amidst isolation.
  • Top Right: Starry Sky
    • Description: An expansive view of a star-filled sky.
    • Technique: The use of long exposure may be implied, capturing the stars’ brightness against the dark background. This creates a serene and dreamlike quality.
    • Metaphor: Evokes wonder and tranquility, contrasting the busy urban environment. It symbolizes nature’s beauty and the vastness of the universe, inviting introspection.
  • Bottom Left: Close-up of Bottles
    • Description: A collection of bottles on a shelf, possibly in a bar or store.
    • Technique: Employs shallow depth of field to keep the focus on the bottles while slightly blurring the background, drawing attention to details and textures.
    • Metaphor: suggests themes of consumption and social interaction. The clarity of the bottles contrasts with the surrounding darkness, highlighting indulgence and leisure.
  • Bottom Right: Tree Branches Against the Sky
    • Description: A view of tree branches framed against a bright sky.
    • Technique: Uses natural lighting to capture the vibrancy of the green leaves and the clarity of the sky, creating a fresh and open feel.
    • Metaphor: represents nature’s resilience and beauty. The openness of the sky contrasts with the enclosed urban scenes, suggesting a balance between nature and city life.

•   Top Left: Statue of a Deity
• • • Description: A detailed statue of a deity, adorned with intricate designs and vibrant colors.
    • Technique: Utilizes strong lighting to highlight the textures and details of the statue, creating depth and emphasizing its grandeur. The angle of the shot enhances the statue’s imposing presence.
    • Metaphor: Represents spirituality and cultural heritage, invoking themes of reverence and devotion. The vibrancy of the colors suggests the richness of tradition.
  • Top Right: Architectural Detail
    • Description: A close-up view of traditional architectural elements, showcasing intricate carvings and design.
    • Technique: Focus on symmetry and detail to convey the craftsmanship involved in the architecture. The use of monochrome emphasizes the lines and shapes.
    • Metaphor: Reflects the importance of heritage and history in shaping identity. The intricate designs symbolize the connection to past cultures and their influence on modern society.
  • Bottom Left: Cityscape with Glass Structures
    • Description: A view of modern skyscrapers, with glass facades reflecting light.
    • Technique: Captures reflections and angles to create a dynamic composition, emphasizing the modernity and scale of urban architecture. The use of symmetry enhances the visual impact.
    • Metaphor: symbolizes progress and the rapid development of urban environments. The reflective surfaces can also represent the duality of technology—both its allure and its potential coldness.
  • Bottom Right: Riverbank View
    • Description: A serene view of a river with buildings in the background.
    • Technique: Employs natural lighting to create a soft, inviting atmosphere. The composition balances the natural elements of the river with urban architecture.
    • Metaphor: represents the coexistence of nature and urban life, suggesting harmony between the two. The river can symbolize flow and change, reflecting the ongoing evolution of city landscapes.

Statement of Intent for Metaphorical Photography

In my metaphorical photography, I aim to explore the intricate connections between reality and imagination, using visual storytelling to evoke emotions and provoke thought. Each image serves as a canvas where ordinary subjects transcend their literal meanings, inviting viewers to interpret and engage with the underlying themes of identity, memory, and human experience.

Through careful composition, lighting, and symbolism,My ideal goal is to capture metaphorical photographs that convey deeper meanings, inviting viewers to explore the hidden narratives within each image. By utilizing composition, lighting, and symbolic subject matter, I aim to create visuals that resonate on multiple levels, encouraging personal interpretations and emotional connections. Whether through contrasting elements or thoughtful post-processing, each shot will serve as a canvas for exploring themes like identity, nature versus technology, and the passage of time, ultimately transforming ordinary moments into profound reflections on life and experience.

Row 1: Cats in Sunlight

– Subject: Is it, Is it friendly with Two cats curled together in sunlight.

-Technique:

-Lighting:Bold coming of natural light that comes in through the window to cast a dark shadow and celebrating fur in its warm colours.

– Composition: Close-up of the cats construes the affectionate position of the two of them.

-Mood: It is possible to speak about a calm and cozy atmosphere.

Row 2: Man Playing Erhu

– Subject: erhu

– Technique: – Focus: Clear focus on the man and the instrument, accompanied with low focal blur on the background.

– Lighting: Directional light produces high accident on his face and on the instrument that enhances depth.

– Cultural Element: Discusses traditional music and the traditional music performer.

Row 3: Traditional Chinese Tower

– Subject: A tall, balanced structure with an emphasized vertical layout, probably, a historical or cultural building.

– Technique:

– Composition: Looking carefully at proportions, with the tower placed at the center of the composition.

-Color Contrast: Bright red and blue colours are seen.

– Story: Traditional China, which symbolizes some particular trend in architecture opposite to the contemporary vehicles.

Row 4: Street Scene with Lantern

– Subject: There is a skinny passageway there with an old man strolling and a red lantern up there.

– Technique:

– Perspective: Elevation is made by using the vanishing line of the road.

– Cultural Symbol: The red lantern is used to connect the scene with Chinese culture.

– Mood: A regular day simple and reminiscent of how it was in olden days.

Type of ccd camera: DQS,FQS,GRD; emphasize high-quality capture and detail, suitable for night or low-light photography and motion-based images.

Technique used:

long exposure together with the motion blur effect. This technique applies the use of slower ISO settings on the moving automobile and other lights making them produce blurred light trails work. I used 0.7 to 1 sec long exposure to give the motion of city lighting and blur the transitions between colors, and really capture the motion and liveliness of the photoshoot. The photos also apply the use of motion blur and have high contrast lighting. On the elements of scene some are lit by street lamps and car headlights and that makes bright elements to stand out from the dark backgrounds.

This final picture was chosen because it shows the fancy side of Hong Kong and giving a scene of a story

Personal Analysis:

These set of pictures was snapped in different part of Hong Kong Such as Lantau Island, West Kowloon Cultural District, Art park, IFC, Castle Peak Road and Golden Coast Beach. As of 2024, it has risen to fourth largest stock market in Asia in terms of GDP, which is an icon of its economy. A place that was so special that every inch of soil had great worth – where people rise and fall in wealth rapidly. Living here is rather active, children compete cruelly, and adults work without fail to find a place in this growing city. All these photos were shot after 9pm at night, and the theme of each selected photo was that no matter how late it stays, Hong Kong is still very awake. There is sparkling neo-noir of city night with streets being lit up and having intensely lively reflections and sharp, strong gaunt shadows which inform the atmosphere of the urban buzz. In connection to the themes, which include motion and shadows, the images depict a city that is never asleep; its spirit vanishes in the lights and is resurgent in the shadows. This night view of Hong Kong reflects well the spirit of the people of this city as they persistently work into the night. Just like the famous Hong Kong Disney project the Tron Lightcycle Power Run.

Top Row, Left: This image is created to give the impression of a moving vehicle as in the case of Lightcycles in Tron – neon traces behind. Beside the bright red color, the shadow is used to give an electrifying high tech look which match with theme of motion and more intensity.

Top Row, Center: That must be why raindrops on the glass distort the background lights to create the appearance of speed in rainy environment. The wet shine and the fuzzy light of the rainy surfaces areboro, recall the neon light tones found in the movie Tron, where borders between silhouettes are blurred by emission of colored lights.

Top Row, Right: Using a bright red car standing on a neutral background speaks about movement through color. While the light created by the car illuminates the picture brightly the rest of the picture remains rather dark like in Tron where neon on black backgrounds is dominant.

Second Row, Right: This road scene shows the effect of light trails by headlights and the shadow effect on the road space. The differences in effectively lit areas and shaded areas are for this reason visually arresting, as evident in the case of Tron that contains some high speed scenes.

Third Row (three images): These images are in a way related to bridges with moving vehicles; where one gets an impression of the speed as the cars appear as a colored smeared line against the rigid form of the bridge. The black in the background makes the vehicles shine, thus simplifying the contrast between the constructs and the action of Tron.

Fourth Row (three images): Here, the red vehicle against the night brings into focus motion blur, making it appear as though rapidly moving. Only a light emanates from the car and the movement opposed the deep shadows to make a focus on it in the similar way as Tron does it isolating characters with neon trails in dark environment.

Middle Rows: This set of images is composed of curved roads and many cars and the intersection of light and shadow emphasizes the continuity of the motion. All those reflections, all those headlights evoke Tron which supplies glowing paths that hint at futuristic races on essentially an digital setting.

Bottom Left: This is an aerial shot of vehicles which shows common vehicles at night; the middle of the image has a high energy from the headlights’ white light on the black background. The shades zone owns solitude knows the racers sitting in Tron.

Bottom Right: It’s a clip of a road that bends round the corner with cars moving off in the distance. The vertical marks on the road are painted reflecting lights from the headlights hence giving a direction and speed. The darkness adds depth and the somewhat jagged edges create the inclination that the automobiles are drifting into a new–virtual world.

Theme: Contrast Movement

The photography technique effectively uses contrast and movement to create a dramatic scene. The high contrast between the dark silhouettes of the trees and the lighter sky draws attention to the textures and shapes of the foliage. The black-and-white composition enhances this contrast, giving the trees a sharp, defined look against the softer, cloudy sky. The movement is remarkable, giving a sense of story of antique and horror movies.

Row 1:

Top Left – Market Scene: This picture illustrates a typical store which is stocked with sundry goods; and those include tea, herbs, or traditional remedies. The manager said that the shelves were filled and the shopkeeper seemed committed to work. This vivid and lively snapshot portrayals shows how a culture is alive when depicting the daily life of people. This scene seems to be for any period of time and this is due to the monochromatic color scheme chosen for this movie. People, customer and workers, are incessantly moving; this gives the impression that the place have many stories as well as customs.

Top Center – Doorway with Curtain: A small door of a passage, in a half-light, with a curtain dividing it from one side to another. The slim corridor and somber colors make this photo very mysterious and somewhat aggressive – it is as if those people are inviting to enter a different world. The message or warning is even inscribed on the small sign above which makes one jack up their curiosity. This could be a metaphor of a door, of change or of curiosity as to what is on the other side.

Top Right – Wooden Gate with Lanterns: This is still a quite typical inner space door that looks old and typical of a traditional architecture, there are wooden panels and lanterns on the sides indicating perhaps it is part of a historical construction which could be a temple or an old courtyard. The lighting gives deep shadowed effect, it increases the feeling of sacredness. The beauty of the gate is that the space behind it might be important in some ways, as if the gate is leading to another world with more history and tradition.

Ernst Haas

Ernst Haas was indeed a pioneer of color photography, transforming it into a respected art form at a time when black-and-white photography was regarded as the standard for serious artistic expression. His work broke through these conventions by highlighting the vibrancy, depth, and emotive possibilities of color in photography. Haas is celebrated for his dynamic use of color, movement, and abstraction, often capturing his subjects in ways that emphasized mood and atmosphere rather than straightforward representation. His photos invite viewers to experience emotions and narratives through bold color choices, blurring, and unusual angles, which create a painterly quality.

“In a Country” (1966): This work reflects his travels and experiences, combining stunning landscapes with intimate portraits, emphasizing the relationship between people and their environment.

The picture on the top left corner,《Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1969,》 resembles the technique of negative space; the first glance of the work directly instigates a sense of vastness and solitude. The use of negative space in Route 66, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 1969, draws the viewer’s eye to the open road and sky, which appear almost boundless. This approach highlights the emptiness and isolation of the landscape while also suggesting a quiet resilience in the scene. The careful composition guides us to reflect on the relationship between human presence and the expansive natural world, creating a meditative atmosphere that invites introspection and wonder.

Alexey Titarenko

Russian photographer Alexey Titarenko, who was born in 1962, is well-known for his dramatic black-and-white images that examine themes of change and time. Intentional camera movement and extended exposures are frequently combined in his work. He is renowned for his black-and-white images, which frequently use long exposures and deliberate camera movement to address themes of time, change, and political influences.

Ernst Haas’s monograph The City is a Novel is one of the most perceptive of urban life and captures the spirit and mood of St. Petersburg and Venice with his deeply personal and regionally charged style. These more than 140 photographs capture the cities as spatial formations but also beings with their own character, history, and sentimentality. Haas is more concerned with chronicling the urban landscape not as a representational subject but in a more performative and impressionistic manner in this work, the essence of the cities seen through the patterns, tones, and hues in these cities.

these four picture come from the gallery; each picture shows a The story is so vague that the characters and buildings just add a little thriller.

Green:

“夕阳无限好，只是近黄昏。”

This sentence comes from an old Chinese saying: When you are young, you should cherish everything you have, and don’t wait until you are old to feel the warmth of the world. This photo is from the 24 solar terms, Xiaoxue, which is also the Chinese way to describe the transition zone from autumn to winter.

I chose this photo for 2 reasons:  1) the composition just happened to fall in the middle of the 3.3, which is equivalent to the center point, so we can do anything. 2) It is also to express the difficulties of everyone in the world now, the difficulties of adults and the pressure of children.This definitely serves as a reminder, that life is short and can be approached from different angles.The struggles faced by individuals around the world today. The daily fear for children caused by ongoing wars reflects the burdens borne by adults and the enormous pressures placed on children. This highlights the universal difficulties we all experience and underscores the need for empathy and understanding in our shared human experience. 

Yellow

（My first thought was doing jules shumen but i want to be more realkistic）

Despite the picture in the middle, that was already explained the rest also apply the same theme. Following the example of James Nachtwey, who was complimented by people for his powerful imagery as “The Eye of War.”  The first picture was indicating this picture  James Nachtwey’s Starry Night and Graveyard Scene – We can look at how beauty and sadness contrast with each other. The Starry Night shows feelings of hope, wonder, and the endless possibilities in life, while the Graveyard Scene makes us think deeply about loss, mourning, and how fragile life can be. They show the two sides of being human: the happiness of wonderful times and the sadness that comes with losing something.

The last picture embodied living, hope and life; the water is moving. Water can save the past, water can nourish flowers, dry earth and sick humans; it also hardens the saying “drink more hot water”

Red: