INDIAN OCEAN TSUNAMI

This picture depicts a horrific scene of the aftermath of a tsunami on Vailankanni, India, that had been triggered by the Indian Ocean Earthquake. In the foreground of the picture, there are about a dozen of people with light brown uniforms. From this, we can infer that these people are probably soldiers and medical officers that had arrived in an effort to offer assistance to the homeless residents after the tragedy had struck this certain region. They may also be present to clear the rubble and whats left of what might had been part of a house. Besides the soldiers and medical officers, other people can be seen on the top left of the picture. The people gathered there may be residents of the area or families from other region making an effort to ensure that their loved ones living in the area are still alive and well. In the middle of the picture, a car had been overturned, most probably by the Herculean force of the tsunami waves crashing against the shore and pushing its way inland. There are also a few people dressed in civilian clothing walking amongst the rubble, they might have been in a frantic search for missing family members that might have been hidden and buried under all the scraps of wood. We can also infer from the view of the picture, that the photographer that took this photograph might have obtained the photo from a higher ground as the view is projected downwards. Before this picture was taken, the soldiers and medical officers might have not been present yet and that the people gathered at the top left of the picture might have been scattered all over, mourning over their dead and whats left of their past. After this picture was taken, there might have been a probability that the soldiers had gathered all the men amongst the crowd to provide assistance in the excavation of deceased bodies and also the clearance of the scattered rubble while the women and children were being evacuated out of the disaster site.

Stunmbling upon the sight of this picture, i could not help but pity those people there that were affected by the disaster. Whats left of the tragic were just scraps of destruction, pieces of wood and torn houses. No doubt, the tsunami would have also caused many lives to be lost, resulting in those who survived, mourning for their lost and loved ones. Despite having heartfelt condolences for them, i could not help but also feel a sense of relief that people in Singapore do not suffer from such devastating results of nature. After all, nature's fury is never predictable.

What's going on?

This picture depicts a scene of people gather in a place to support their favourite soccer team. In this picture, nervous and fear are written on their faces. One of the reasons is that they are afraid that the opponent team will score their goal. The man whose face is painted red and yellow seems to be more nrevous than the others. The flag that he is holding in his hand is most probably the flag of his favourite team. Almost all the people are looking towards the sky as, i think that there is a big screen in front of them, which is showing the live results of the match. To support their soccer team, most supporter wear red jersey, which is probably the jersey of their favourite soccer team. After the match, i think that they will go home and some will still stand there, either celebrating the win or cry for the lose.

Picture Discussion - Rugby Happenings

This picture depicts a scene of part of a rugby match. This can be deduced from the background (a sports field) and the ball carried in the foreground, which is distinguishable as a rugby ball. The immediate impression I have of this picture is that this game is becoming violent.

To the left of the picture is a player wearing a green uniform that has fallen down. He looks as if he belongs to the green team. He is raising his hand, most probably going to bang it down. This is a frustration to his anger, possibly due to a failure to score points, or perhaps because someone pushed him down accidentally or intentionally. There also seems to be blood on his mouth. That might be caused by an injury which might be inflicted by another player. In my opinion, he should not get so angry and frustrated, as no matter what, this is a game, and there should not be too much on stake. It is not like playing for lives, and there is no real need to be so serious.

At the center foreground of the picture there is a player wearing a black uniform. He is probably belonging to a team playing against the green team. His face tells me that he is determined to get the ball across to the opponent's side, and by the angle of his body, this can be further confirmed. But he seems to have tripped and fallen. This could have been due to his own carelessness, running too fast, or other players accidentally pushing him. He could be feeling lousy or angry when the picture was taken as he failed to score.

At the right foreground there is a person who is extending his hands out. He might be trying to help the player beside him who has fallen down. I think this is very good as he has sportsmanship, and even though the player is from a different team, he still trys to help him. This is the spirit that all sports players should learn from, regarding safety more inportant than winning in the game. Probably after this scene, the player will thank him for his help.

Before this picture was taken, the game was probably heating up as both teams race to score for points. After this picture was taken, the game probably continued regardless of any injuries, or it could be that injured people were taken away to be treated. This picture could have been taken as one of the players in the foreground could be well-known, and magazines and newspapers could write about them.

Rugby is generally a violent sport. Thus, it is important to keep all players safe and players should try not to be violent. Sportsmanship is very important in every game.

Animal Captivity

The bear must just recently be captured. It will just be downhill from here, the bear may be shipped off to foriegn lands and be trained cruelly in circuses; or they could become a rich man's "pet".

Most captured aniamls will not recieve freedom again, it is like a life sentence. To forever live in misery until their death. Human convicts are sent to life sentences because of them dooing horrible misdeeds and crimes. What have the animals done to deserve this? Although they are animals, they should be respected. Although they are animals, they still have a life, a soul. Although they are animals, they should be given a right. If not, we humans are simply inhumane, misusing our power of limitless knowledge.

Have you noticed the bear's eyes? I feel that they are the most significant part of the picture, They express a sense of hope and longingness. Such hope is futile, its fate is most likely eternal captivity. It can never be free again, they can only drean of their former habitat. The look in the eyes may just bring a tear to your eyes. However, one should not just stand at the sidelines, one should at least do something to help, simply by not supporting the illegal pet trade is a way.

Picture Discussion

Picture Discussion


This picture depicts a scene in a competitive sporting event with a set of international competitors in the backdrop. The features of the athletes are non uniform with some of
darker tones which may suggest Asian roots. Westerners can also be seen here. The competition seen here is not the conventional sporting fixture; it is a race between athletes with a disability. They are strapped to their respective sporting wheelchairs which would then be the substitution for their legs to propel themselves towards the finishing line. From here, I can also infer that it is an event that calls for a dedicated team of supporters and organizers since much funding would be required to prepare the disabled-friendly facilities and also the exorbitant sporting gears like the sporting wheelchair. Judging from the picture, it is clearly apparent that a winner has emerged from the race. He is seen here with his arms sprang out triumphantly in a victory sign. Secondly, he is wearing on a broad smile that further implies a champion’s euphoria and relief distinctly in contrary to the runner up who is clad in green sporting suit with a look of panic and struggle as he wills himself to the end. In addition, I can further conclude that it is a competitive event due to the number tag secured around each athletes’ waist which will aid the corresponding authorities in updating the scores. Nevertheless, it is of certain that each participant in the notable event feels honored to be a part of it and their remarkable endeavor will well be greatly appreciated. I assume the intention of the photographer is to capture the pure joy of the winner’s victory but also each participant’s tribulations in the completion of the race. To me, every one of them is a champion for not succumbing to the desolation of disability and for the exceptional courage to pursue a dream with a vision. I will certainly try out competing in a wheelchair if I am offered a chance but I am not too sure whether I can even possibly manage the wheelchair to move.

It is also noteworthy to mention that the athletes here would have been involved in a series of uphill laborious trainings and medical supervisions before they could be the representatives of their countries to take part in this acclaimed event. My point can be further justified with their sinuous arms which shed a light on their sturdy constitution.
It is also perceptible that they have been well equipped and prepared for the ultimate glory from the right physical trainings to the sporting tools they used; each of them is clad in skintight polyester sports wear which will offer lesser air resistance to boost them in their venture. I believe the aftermath on the victory of the winner will have him with his family joyfully having a celebration and hopefully, he can be an activist in promoting the boundless abilities of a disabled through his experience and accomplishments.

Singaporeans in the early 90’s took a pragmatic approach to these issues where they deem disability as a bleak future and more often than not, aspiring talents within the disabled are cloistered from view and recognition. However, with the increasing support and involvement of international corporations in the Paralympics Games and myriads of Welfare Organizations stepping out to reach out for the disabled of today, Singaporeans’ apathy of these issues have certainly abated by recent movements of the government to provide increasing handicaps accessible buses, more spacious seats in cinemas and also the essential education to mould them into the future of tomorrow. Since Singapore has considered the Youth Olympics Games, the probability of a Youth Paralympics may well be a thing of the future.

Tan Sally (23)

Picture Discussion - alicia

This picture depicts a scene of two soccer players and some spectators in the background. This picture is most probably taken in the soccer stadium in one of the European countries. From this image, i could foresee that they are either in the middle of a soccer match or has just ended a match. I can infer that the atmosphere there is very noisy and bustling with excitement.

By looking at the two players, i can tell that they are from the Liverpool football club. Both of them, i should say are the best players of the team. The player who is facing the camera is the captain, Steven Gerrard. He is dressed in a red jersey number 8 with some white strips. At his left arm is a yellow strap with a letter 'C', representing the captain of the team. The other player, Fernando Torres, wears a long sleeved jersey number 9 which is similar to the captain's.

The two players are giving each other a hug. I believe they are doing so because they felt jolly that they have won the match. From the captain's expression, i can tell that he is in high spirits as he is grinning from ear to ear, showing some teeth. The other player must be feeling the same way as well as they have brought glory to their team. I feel that they should be thinking that their efforts are well paid off. They should be patting each others back to tell each other that they have performed well and done a good job.

Most of the spectators are in clouds nine and they should be very ecstatic as their favourite team has won. I think that they should be having a whale of their time in cheering for the team they support as this will most likely benefit the players. Some of the spectators are also showing the victory sign. I should say that the teams they have supported must have won. I believe that the support from the spectators will also affect the players so they should show their fullest support to them.

I think that the team must have practiced very hard before the match as they have obtained such wonderful results. The captain must have also done a lot in the team bonding as from the picture, it shows that they have very strong team spirits. The captain also looks self-assured and confident, showing that he has good fighting spirits and determined to try his best to fight to the end. I feel that he plays a significant role in the team as he is the one that motivates the other team mates and set a good example for them. A soccer match must consist of the team cooperation of all the players, as only with this, a goal can be scored. There is a quote saying "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress.Working together is success." They didn't do it for individual glory, but they do it as a team- win together, lose together.

In conclusion, this picture may be a motivation to some of the other soccer players who are still training hard. This also shows that success will only come after many failures and efforts that are put in. It also shows that one must have the determination and perseverance in oneself so that he will be successful. Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure. This shows that one must never give up if he wants to succeed in life as failure is the key to success.

Alicia (1)

Picture Discussion

From the right corner of the picture, the fancy words in red and green depicts that this picture is most probably taken during the Christmas season. I think that this picture is taken in the indoors as I can see bulky black speakers and a television hung up upon the wall and marbled floorings. This place may be rather spacious because there are other walkways that lead towards other corridors and rooms. I surmise that before this scene, the children probably had some games and crafts for entertainment and a get-together.

Judging from the vast difference in stature, I suppose that this Christmas party is organized for the little children. The grown-ups present are most probably the helpers or organisers of this event, to make sure that the entire event runs smoothly. Based on the plates filled with variety of food, I can see that the organisers have put in quite a substantial amount of effort and money in doing up this whole event. As part of the festive season, the children are all dressed up respectively in flamboyant colours. I would say that this group of children is rather docile as they are all orderly lined up in a straight queue. Although the faces of the children are not clearly seen, I believe that they are feeling mirthful about the party. Albeit that the children seen in the picture is not sizeable, there may be more children seated behind the divider. Perhaps they are made to proceed in small factions in order to keep the taut. From the looks of the lady in a red and white-striped top, she seems quite solemn, fatigue might have gotten over her over her as she might be tired after a long morning preparation.

After this scene, I think that the parents of the children present will come over to fetch them home. And I presume that some parents would bring their children out for a family day or to shopping malls to shop for some last-minute Christmas gifts. The helpers and organisers would then have to clear up the venue in toto, which I think elephantine task.

In my opinion, to set up a event is a Herculean task as there are many aspects that needs to be taken care of such as the food and the logistics. Many a times, events don’t turn out as glee and jest as we expected, people usually would pass a comment or criticism. I feel that it not a right thing to say as the organisers have really put in stupendous effort in doing up the event. In conclusion, I think we should thank the people in charge of the parties, events, etc, for their great effort and time and be contented.

Upon my first glance at this picture, I feel almost in awe. And it leaves me in utter disbelief and astonishment that such a heart-wrenching scene has actually happened in reality – the entire setting is made up mainly of crunched metal and shattered glass, making no difference from a junkyard stack; on the whole, there seem to be no sign of life among the bent and twisted pieces of metal, and I would not be surprised if there were only a few survivors due to the scale of devastation that is just horrific, further decreasing the chances of living for those trapped underneath.

It is conspicuous that a major bridge has collapsed and that, a red car, with its crushed bonnet, is hanging dangerously over the edge of the broken bridge at a steep angle. The reason for its current state and location could probably be that the bridge fell and collapsed abruptly as it was travelling along the bridge, which is an absolutely unexpected move that might have shocked and frightened the drivers; also, the car was probably hit by the rear of another car, which could have already fallen and formed part of the pile of crushed metal underneath.

Fortunately, help has arrived, as can be seen in the foreground where police officers and firemen are present, according to the uniforms they are wearing. Their small gathering at a corner suggests a possible explanation that they are discussing their next move to work together so as to rescue all victims from the area as quickly as possible and ensuring safety at the same time, perhaps before the situation aggravates, such as the falling of the red car, especially, due to its dangerous location whereby it, with the driver and passengers inside, can be buried in the rubble at any time, thus leading to a higher chance of rising the death toll. Furthermore, the calamity of this incident must have been intense, thus putting these rescuers in distress; some men are even seen with their arms on their hips, which tells me that they are probably feeling despair and dejected, this is especially so with such a tragedy to happen, whereby anyone will feel sorry for those who perished or suffered. Hopefully, their work performance and efficiency will not be affected by the incredible number of deaths and casualties that is highly expected, and I believe they will do their best to save as many victims as possible and bring them to safe ground.

In a positive view, the tragedy occurred at daytime instead of night time; if it were to be the latter, things would be difficult to manage, especially rescuing the people because logically, it is hard to see and detect anything at night, even with torches.

However, if things were to be viewed negatively, there is an expected great loss of lives, which is inevitable in such situations. Also, it is hard or if not, impossible to comprehend the feeling of falling from great height right in your own car. Well, things may often be unpredictable, but this could have been prevented! In fact, this should never have happened. With countless number of cars travelling along this major bridge, as it was before the collapse, the more its structure had to be strong and stable. I guess if thorough checks were carried out beforehand, the supposedly strong bridge would not have crumbled.

Perhaps, after this scene, most of the victims would have been rescued through the concerted efforts of the policemen and firemen and that, the clearing of debris may be in process and may take months for a complete clean-up because of the wide damage. The picture was probably taken to help viewers realise the severity of the wreckage and large amount of effort put in by different teams, of which the members are willing to risk their lives going amidst the rubble to save lives. Finally, I hope it will also be set as a “reminder” for regular checks of other bridges, be it major or minor ones.


Qianhui
12

Picture Discussion 3I

This picture depicts of both a man and a female company fishing. From the attire they are in, we could see that the weather is cold as firstly we all know that fishing is a slow process, (we are not able to hook a fish immediately after throwing in the fishing line together with a bait unless you are really lucky). Given that it is a slow process, a normal human being would not wear long sleeves together with a vest as shown in the picture, puffy long pants although the two human figures in the picture are fishing with their legs getting wet, wearing long sleeves is absolutely ridiculous in a hot and humid environment.

With this, I would like to highlight that both human figures are very patient people as fishing is all about patience. Without it, getting a fish hooked might seem boring and be considered one of the last activities you will do in your entire life.

As for the relationship of the couple, as seen from the picture, the female company seemed to be smiling. However as for the male it is not very clear in the picture, his facial expressions. And for them standing quite close together and interacting with the lady smiling, this shows that they are in good terms.

The physical environment might not be shown very clearly, but to me, I can see small blocks of floating ice. This could all add up to the evidences to conclude that the weather is cold.

From the picture, the water level of the water body can be roughly known. (At the knee-level) This is obvious that the water level is not very high, and the fish that they are looking for are the ones that has the ability to survive in shallow and cold waters.

I presume that the water body is not any sea or ocean as there are no waves observed. It should either be a lake or a river. Hence with this, I would like to add on that the fish found are fresh-water fish.

Both human figures in the picture would probably be waiting till they catch a fish and meanwhile, they can continue to chat in order to stall time.

I feel that although this picture may look plain, there is still a meaning behind it in which to show that life, from just common activities like fishing, we are still able to find joy in it. With this, I would like to include, for everything we do, be it something that might seem boring such as sewing, there's always a fun part in it, it just depends on how we look at things, each and everyone, our perceptions of certain things are different. There are many alternatives that we can choose, it might not be just a narrow and smooth path way, some of us here who are willing to face all dangers bravely, not back out but persevere, fight till the everyone, yes, we will pick the rocky and wide pathway. There's no wrong or right to our choices. What matters is that we believe in ourselves, put in effort, yes, no matter what the final results attained are, we know that we have done our best.

Cheryl

Picture discussion

By looking at the scene in the picture, I believe this picture is taken after a disaster. The disaster is probaly an earthquake as the road in the picture seems to be out of shape and the house is ripped apart. There is a thin layer of smoke near the collapsed building. Hence, i predict a fire was caused during the earthquake. There is a man standing on top of the parts of the collapsed building near the centre of the picture looking into the bits and pieces of the collasped building. I assume he is a rescuer and is there to check whether is there anyone buried in the collasped building.

I presume there is no one hurt in this natural disaster as there are no ambulance nor paramedic in the picture.Earthquakes are occurring more and more common in our daily live. I feel that there is a need to implant a bomb shelter in each and everyone's house so that during an earthquake, the house would not collapse and would protect people in the house. The house beside the collapsed one has done an example by implanting bomb shelter into the structure of the house. As you can see, the other house was not damaged by the earthquake.

I feel that Singapore is a very lucky country. We have no natural disaster due to our good locaction such as being surrounded by islands that protects us from such as tsunami. Hence, we should help those that helped us such as providing food and clean water to the tsunami-strucked areas that protected us. Without them, we would not have what we have now.

Picture from:
http://childrenwithguns.blogspot.com200701pittsburgh-professors-un-brief-on-child.html/
Done by: Jeannie (13)

This picture depicts several armed militants probably a rebellion group in a city. It is most probably taken in a city of a less developed country such as Africa or Pakistan, as there are several evidences from the picture that contributes to my conclusion. Firstly the background of the picture shows dilapidated buildings and an advertisement signboard. This goes to show that the militants are probably strolling down a place where the heart of activities in the country occurs. Moreover, the soldiers have fairly dark complexion and a soldier on the left hand side of the picture has a green cloth wrapped around his head. This practice is used only in certain countries such as Pakistan as a form of religion and respect. In addition, a boy wielding a gun in broad daylight in front of all those people proves that the country has no proper law governing the people and the unethical use of children as soldier suggest that the militants are probably rebels. This evidence leads to the conclusion that this picture is probably taken is a less developed country which is experiencing instability.

The young boy in the foreground dressed in a camouflage army suit, wielding a gun close to his chest, his face is imprinted with determination and fury. He seems to be staring at something high up with resentment, his eyebrows dig deep into his forehead and his lips turned down. I feel that he had joined the rebellion army on his own free will, as he could be tired of living in poverty and wanted to improve his life. The determination and resentment in his eyes seems to insinuated a serious and crucial moment or plan that is happening later. The person is probably heading out for a riot or a demonstration, to force the government to change the living conditions of the people. The child is probably determined to help his people and family to change their living standards and he could have resented the government for the lack of aids. The young boy approximately ten years old has demonstrated the determination and the will to change this that is seldom seen in people.

On the extreme left of the picture there is another boy in his teens. His seems morose and trying to suppress his tears. The teen is dressed in casual clothes and clutching a framed up photo in his hands. The picture shows a man in army uniform also with a gun in his arm, the man might be his brother or related to him in one way or the other. His brother might have died while protesting or in action, and he is carrying his picture to honour his brother’s death as he might have died fighting for justice.

From the way the militants are armed and dressed in uniforms, suggested that a protest or riot will happen later. There will be many lives involved as it is in the city and damage is inevitable. In conclusion, I feel that the picture was taken to put people to shame and for them to reflect upon, as a boy this young knows to fight for himself and to fight for what he wants even though it endangers his life. While most of us once faced with difficulties choose to avoid and run away from our problem instead of facing them head on. Although it is unethical for a kid to wield a gun and to shoot at people, but it show the fighting spirit of the child that most of us lack.

Picture Discussion, Jun Min

This picture depicts a scene of a basketball match as there are competitiors wearing different colour t-shirts and their is also a referee stationed at the side of the court to make sure that the competition is a fair play and that the competitiors do not break the rules. I believe that this picture is taken at an indoor basketball court as the floor is covered with tiles and there are lights hanging on the ceiling. From the picture, we can see that this is not a typical basketball match where we see competitiors running freely, dribbling the balls and playing rowdily but this a bsketball match for the disables who have lost their ability to walk.

From the picture, I can see that a lady who is wearing a white colour t-shirt is trying to shoot the ball into the hoop to score a goal. I can see a determined look on her face as she tries to aim for the hoop while trying to block off her opponents who would try to intercept or steal the ball away from her, thus preventing her from scoring which tells us about her desire to win.I believe that at that point in time, she is probably also feeling very anxious and stressed up as it is up to her to score and if she misses this opportunity, the team might not have another chance to score and they might lose. Thus the lady is trying her best to aim and shoot so as not to disappoint her coach and teammates and the supporters. In addition, I also think that the lady is also trying to prove to herself and the others that even though she might be disable, but she can still does things as well as those who are not and thus she wants to show everyone that she can do it.

From the picture, I can also see two ladies in red surrounding the lady who is trying to shoot thhe ball. They are probably trying to intercept the ball so as not to allow her to score a goal for her team, which might cause their team not to win this competition. I can tell that they are working very hard to seize the ball from the lady trying to shoot the ball. They are probably feeling nervous that the other team would score.

After the picture is taken, I think that the lady would probably score a goal given her determination and the match would continue until the time is up. The winner would be announce and I think that everyone will be busy congratulating one another for a job well done.

I think that this picture is taken to hightlight to us about perseverance in life and not giving up easily. Many a times, when we face trouble, we would usually run away from it and would not dare to face it. Also, when we experience failure, we would be traumatised by it and would not dare to try again. We do not have the courage and fighting spirit to try and try again depite numerous failures. I feel that we should really learn from these disable people who still have the bravery to strive and persist in doing what they want to do. They are not easily defeated by their disability but they face up to it and accept the fact that they are disable. I hope that all of us would have the same fighting spirit in our heart which we would have it in times of trouble and problem and would do our utmost in everything we do.

Jun Min =D

Corry (9) :

Judging by the setting, I think this a fashion show as it depicts a model walking down the runway showcasing a dress. Also, there is a man in the audience holding a camera, photographing the model as she is walking. Spotlights on high barristers as focused on the model. There are also spectators in the audience watching her, their heads moving along as she walks.

They are present at this fashion show to view the clothes showcased by models. Some of the spectators might be photographers various media aspects, for example newspapers or magazines. They are present to capture images from the show to use for their magazine or newspaper feature, or maybe even for their own use. The same goes for the photographer who shot this scene. Some may also be relatives of the models or producers, present to give them support.

The expression on the model’s face looks blank and serious. Inside she might be feeling nervous thinking she might make a mistake. She is concentrating very hard to look professional and confident. On the other hand, the audience look like they are enjoying the show and they are chatting to each other, possibly about their opinions on the outfit shown.

Some of the audience at the back is standing maybe because there are not enough seats for all the viewers. Maybe it was planned to be like that so they can have a better view standing rather than sitting. The purpose of this fashion show is to showcase the various outfits by their various designers. It is also to capture photographers and people’s attention.

I don’t think I would like to try walking down a catwalk as I’m not a very confident person and I have stage fright. I am also inappropriate for this kind of activity as I do not fit the criteria needed.

Prior to this scene, there were probably other models going down the catwalk each presenting different works. The models each take turns to walk down the runway one by one. After this scene the fashion show would have ended with all the models on the runway followed by their respective designers with the audience applauding with satisfaction.

Picture Discussion, Jean Yee

I believe this picture is taken at the beach. The people in the picture seem to be a family from the way they interact. Judging from the location they are at and lightly clothed the family is probably on summer vacation. Both girls have a towel draped across their shoulder, probably afraid from catching a cold from due to the sea breeze. Since two of the children have hats on and the man is wearing sunglasses, it must be sunny day.

The man bending down in the centre of the picture, most likely the children's father, is picking up something from the ground with all the children piqued by curiosity. My guess is that the father found something interesting and decided to show it to the children, probably something rare which the children have never seen or known before. The father may examine it with the children later, while the children can learn new stuffs at the same time. He must be feeling fortunate to found something stimulating to share with his children.

The little boy standing next to his father, is intrigued by the object his father is picking up as he is looking at it raptly and waiting patiently. He seems to be quite a brave soul. He is the youngest yet he is standing next to his father, obviously not afraid of the prospect that the object might be dangerous, or disgusting to look at.

The family might proceed on to other recreational activities like water sports or back to a holiday resort where a sumptuous dinner is waiting for them after the long stroll on the beach.

I believe this photo is taken to be kept as a memento for the family to remind them of the fun they had with their loved ones at this place they were at while on holiday.

Picture Discussion, Pei Xuan

Judging from the picture shown above, it seems to depict the SHIOK RIVER at Wild Wild Wet in Downtown East, which is opened to the public. This can be inferred from the float the man in the left foreground is using, in which the three words "Wild Wild Wet" had been printed. People of all ages and races are welcome to play and swim in the pool as in the picture, one Malay boy is seen in the center middle ground while the others are mostly Chinese. Added to this, adults, as well as young children are either sitting on a float or swimming in the SHIOK RIVER. Since most men are working during weekdays and are only free to accompany their children during weekends, I infer that this picture is taken during one of the weekends during the school holidays.

Due to most of the people swimming and floating only in one direction, the one facing the shelter made up mainly of rocks, I deduce that the SHIOK RIVER is not similar to our normal swimming pool. There must be a strong current that pushes all the people in the pool towards that direction. Thus, this must be one of the features that attracted people to come and play in the pool.

The two little boys in the center middle ground seems to be waiting for their friends or parents as they are facing the opposite direction in which the current flows. Being jeopardizing, they should not do this as they would be opposing the current, having the risk of slipping anytime. Hence, serious injuries or death could result. On the other hand, they should learn from both the girl and boy as shown in the right foreground. Holding the hands of the boy, the girl should be the sister of the boy. The boy not only holds his sister's hand, he also try to keep as close to the side of the pool as possible. In my opinion, what he does is decorous. Some of us may think that this is too much and is unnecessary, but it pays to be prepared against all odds and also, better to be safe than sorry.

The female sentinel that stands along the edge of the pool, as seen in the right background must be exhausted and totally worn-out from standing for the whole day. Although she is tired, she continues to do her job in guarding the pool to prevent any accidents from happening. Hence, she is a responsible and trustworthy sentinel.

Looking at the center middle ground again, people are taking out their life vest and this is inappropriate. Even if they are uncomfortable in their life vest, they should bear with it and remove it only after they leave the pool. Relating to the incident that I mention just now about safety, removing life vest is also perilous. Especially in the pool where people are not on land, they should be more scrupulous in their actions.

After this, I think that the adults and children will go on playing other items that is within the Wild Wild Wet, such as the SKYRIDER as shown in the center background, the ULAR-LAH, TSUNAMI AND Slide Up. If they are famish, they will have their lunch at the canteen or KFC.

In conclusion, this picture is taken so as to enable people to reminisce the happy memory they had. Not only that, this snapshot shows a lot of things. It shows that no racial discrimination is present in Singapore as people of all races could use the pool together. Singaporeans are not workaholic but also know how to relax and enjoy themselves. Besides that, we are also very fortunate to have a recreation place for us, thus should cherish it.

Written by:
Lim Pei Xuan
3I (15)

This picture depicts four young children washing basins of clothes in the river.

From the picture, I can infer that these children are from not-so-developed country like India or Africa as they are still hand-washing clothes, besides they have dark skin colour. Since the children actually kept their hair rather short, I think the temperature of the country should be blistering.

Also I can see that the children are of young age. They are only about seven or eight years old. They have learnt to take care of household chores when they are still so little. It shows how independent the children are, actually having the life skill of survival, taking care of themselves. I am rather impressed with their ability at their age as most children in Singapore are so well taken care of that they do not even need to lift a finger to have their own room made neat, and of course washing of clothes are mostly done by the washing machine.

I the picture I can also see that among the children, not all are girls; the two that were not wearing any clothes are boys. This shows that the practice in that family or the village did not have any discrimination against the girls. The boys are made to do household chores too.

The children have to pay extra attention when washing the clothes in the river. The numerous rocks protruding from the river bed seems to be rough and they might get themselves hurts easily if they are not careful enough and fall.

This picture is most probably taken so as to let us understand more about the life of children in the less develop countries—their independent and tough life. It is a very different environment that the children in the picture live in compare to the children in Singapore. I feel that there is something that we should learn from them, the capacity of taking up hard work and diligently completing their task.

Picture discussion

I believe this is a scene taken on a congested road. This is suggested by the presence of vehicles in the background and the lack of pedestrians seen. The adjacent vehicles also imply a traffic jam.

I infer that this is a scene after a car accident. Two traffic policemen are taking a statement from a witness of a typical car accident in a foreign country. Three men can be seen in the foreground, standing at the side of the road. The man in casual wear in the right foreground is probably a witness instead of victim of the car accident as his car does not seem to be of any serious damage from this view. He is pointing his hand to his left, presumably indicating the scene of the accident. The two men facing the man and photo source are apparently police officers. This is evident as they are wearing similar smart uniforms with ranks strapped on their shoulders. In addition, a walkie-talkie can be seen secured on the left shoulder of the policeman in the left foreground. He seems to be taking down the witness’s statement on a note pad. The unfamiliar foreign letters on the strap of their uniforms suggests the place as a foreign area.

A car accident might have been triggered previously due to the close distance between the vehicles in the jam. This witness might have been the one who has reported the tragedy and summoned the traffic police.

The witness of the car accident must be feeling concerned and condolent for the victims. He appears to be expressing his testimony dedicatedly, emphasizing his point by actions, pointing in an agitated way. This indicates that he is trying his best to distinguish the party which induce the mishap to the policemen. He is probably thinking of seeking justice for the victims.

Both the traffic officers have grim and serious looks on their faces, suggesting a serious and fatal car accident. It also indicates their devotion towards their work. They are perhaps feeling thankful towards the witness, as his testimony saves them the trouble of further investigating the cause of the tragedy.

The drivers in the passing cars in the background must be curious about the commotion. The slow traffic is an indication. It is common for drivers to peer out of their window inquisitively in such a situation, resulting in the blockage.

After the recording of statement, the witness would leave the scene to restore traffic in the area his car is occupying. The traffic officers would stay to restore traffic order in the affected area before submitting the testimony of the witness to the respective department.

I believe that this photograph is taken for a report of this accident in the newspaper. Permission has been granted by the people that have appeared in the image. This can be proven by the deliberate blurring of the witness’s face. This must have been requested by the witness when he agreed the publishing of the image.

This photograph depicts the significance of witness’s statements. It can ensure justice for victims and bring deserved punishment to the criminals. The photograph is also an evidence to prove the importance and the benefit for people to offer help to one another in life.

Written by:
Goh Chian Yee
3I (8)



image taken from: http://news.joins.com/component/htmlphoto_mmdata/200406/htm_2004060123374090009040-001.JPG

This picture depicts a group of male youngsters enjoying a conversation. the venue seems to be a small meeting room and they have a small group of people having a short discussion seesion but unfortunately, they are endulging in their own joke instead. There is also a small snack-bar with a thermo-flask, a basket and several cups of mineral water on it. there are also signs of people being absent from the conference because in the foreground, there is a set of notes beside the guy in black that seems to be flip through non-thoroughly. A bag ialso resting on the chair implying that the person sitting there is gone for a while or maybe just not there, therefore, allowing the guy in black to have his bag on tha chair.

The bald guy dressed in white seems to be the one cracking the joke during a discussion session and the 2 other guys seem to enjoy it a lot. i think it would be better for them to focus on their work instead, otherwise, they might get scolded by their instructor.anything not related to the work, should be taed about only after the session, its the basic respect to the instructor in charge of the whole session and not to waste anybody's time.

the boys seem to have a good time together, though, and i believe they will still be in touch after the session.

Picture discussion

The picture depicts the scene of a collapse house and an indian man covering his mouth. He must be shocked to see that his house has collapsed.The indian man is in agony. The house which had collapsed is very likely to belong to that indian man. Looking at the indian man's hands, it is stained with cement. He must have went to pick up the things that had collapsed onto the ground, while thinking of his collapse house. The indian man must be feeling very sad as he had lost his house, his source of shelter.

The house is mostly made of stones, rocks,wood and metal pieces. From this, i can infer that the indian man must be very poor as he could only afford a house made of simple materials. Looking at the apperarance and the clothes the indian man is wearing, i can also infer that he is poor. As the indian man is poor, i supposed that he build the house himself. It must have took him a lot of effort and hard work. The indian must be feeling heartache for his hard work. He might feel at a loss of what to do as this incident might have occured too sudden.

I think that a natural disaster such as earthquake have caused the collapse of the house. This incident is very likely to happen in india where earthquake is very frequent. I think that th indian man's friends and family will come forward to console and encourage him. Afterwards, the indian man will be building his new house.

picture discussion, vivian

This picture depicts a scene of fights. Judging by the picture, this is probably a riot or a street protest turned nasty in a western country as the picture only shows a big group of Caucasian men. On the right of the picture, a particularly big group of men are trying to rebel the policemen blocking them but to no avail. This shows the policemen are not only efficient to be able to arrive on time to prevent the fight from going bloody, but also well trained to be able to restrain the angry civilians. From the look of the man in a red shirt, I can say that he is quite determined to fight for his rights. I think the policeman restraining him also feels that way as he is only concentrating to prevent him from going anywhere. The amount of strength he uses can be seen from his red face.
On the left of the picture, a man is kneeling on the ground, being held by another policeman who is, at the same time, pointing his weapon at a topless man in front of him. Judging from the camera man in the center of the picture, I think the fight may be quite serious as he has a cautious look on his face while trying to get pictures of the fight. Behind him is also another photographer. This can also elaborate on the seriousness of the fight.
On the left background of the picture, there is a big group of bystanders gawking at the scene. This can show that the fight is taking place in a well-populated place.
In conclusion, I feel that riots, street protests or fights such as this is not necessary at all. They can turn out to be nasty and bloody if the police did not turn up. There are better and safer ways to settle things. I hope that in the future there will be no need for this to happen.
-vivian

picture from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7957387@N05/474541657/




Done by : CHARMAINE NG (5)

This picture depicts a scene of poverty in the modern world, most probably in a third world country, such as africa from the looks of the people’s dressing and structure of the houses.
Firstly, as we can see in the background there is a house with a shelter made of straws. The structure of the house reminds me of the scenario in the story ‘three little pigs’ whereby the wolf blows down pigs’ house. The roof here seems rather collapsible too as I have the idea of straws being a transitory and flimsy material. Having this mind set, I guess they will be in danger when it rains, especially when lightning strikes. From the picture, we cannot see any drains insight which means that they probably do not have a drainage system. Hence floods will occur when there is heavy rain due to much surface runoff and this will result in poor sanitary condition. On the other hand, there is a possibility that the house will collapse as lightning strikes since there is no lightning rods on their roof tops. There are also no proper roads and amenities here.
As compared to Singapore, we have a better lighting protection such as installing lightning rods at roof tops, well constructed roads and many amenities such as shopping malls and schools. I really feel myself blessed and contented living in Singapore.

Apart from these, we can see clothes left unattended lying near the entrance of the house. I guess they had no choice but to leave their clothes there as they probably do not have any furniture like cupboards or even hangers. What’s more astounding that captivates my attention is that they do not have a door at the entrance of their houses. I guess this will allow others to invade their privacy easily as passer-by can easily see what is happening in the house at a glance. Furthermore, this will put their valuables at great risks since intruders can easily enter their house without permissions and grab their belongings.
From this, we can infer that their way of living is indeed different from us. I guess if we were to have any of our pampered Singaporeans to stay in there with these rural settings for a night, he or she will not be able adapt well.
Next, moving our focus to the adult in the middle of the picture, we can see that the man is wearing a white casual shirt with a pair of long pants. Though it may not sound anything unusual, but the shirt which he is wearing has got huge gigantic holes around the chest area. If he was to walk on the streets of Singapore, he would probably be the center of attraction as such dressing is uncommon here. Most people who judge the books by its cover will probably despise and discriminate him. Though he does not have high quality clothing, but I can see that he is contented with his life from the smile he gives. I guess we Singaporeans are too complacent about our life and should posses the same attitude as him.
The equipment which he is wielding seemed to be a saw with its long blade. I guess this has got to do with his profession. He is probably a wood cutter which explains the presence of the wooden logs beside the house.

In my opinion, the photographer who took this picture probably wants to show us the different side of the modern world. As we indulge ourselves in the luxury of the advanced technology and comfort in urban modernization, we should not forget that there are still people living in poverty without proper clothes to wear. Therefore, we should no take things for granted but cherish and appreciate what we have here. As we rest on one’s laurels, we should lend a helping hand to those who need help such as by sharing our knowledge on technologies to them or donating money to them.

PICTURE DISSCUSSION, LEE STEPHANIE

From the water flooding the roads, cars and buildings, I can infer that a serious flooding has occurred. The muddy water had flood the roads in the country and it is difficult to walk on the road. The men had to carry the ladies and elderly as they might not have the strength to walk against the flowing water due to the strong force.

As we can see there is a signboard in Chinese words and from the skin color of the people seen in the picture, it can be inferred that the flooding is occurring in China. The villagers living around the place where flooding had occurred could not travel accessibly. They could not even drive due to the high level of water. Shops had to close due to the flooding. The people had to travel using boats. They could also only rely on the guys to carry them to safety. From the green uniform that the guys are wearing, they could be from the army. We know that they are well trained because they have the energy to carry the villagers and walk against the flowing water which is a difficult task for many.

The guy carrying the girl looks a bit stressed up as they must save a lot more villagers and by then, he might be very exhausted. He was also worried that they might not be able to complete the task soon. Due to the lack of boats, they can only rely on them for transportation. The guys are all wearing life jackets just in case of emergency as the flood might rise up in level anytime. As all rescuers are walking the same directions, I believe that they are walking to the same destination. The guy carrying the little girl looks determined, however, as he knows that it is his responsibility to rescue those who might be still stuck in the flood, waiting for their rescue.
The girl, whom the guy is carrying, looks frightened. She looks worried too. I think she is worried about her family members. I believe she is anxious in looking for her family members. She might also be afraid that the guy might lose his balance and drop her into water. I believe she miss her parents and hope that they can reunite soon.

The others behind in the picture looks calm and the rescuers are trying to carry the villagers to safety. As some of the villagers are heavier, the rescuers might have difficulty at carrying them. I believe they had to walk quite a distance before they are brought to safety. The perseverance of the rescuers is really encouraging. Although they are exhausted, they did not complain and instead, they help the villagers. They wants to help and save and make sure that the villagers are safe. The heavy responsibly make them persevere and try their best to serve the villagers. The villagers are also feeling miserable as their house might be damaged and their close ones might have been injured or dead due to the serious flooding.

I think that the cause of the flood is due to heavy raining or the overflowing of the Yangtze River. Due to the flooding, the shops could not continue their business and this might cause the economic to fall. People might have been killed too. Houses are also being damaged due to the flooding and it may result in many people being homeless. There would be spreading of diseases too as the muddy water would be a perfect breeding place for the mosquitoes. Therefore, the muddy water must be cleared away quickly and temporary tents should be set up for people to live in as they are homeless now.

The photo is taken to show how natural disaster can cause such a huge problem. Natural disaster are unable to prevent and once it occurs, the consequences the country faces would be too huge if the country do not think of immediate ways to solve it. We are lucky that Singapore does not have natural disasters occurring and we should be pleased. The picture is to tell us how much help is needed so that we can give them help. They are in need of help and we should not just sit and wait to see what the government will do next. We should try to help them, like the rescuers. So that, when we need help the next time, they would also kindly help us just like what we did for them.

I believe this scene is taken at the girl's house by their parents or their relatives. We can infer this from the fact that the younger sister has not have her clothes on. The little girl seems curious about what her sister or relative is reading about. She must have came over while waiting for her mother to shower her since she is not dressed.
From the elder sister's serious and determined expression, i reckon she is reading the novel to her younger sister, hoping she somehow understands and hopefully pick up some knowledge from it. Albeit the young girl pays no attention to her, she still continues as though the child knows what she is talking about. She just hopes she could be a loving and a role model for the young girl in this one and coincident life with her. Nevertheless, her patience and willingness tells me she is a very passionate and a good sister or relative.
Looking at the little girl's face, i think she is curious about what those words mean and why are they written in that way. I believe if she were to carry this attitude for the rest of her life, she is sure to succeed as curiosity will bring her more knowledge, and thus can outdo more people.
After the little girl's parent is ready with her clothes, she will call out for her name to shower her. Perhaps the little girl will be a bit unwilling as she needs to leave the quirky book and the interesting story her relative is telling, and may even start throwing her tantrums. But i believe under the older sister's and her parent's assurance, the young girl will obey reluctantly.
These two girls have a common factor and that is, curiosity. The lady is curious about what that novel is illustrating about and the child is curious about what she is looking and paying attention to.
This picture tells us the importance of curiosity, although it is believed that 'curiosity kills the cat in the bag.' However if everyone is afraid to fail, then i doubt no one will ever succeed as failure is the key to success. Therefore, i conclude that all of us should have a heart like the two girls here - an inquisitive heart.


-isabel(26)

Picture discussion,Ian

From the background, a wave is forcefully breaking into the scene, towering over nearby people like a skyscraper. This picture depicts an area being hit by a tsunami wave sending people scrambling for safety. There is a certain element of shock on the faces of the people who are in this picture, indicating that the wave had come so suddenly. People of all ages can be seen in the foreground including a man attempting to carry a child to nearby safety at the bottom left hand corner of the picture. i can infer that the tsunami has invanded a more inland location as none of the people in the picture are sporting any form of beachwear.
In the centre of the picture, a woman turns her head to take a glance of the titanic wave. She may have done so to double check if there are any victims or casualties claimed by the tsunami. In such a situation, i would assume that most of the victims of the tsunami would be too distorted to turn back and face the wave as all that would be going through their minds at that instant would be the thought of escaping the far reaching grapse of the wave and the fear of being swept away. I fear that these people are close to being swept away as the tsunami threat is advancing fast towards them with barely a few metres between the wave and the people, i feel that a collision with the tsunami is inevitable.
The wave is bulldozing through the roads of this city and will leave death and destruction in its wake. The possibility of high death tolls and heavy damages to properties is looming. Only one thing is certain, at the end of the day, none will go home unscathed, some will not even have a home to return to and many will be left homeless. The people are fleeing towards the right, this suggests that the wave is coming fromthe right, which is where the coast may be located.
In conclusion, i feel that this picture instills in me both a sense of awe and of anguish. I am amazed at the sight of such a spectacular symbol of power in the form of the tsunami wave and at the same time filled with anguish for those who have been stricken by this destructive force of nature.

Picture Discussion, Shaun

This picture depicts three boys, most probably siblings, and in the backdrop a thrash filled stream. Flanking the stream are houses.
From the features of the boys and the state of the settlements, i can infer that this picture is most likely taken in Africa. Regarded as a poverty stricken country, this picture has numerous elements that justify this claim. Primarily, the houses on the extreme right of the picture are not well constructed with some even having walls made of metal sheets. Next, refuse are literally thrown into the stream thus showing that there is no proper system of waste removal. Tentatively, what we have to recognise is that such country faces poverty. The fact that the local government spares diminutive effort to rein the country, results in what we witness in the picture.

Prior to this shot, I believe that the boys were engaged in some kind of activity, maybe being mischievous like wad most boys would be doing. Perhaps the presence of a missionary coming by caught their attention, and that is where we witness how this group of children ran towards the camera and have this shot taken so as to illustrate the living conditions of these children to others.

Moving on, on the right foreground, the stagnant body water in the stream caused by the refuse being thrown into it poses a hazard to the people living in the vicinity. With the hot climate, this is a favourable place for mosquitoes to breed and thus spreading malaria and other diseases. Secondly, as wastes are thrown into the stream, the body of water may be polluted and lead to water-borne diseases too. As mentioned earlier, the buildings in the extreme right are not well-built which again, poses a hazard to the people living here. First and foremost, the foundations seems to be rather weak as the soil may be eroded easily by the rain and it can be flooded during monsoon rain as the river bank is rather low. In the foreground of the picture, the three boys seems rather close to one another much like brotherhood love which can be observed by the distance they are from one another. This, to me, is a rather pleasing scene as although they face poverty and many hardships in life and are unable to live life the way we do, they are undoubtedly filled with much love for one another thus showing us that through it all, come hardships or poverty, love remains.

After this shot is taken, I think that the boys will go back being their selves having fun in the sun, leaving their problems behind. The one who shot this photo may move on finding more scenes to depict the difficult living conditions people there face.

To conclude, this picture depicts the tough living conditions people face around the world and it sends us a message to be grateful and cherish what we have no matter how great or little it may be as in some corner in the world, people suffer more hardships than we do. Secondly, we should lend a helping hand and not go on pretending day by day that nothing's going on as we can make a difference and show that people care for them.

~shaun~

This picture depicts an old lady standing in front of a street sign in a old, deserted alley. As seen in the picture.

I suppose that this picture was taken in a Chinese speaking country as the sign is in both English and Chinese language, thus showing that the picture should have been taken in a place where there is a number of Chinese population, perhaps to a certain large percentage. This picture could be taken in a province where it experiences four seasons. It should be winter or end of autumn as the woman in the picture is wearing a thick, long-sleeved sweater. Therefore, i conclude that it should be taken either end of autumn or winter. I feel that the country should be China since it fits my inference.

In the centre of the picture, it portrays an old woman with white hair and a frown over her eyebrows. I think that the old lady in the middle ground may be waiting for somebody as she has a perturbed look on her. Her facial expression also shows a hint of annoyance. I think that she may be waiting for her husband or her children as she is married. I can say so as she has ring on her hand. Nevertheless, she may not be waiting for someone, she may even be waiting for something such as bus or a cab. At the same time, her action of folding her arms can be read as self defend according to psychology or perhaps she is worried. Also, i feel that the old lady seems lonely, with a dash of sadness across her wrinkled skin. I think that the lady should be an Asian not a tourist as her hair has black roots though most of it has turned snowy white, probably due to her age. Besides that, her eyes are also black as charcoal, prove of being an asian.

All in all, in conclusion, i think that lady had been waiting even before this picture is taken, hence explaining her hints of annoyance. Maybe, her family will come and pick her up after a while. Hopefully, they do or the old lady would be very pitiful, waiting in the chilling wind for them.

I feel that the picture may be taken to show irony as the sign behind her reads tower of happiness and hall of mildness, yet the old woman's situaton is pretty much the opposite of joyous and i suppose that the frosty wind in the winter comes nowhere near the word "mild".

-laywen-

Picture discussion

By looking at this picture,I can infer that the people are performing some kind of dance.I think that this picture is taken during an event like a parade as the performers are dressed in traditional costumes.The woman at the foreground is dressed in a costume and holding a fan.This woman looks like a Chinese from the complexion of her skin.

There are other women in the background dressed in similar costumes as her.The woman in the foreground look very serious as she performed.I can see that from her expression on her face.She may be thinking that it is an honour to perform in this kind of event and will do her best to perform.One of the women in the background is doing the same action as the girl in the foreground.She has a smile on her face.

She may be thinking that it is fun to perform in this occasion and try to enjoy herself.I think that after this picture is taken,the performers will continue to perform until the next group arrive.They may even have a celebration to reward them as they had put in a lot of effort for this performance.They may even wait for the other groups to finish their performance and celebrate together for their effort and hard work.

I think that before the performance,the performers put in a lot of effort to perform as they want to let the others know how good they are.They want to be outstanding.

I think this picture is taken to let the others know that it is fun to perform in this kind of event and encourage more people to participate.It is also to let the performers know that they had put in effort and to remember the moments when they performed.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sujatha_fan/497401308/

This picture clearly shows a section of the Great Wall Of China.From this picture, we can see that a little girl and boy is trying their best to climb one of the seven wonders of the world. Looking at the materials used to build this structure,we knew that the structure must be at least of hundred years.And indeed,from our contextual knowledge, the Great Wall Of China was built by the emperor of Qin dynasty,Qin Shi Huang. Since it was really years ago,it was no doubt that the structure appeared to be old and dusty.

The little girl in this picture is climbing the structure alone,indicating her independence. Her parents was not even with her,and thus she must be a very independent girl who could take care of herself.She also looked like a native to the country.This tells us that she must be familiar with the Great Wall Of China,or else she couldn't had climbed the Wall up alone without the accompany of adults.She seemed tired after completed a few sections of the structures. However,she also looked determined to complete the journey till she reached the peak.She must be a really brave and fine girl that is willing to fight against any challenges or obstacles opposing her.She is also decisive in a way that once she decided to climb,she will carry on and not give up halfway easily.From all the inference,i would not be surprised if this girl reached the peak.

The boy behind her is dog tired and distressed. He looked as if he does not want to carry on anymore.He come across as a lazy and timid boy,terrified to embrace any challenges. Once he is tired,he will stop and give up.This boy will surely not make his way up to the highest point.

This picture is shown to attract more people to visit the Great Wall Of China.In addition,this picture serves to teach us something important: do not be afraid to fight against any challenges or obstacles in life.Life is full of ups and downs,thus the key of success is how you overcome the obstacles. some will give up halfway and some will preserve,just like the climbers in the picture.But remember,only those who preserve will achieve success.

written by: jiahui(20)

Picture Discussion, Zhuo Wen

By studying the shop houses in the background, I infer that this picture is taken in one Singapore’s numerous heartlands. Most of the people captured in the photograph are senior citizens, however there are also people of younger age groups. This shows that the heartland depicted is well like by the residents of all ages in the estate.    

As it is in the knowledge of many that heartlands are usual very crowded when hordes of residents of the estate throng to shop for groceries and household items. The heartland in the picture seem to be lack of the usual hustle and bustle, this picture may be taken during the weekdays, especially in the late morning when most residents are already off to work. This inference of mine can also be further supported by the fact that the people in the picture have done their shopping as a couple of them are carrying plastic bags.

On the left foreground, a diminutive young woman, who seem to be a caretaker, is pushing a wheel chaired wizened old lady. The woman could also be a maid, hired by her employees, which most probably are the family members of the elderly lady, to take care of her while they are working since the elderly lack of the ability to take care of herself. The pair may be shopping in the heartland, or the maid may just be taking the elderly woman out for a walk.

On the right foreground is a slightly round-bodied aged man whom just finished shopping. He is seen holding a plastic bag filled with the stuffs he bought. In the middle ground, a short, curly-hair elderly is pushing a trolley with several bags of items she bought. In my opinion, she could be purchasing groceries for family members, if not she would not have to use a trolley to carry the paid for items. In addition, she may be only starting with her purchasing of items, as her trolley is still largely empty and along with the fact that she is heading towards a fruit stall in the background where most of the groceries stall or wet market may be situated at.   

The heartland pictured may be found in the older estate of Singapore as there is a large number of elderly living in the area, along with this fact is that shops located at the void deck of HDB apartments are rarely found in the new ones. Also, a foreigner interested in Singapore’s culture may have captured this picture in his or her lens.

In conclusion, this picture depicted most Singaporeans way of life and heartlands are still largely popular among consumers although facing strong competition with air-conditioned, modern and sophisticated shopping malls.