The Skype Family Portrait

In Singapore, like in many other countries it is a regular occurrence for whole families to get together on a special occasion and take a formal picture. Birthdays, weddings, a child’s graduation, celebrating a job promotion or whatever, these formal pictures mean a great deal to many families and will end up being put in a snazzy picture frame and receiving pride of place on the wall or mantelpiece.

However the increase in the number of younger family members who take jobs abroad has meant that many of the more recent family portraits are missing a relative or two.
Singaporean photographer John Clang, who is based in New York, decided to do something about this and devised a way of using video-calling on Skype to include everyone in that all important family picture!

Clang’s idea involved getting those in Singapore to stand in front of their webcam-enabled computers and call their relatives in faraway lands on Skype. Clang then projected the Skype image onto a wall and photographed all the callers together – the flesh and blood next to the holographic. Got to admit it is a kinda cool way of getting everyone together for a happy snap!
Clang first attempted this idea with his own family and then searched for other families who were geographically separated and wanted to try his new technique via the internet and the embassies.

Clang said: ‘‘It bridges the gap between the two families that are apart.’’ An exhibition of Clang’s innovative Skype portraits will take place at the National Museum of Singapore in 2013.

Read more: Futuristic Family Reunions (Via New York Times)

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