11/19/2021
5:13PM
We are less than one hour from opening the doors to my FIRST ever photo exhibition. It’s my final project for my photography class by BKC and ASMP and it’s been such a learning experience for myself these past several months with industry leaders and my peers who’s learning side by side with me.
For this specific project of mine that I chose as my final, I wanted it to revolve around my family. My family has always been something near and dear to my heart since I was a kid, like most other individuals I’m sure. However, my immediate family, as well as extended family, would always see each other once every week. We’d center it all around my grandparents who live in Chinatown.
This pandemic hasn’t been the most pleasant for myself either. I’ve always been living in my childhood home. Having to be around my immediate family even more than usual was just really toxic towards my health. I couldn’t get a break and eventually it caused there to be a lot of tension understandably so. I tried my best. I really did after the first few months of the pandemic to make amends and reflect over my actions as someone of the same blood.
With this project around my family, I wanted to further propel my amends somehow. I wanted to rediscover what it meant to be a son and a brother by capturing some of the intimate moments between us, and to simply talk and listen which can’t be shown by mere images. I wanted to put not my best work out with my showcase, but the work I considered my proudest.
These series of photos also include my first time ever taking portrait images of my mother, father, brother, paternal grandmother, and paternal grandfather. It’s something that I’ll hold dear to my heart. Through this project, I even discovered that my grandfather loved taking photos of our family gatherings when I was younger with his film camera. And he loved it too. I never noticed this, and he actually ended up passing it down to me. Seeing him now home ridden due to old age and bad mobility, really makes me want to continue to pursue the things that I love such as photography.
From up to down, left to right:
1A. My dog, Mocha, going upstairs to wake my mother up from her sleep.
My mom would leave her hand by the side of the bed, so Mocha can lick it.
1B. My brother, Bradley, having his portraiture taken in his childhood room.
We’ve grown up under the same roof, and have slept in the same room. As I grew older, I moved into the guest room while he stayed put.
2A. My mother and brother coming back from the Fresh Meadows Library.
Growing up, the 3 of us would always go to the library to spend many hours. The internet wasn’t as plentiful back then, but I always loved books as well. Mystery and fantasy were my go to. Going back this time around, I ended up borrowing an epic book by Annie Leibovitz.
2B. A family portraiture of my immediate family.
This was the first photo that was taken within that first couple of minutes. My father was the one who initiated that we should all be closer and we all ended up giving off such genuine smiles.
2C. My self-portrait in my room.
The entire second floor of my family home was designed and built solely by my dad. When I was younger he had a photo of me and my brother taken with him of this corner of the room when it was still under renovation. During the pandemic, I spent most of my time in this corner doing my work.
3A. A photo of my immediate family in an elevator heading up to my grandparents house.
I’ve been heading up this elevator almost every week to visit them.
3B. My grandparents, having their portraiture taken.
They were happy to have their shots taken, and as soon as I was ready to take their photo, both of them had their hands gently placed in their laps. My mom said that they knew they were getting their photos professionally taken like how they would back in the day.
3C. A photo of my dad talking to my grandma.
My grandma’s hearing is basically close to none now. In order to communicate, my dad bought a tablet and speaks Mandarin into the app, so that the Chinese characters would appear on the screen for my grandma to read it. We primarily speak Cantonese and Taishanese there.
4A. My father, Christopher, having his portraiture taken in the study room.
This is where my dad spends most of his time, whether that be watching documentaries, doing his work, or chatting with family members across the seas. Above him is a painting of horses that he previously obtained. He told me once when I was a kid, that horses are a symbolism of power and wealth.
4B. A family portraiture of my immediate family.
I had my family pose with our hands extended out to our knees because I felt that although we’re a family, sometimes it felt very stagnant. We’d be family but always just barely with our shoulders grazing.
4C. My dad is drying my other dog, Kenji, after a shower.
Kenji is 13 years old now and we’ve had him since he was a puppy. Nowadays his hind legs won’t work as well as it did before. He limps around and can no longer climb stairs. Although my dad is just drying him, he’s always been the support to my dog and have catered to his needs.
5A. My mother, Janet, having her portraiture taken in the bedroom.
I had my mom sit on this rocking chair, which I vaguely remember falling asleep in her arms in when I was younger. It just sits in their bedroom now with clothes getting stacked on top of it. I think this photo with the light gently embracing my mother’s face looks heavenly.
5B. My mom is sleeping in the car as we make our weekly drive to Chinatown.
My mom always works hard and as she gets older, I notice her being more and more tired. I’m happy whenever she gets a chance to rest. At this moment, the car is just getting off to Williamsburg Bridge.