Picture This - A Friendly Place to Improve Your Photography

The TV participants represent some of the UK’s most exciting new digital photography talent, chosen for their postings to this website in late 2007.

They’ll go head to head during the series, stretching their creative and technical abilities in challenging photography assignments assessed by a panel of famous industry judges.

And the most talented of the bunch will go on to win the title of Britain’s best new digital photographer, getting their work published in an exclusive book and showcased in a dedicated exhibition.

You’ll get the chance to view and comment on TV participants photos in detail on this site in the New Year and they may even drop by to comment on yours in return

Read more about the TV contestants below.

Lucinda Chua

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Biography

Lucinda graduated from Nottingham Trent University in 2007 with first class BA Hons in Photography.

Her work deals with fragmented moments illustrating points of change through frozen narrative. She shoots both Large and Medium format film as well as with a digital back. Lucinda’s work has been used by Free Range and Nottingham Trent University to front national campaigns including publishings in Portfolio Magazine and the British Journal of Photography.

Lucinda is also a classically trained pianist/cellist and records/performs as Felix alongside Christopher Summerlin. She has a split 7“ single available on Low Point and is touring the UK in November 2007.

Exhibitions

LUX FESTIVAL, Truman Brewery, London

Four LUX, The Surface Gallery, Nottingham

2007

Mentored by Fredi Helwig

Portrait of Germaine Greer

Charlie Brooker’s Screenwipe publicity photographs

2006

SHOTS young photographer award shortlisted winner

Guardian Weekend Photoprize published entry

What/who influences you?

I take influence from the cinema. I love the way that you can go to see a movie and for a few hours you totally forget about your life and get sucked into a story, this is what I try to create in my photographs. I adore David Lynch, Ingmar Bergman, Wong Kar Wai and Luis Banuel. I love Larry Sultan's photography, I find it emotive and repulsively engrossing at the same time. I love Reneke Dijkstra and William Eggleston for their tenderness and Gregrory Crewdson for his theatricality. I love Bach and Satie for their music, I could go on forever really...

What is your favourite photograph that you've captured and why?

I have a photograph of my friend Owian from a series called the preludes that I made. I like it's quietness.

What would your ideal photo shoot look like?

I don't know what it would look like. I'd hope it would go smoothly though, I hate feeling rushed.

What is more important, creativity or technique?

Creativity without a shaddow of a doubt. You can learn technique but you can't learn to be creative.

What skills do you definitely need as a photographer?

You need to be interested in something and have a desire to capture it.

Are good pictures more the result of good planning or spontaneity?

I think it depends what kind of a photographer you are. I am a planner but this is just a way I feel confident working in, I don' believe there is a formula.

Which experiences did you gain during the tv show?

The competition forced me to work in areas of photography I wouldn't have chosen to persue without prompting. I think I learned that photography doesn't have to be defined by genre but that it was how approached the subject that determined what I gained from the experience. The show gave me confidence in my skills as a photographer even when working outside what I felt comfortable doing.

Lucinda Chua's Projects

Self-Portrait

three doors

Uploaded on 25/12/2007

11 comments

1 Versions

Documentary

Brothers and Sisters, Guilin, 2006

Uploaded on 08/01/2008

3 comments

1 Versions

My Passion: A Personal Project

with army at breakfast

Uploaded on 14/01/2008

9 comments

1 Versions

Decay

Anna

Uploaded on 21/01/2008

7 comments

1 Versions

Get Involved to Comment

Please leave a helpful comment here. When you give feedback make sure you let people know exactly what is great about their photo as well what does not work for you, always include useful suggestions on how the photo could be improved.

blue beany said...

This is an interesting constructed image evoking many feelings, stuff from fairy tales, films, etc. I really enjoyed the program.

Posted on 07/01/2008 10:58

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Paul Adshead said...

I really like the narrative in your work. I think you and Jay were definitly the strongest photographers in the show. All the best.

Posted on 07/01/2008 20:29

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Lornastar said...

i really enjoy your work! :)

Posted on 07/01/2008 21:01

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J L M said...

@ Paul - couldn't agree more hehe ;)

Posted on 08/01/2008 11:58

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Paul Collins1 said...

I don't really like contrived pictures, however that said I have high hopes for you,given the chance.

Posted on 11/01/2008 20:36

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ditajane said...

i didnt find any of the photos on this thing worthy of much praise to be honest

Posted on 13/01/2008 19:20

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goodhorsehymn said...

Yeah, but she's cute so it's alright.

Posted on 13/01/2008 22:52

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nikac said...

there are no photos on your profile...show us some praiseworthy stuff please

Posted on 14/01/2008 14:20

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J de B said...

Well done Lucinda as I watched you become confident in each of your tasks this week your documentary work was fanstastic. BAA 3rd runway of course you realised the chippings were there:) All the best, good luck and keep up the good work. Remember you would not be in the final if you did not have a talent.

Posted on 14/01/2008 00:25

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emmanuellewood said...

Well done for getting through Lucinda. Can't wait to see more of your inspiring work.

Posted on 14/01/2008 13:43

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nikac said...

there's no photos in your profile. show us some praiseworthy stuff please

Posted on 14/01/2008 14:17

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Paul Collins1 said...

Well done Lu,The same comment as for Liz, justice,was seen to be done,your both deserve to win, and you are both winners as far as I'm concerned,and are great photographers. Paul

Posted on 14/01/2008 15:48

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photoarc said...

Go do it for the girls !

Posted on 15/01/2008 01:06

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crawford.dowling said...

love your work and your approach to it...that's why you're good.

Posted on 15/01/2008 14:30

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~Solarina said...

I was just looking at your website last night and found myself thinking all day about your theory on the "still point", I always thought of photos as telling stories but youre right, they always only tell one still frame of a story :) Your work is inspiring!

Posted on 15/01/2008 17:27

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Peter Juerges said...

Hi, I refer to episode 2...there was little to comments on from episode one. Whilst I appreciate that you have an interesting selection of images I find it hard to relate those images to any specific story. The Polo shot is by far the best of the images as it is filled with content, with contrasts and character but..is it about an unsupported prize giving (no spectators), about some British colonial agricultural show, a public school inter house rugger match, or a welcoming the troops home party? The other two images just leave me asking the question who are these people...do they live wherever, does she object to the poster in some ones garden, is this a disgruntled worker in some salone... Im sorry...the creativity does not overcome the lack of simple story telling... Its as though you had no feeling for or interest in the event you were "documenting". I am sure that is not the case...and we know from the show that you had other images but based on what I see here I find it hard to see what the judges were basing their decisions on.

Posted on 15/01/2008 22:38

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eviltwin said...

The fact that the polo shot could have been a "British colonial agricultural show" is what I liked about it. It shows a nice detachment from the subject.

Posted on 21/01/2008 11:48

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adam andrews said...

I like your innovative style of photography Lucinda, especially your concept behind the Germaine Greer shoot. Best of luck in the final Girl !!!

Posted on 16/01/2008 04:04

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hawicklad said...

Lucinda, good luck in the final. I enjoyed seeing how you go about capturing your images. With all due respect to the other competitors, I feel you were the only person to come close to what was expected during the documentary shoot. A good image is worth a thousand words. The only thing i would improve upon in the shot of the lady protesting would be to have her place her right hand on the garden gate.( I think one of the judges said that too) Anyway, all the best in the final, you have a wonderful talent. Good Luck.

Posted on 16/01/2008 13:40

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topupthetea said...

I really really wanna see some of the Charlie Brooker shots! I'm so jealous!! Or a link to them or something... Well done on being on the telly and whatnot...

Posted on 20/01/2008 20:14

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igcoldicott said...

Lucinda, well done in reaching the final, I loved the compositions and especially the way you lit your shots in the library (and Borges' the Library of Bebel is one of my all time favourite short stories), it must have been hard to judge the two very different styles... I'm sure you will go on to achieve great things!

Posted on 21/01/2008 08:46

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lucinda.chua said...

The Charlie Brooker press shot is on my website www.lucindachua.co.uk in the portfolio section.

Posted on 21/01/2008 10:00

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eviltwin said...

Well done in getting to the final, your skill with lighting and colour will surely take you far.

Posted on 21/01/2008 11:51

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askone said...

the shows judging the other night way way off the mark. the little girl peering round the corner in the library shouldve won it on its own. youve got some amazing shots.

Posted on 21/01/2008 22:10

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tom.mcfarlane said...

You take truely beautiful pictures! I loved your work from episode 3 of the show where you could really express your style of photography - infact, i was surprised you didn't win, but i'm sure your heading for a fantastic career in photography. Fuily enough, photography and classical music are my two passions too - although i'm a clarinetist, not a pianist. Keep up the stunning work! Tom

Posted on 23/01/2008 21:05

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narcsfames said...

i really like your images and your use of medium format. the library pictures are quite seductive through lighting and colour,i enjoy the realism of them. well done for getting so far ;) .

Posted on 25/01/2008 03:57

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