OF IMAGINATIONS AND PRACTICES: AN EXAMINATION ON DOINGS OF FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY IN SINGAPORE’S NATURE-SPACES

Abstract

Family photography in Singapore’s nature-spaces has been a prominent activity undertaken by families themselves. While studies on family photography in geography already exist, they lack consideration of professional photographers who capture such photographs for families, and the processes or doings of this photography itself. Hence, this thesis aspires to explore the doings of family photography, focusing on the imaginations and practices that both photographers and families exhibit in nature-spaces which constitute the processes that form resultant family photographs. By exploring the intersection of moral geography with power relations in the context of this case study, the thesis focuses on the perceptions and actions exhibited by both groups regarding nature-spaces where family photography is done. Additionally, it addresses the processes of family photography in nature-spaces, exploring the who in having authority in doing so. These would provide empirical and conceptual contributions to photography studies in geography beyond existing literature which merely examines studies of family photographs. This thesis proposes that doings of family photography are tied to imaginations of nature-spaces which construct them to be ideal spaces where family photography could be done by both photographers and families. It also argues that these doings are primarily dictated by photographers who have free will in exhibiting their practices which make resultant family photographs. Yet, it also uncovers the multiplicity of power relations between photographers, families and photographs in doings of family photography, where these actants contest with each other in producing resultant family photographs.