Nadia, Noris, Nadirah, Univ. of Minnesota, circa Nov 2002
It really broke my heart that Utusan.com has stopped their Salam Aidilfitri section; now, I have no more reason to wake up in the morning other than to go to class. Anyway, I'll just make this short, since I know many of you actually disapprove of this particular wayward hobby of mine, which is fine with me, you have your reasons, I respect that.
This year's Salam Aidilfitri had me saving into My Pictures folder a lot more photos than last year, which translates into "hubbada hubbada wowee zowee!", but also for this year, the photos taken were not as aesthetic or as creative as the year before. In layman's English: this year, more beautiful girls, very bad photos.
But, anywho, the above photo from University of Minnesota won my approval for Best Aidilfitri Harvest for Salam Aidilfitir 2002. Yes, yes, I know, these people I know them, they are students where I am also a student, but that fact had no influence whatsoever in my choosing the photo as the best pic. Let me describe to you the standards that I applied.
First of all, the most important thing in a photo is symmetry. Go on and look at the photo above and goddamnit, don't say to my face that you see no symmetry. It's either that you were born with one eyeball slightly misshaped into an irrregular oblong, or that you hold a grudge against me for not wallpapering your photo from Utusan.
Next, the structure behind them, the wall of bricks and the U sign, and the pavement and the flowers, they provide a natural frame to the photo; so that those of you with the screwy eyeballs can focus your pupils easily on the subject at hand. Ah, then, the subject themselves. There are several layers of 'a-hah!' to the photo with regards to the subject. First, the tudung and the non-tudung (again, symmetry); second, the dress code (Western fashion over traditional Raya dress); and third, all three of them they are standing on the tip of the ledge! That is crazy! Balancing-beam ballerinas! Such a circus feat! Hooray for Jackass-style stunt! Hooray for daring photojournalism!
(Okay, I made that one up. I just love describing factors in threes: firstly, secondly, thirdly).
Compared to last year's best pic, this year's pic is pretty large in size; the photographer must have wanted to be safe and sure, so, he/she took the whole scene in front of him/her, instead of zooming in and focusing closer and saving extra space in my hard drive. This resulted in the photo being too picturesque, instead of just plain portrait-like. You can't see the faces that clearly; the smile and the eyes - these are strong features of a portrait. But still, kudos to you, dear photographer. You kick some fine ass.
Akita Univ. Japan, circa Dec 2001
The above photo from Akita Japan is my pick for last year's Utusan.com Salam Aidilfitri; again, the same factors at play here: symmetry (two girls leaning that way, two other girls leaning this way), the framework (the snow), and the subject (natural playful pose, quasi-candid). Like I said, this year's photos in general lack that shazzam factor in it, that extra zing; nobody wants to play with camera anymore, everyone is a popstar in front of the camera, all they want is to pose. No more girls gone wild.
Today's entry is light and silly, and a bit disturbing to the morally strong. Take it in small bites.
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