MEDIA @ UNI

[jordjordank]

MEDIA320 #15

Got back my final printed photobook. Think it turned out well but there are areas where the print shop has not cut the images correctly even though I added bleed and crop marks.

While editing I think some images were stronger than others, but I like how the digital book turned out. I had issues with the print shop printing my images too dark on 250msg uncoated paper, and though I corrected them I’m still not 100% satisfied with the prints. It was a shame I did not end up experimenting more with physical elements of the photobook to make it more like my museum archives inspiration. 

Overall I do like the final output.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA320 #14

Made a file version with only my photos and lightened them all and had them printed again. Did a test print with the file I thought I fixed, which was still dark, and the lightened version which looked very similar when printed but the quality of both were better. Took them to Rodrigo to ask for advice, he pointed out there was a visible difference to the lightened version and it was now just up to preference. Got all my photos printed, put in the blank pages, and gave it to the print shop to bind for me.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA320 #13

Went to the print shop to get my photo book done and the colour and quality of my images were unfortunately very degraded. Was very concerning and overwhelming and I had to leave and regroup, but now I have more information, though I don't know how to fix those issues. Also for some reason it altered text unlike previous exports. Was around $40 and that was without the binding.

I can keep the pages that printed well to use in final. In places where there are double sided pages I have removed them to optimise the file and the cost, and they will let me put blank pages in before binding.

I can edit the photos again to make them lighter but I really think it was a problem with exporting to adobe express and converting to cmyk. Could possibly make the photobook A4 if that saves the quality. Will go back to the print shop and test 1 image, if it prints bad I will make it myself.

Shop Print versus Test Print

Hero Shot File versus Print

[jordjordank]

MEDIA 330 # 14 Podcast Review

The Deal with Vibes

Episode 1, 23:28. Script was 2,981 words, interview 43 minutes.

The Deal With Terminology

Episode 2, 24:59. Script was 3,375 words, interview was 35 minutes.

The Deal with Queering Gender

Episode 3, 32:13. Script was 4,379 words, interview was 1hr 2 minutes.

+1 Trailer

I think I did a good job overall, it isn't exactly what I initially proposed but I think it has good elements. Think the music is a good touch but could of done better. The scripts were a big problem but I feel I've managed to create a narrative in each episode that a listener could learn and follow. Hope the volume levels turned out alright.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA 330 #14 Editing 2 & 3

Doing the same thing, but this time the interview is over an hour. The script is around 4,500 words but that includes clips.

The clips cut from the original interview come to around 24 minutes with gaps.

I'm afraid I've used too much of the interview and not enough solo narration.

Started recording the solo narration.

Finished solo narration, I've changed the order of the episodes now so some of this will not make sense.

Merge the solo narration clips together to then match the volume, then I find myself cutting it up again anyway and adjusting volumes manually.

Streamlined workflow, very quick. I have a format and I know where everything goes.

Tried to edit the clips at the same time I was recording them.

I feel like I'm doing a bad job adjusting the volume.

I feel like the third episode the quality has increased.

Uploaded the episodes, had the custom episode covers prepared already.

Bonus image of my blanket recording booth.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA 330 #13 Editing 1

I have 2 out of 3 scripts done, starting to edited my first interview. Around 35 minutes and the script is 2,00 words.

I have a transcript with time stamps so I'm going through and finding the clips I chose in the script and cutting it out of the audio track.

Have around 20 minutes with just the interview clips including spacing.

Organise my intro/outro music.

Set up a little recording booth in my closet by hanging blankets over the doors.

Went on a little side quest by creating a trailer episode. This way if things go wrong I at least have a podcast link on my submission.

Recording the solo narration, its very hard because I mumble quite a bit.

Clicking noises from the mouse as well ad my breathing sounds need to be removed.

Done with the solo narration and interview clips, I just want to add atmosphere and music, maybe fix up timing and space.

Recorded music to fill in sections and transitions.

Done editing. I had tried to do noise reduction multiple times to get rid of mouse clicks but it made the audio weird half the time and the other half I could still hear it.

Added definitions. Have custom cover art for each episode.

Feel like the music in the background may be too much, but sounds very empty otherwise.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA320 #12

With the Cannon 90D camera from the library I took some more object/close up/still life images to fill in the gaps of my project. Working on layout and sequencing, I've got it to a place I mostly like just some sections in the middle aren't as strong.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA330 #12

We're pivoting because things are not going so well. I really do not like writing scripts, it was much easier doing in person interviews. I'm thinking about cutting content down and choosing a single point to expand on. Needs to be a justified reason for the narration. I didn't have a full script while I had KB booked so I've picked up a USB rode caster mic and will set up a blanket fort to record.

Also need to do music. Will most likely have to simplify editing. May have to pivot to two really well produced episodes.

Also the old cover ideas vs new.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA330 #12 Interviews

Did the interviews with my three participants last week all in the same day. I asked my scripted question as well as trying to come up with some as we were talking. The podcast has definitely changed from the proposal based on how they answered and what information they shared.

Very informative but also very obvious that I can not keep identity vague until the end, gender labels very intertwined with stories. Struggling with the script and how to add more context and depth to their interviews, have created a transcript of the audio to try and section things out a bit better. Thinking about changing the name to 'The Deal with Gender'.

Managed to keep the interviews a bit shorter but as I also talked to my third participant about their career so it was longer.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA320 #11

Lens based project presentation.

Had an attempt of printing as a booklet and the printer setting came up as an error which is a problem. Have played with sequencing a bit more and got more photos. Plan to print booklet soon.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA320 #10 Initial Sequencing

The draft layout of the photobook. Need to give more space and emphasis to certain photos. Make a pattern out of the pages, incorporate more text, experiment with placement.

Red Border is content I am missing.

Yellow Border is content I need to edit again.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA330 #11

Presentation of Podcast 2 topic. Through this and class some details have changed.

Draft title: Gender Adjacent. Lots of podcasts on this topic had Gender in the name which can make it easier to find but hard to stand out.

The cover is also a draft, testing out some ideas. Was prompted to think more about research, so will aim to include more cultural/societal context to the episodes.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA330 #10 Case Study

Gender Spiral with Ally Beardsley and Babette Thomas

Serial podcast with two trans hosts exploring experience of human gender, interviewing gender queer guests about their personal journey and intertwining it with the hosts knowledge.

3 seasons with episodes ranging in length from 20 minutes to an hour.

Start episodes without intro, then come back to introducing the context. Then their is the intro segment.

Pre-recorded/field recording interviews.

Conversational and a little more light hearted, very friendly with each other.

A lot of dialogue back and forth between them, loose and flowing structure.

Music and audio manipulation.

Layers of narration where they go into the interview and then break out of it to add context. Give little snippets first.

The questions being asked are included in the audio.

Very thoughtful questions that relate to the experience of the person being interviewed. It is a conversation in which they are talking about something personal and that they are passionate about.

Credits with the host shouting out production, guests, Patrion and socials. Has very repetitive background music.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA330 #9 Next Podcast

Have been thinking about blog entries and updates but keeping them as drafts. I’ve had an idea for the topic since I started working on the first podcasting project, but left this as the second so as to have more time for production with the trimester and having done my surgery.

The topic I have chosen from the options is gender, and I want to explore expression, experience and affirmation through interviews and solo narration.

Inspiration from The Commune.

Talking with people I know at Rainbow Hub Waikato because gender can be a personal and sensitive topic, make sure that I am not crossing boundaries.

Aiming for more than three episodes but they may be shorter in length.

Semi structured interviews emphasising what the individual chooses to share instead of a rigid structure.

Have a different interviewee each episode, but a theme across episodes.

I personally believe that gender expression, experience and affirmation is important to both cis and trans people, and so would like to be less explicit about labels with in the episodes if possible to remove some possible bias.

I personally identify with this topic and think it would be interesting. I have struggled with not feeling masculine enough due to things like having longer hair and a shorter height, and I also have gender diverse friends in America struggling with the politics and policies surrounding this issue.

I don’t have an idea for a cover or title just yet, but I have people in mind to interview. Will be more work because of the script required for solo narration.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA330 #8 Recap

First podcast went really well, I’m quite proud of the quality. Both my parents have listened to it and quite enjoy it, even bringing up some of their own experiences with flatting.

Goal for next time is:

Making sure audio quality is consistent across all channels.

More music/full clips in background.

Scripted narration.

Space between speech is bigger, allow for better pacing.

Tone is more serious, go in depth about topic with research to assist narration.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA320 #9 Printing

Printed out contact sheets of the images to start putting them in a sequence, first image has initial ideas then worked around.

The first way felt more chronological or set, I started and ended with Ruapehu and army land, and the snow was all in the middle, bookended by images of the soldier. I wasn't sure if it was to much snow all together in the middle so ended up changing it. The images with roads or winding paths were important to be kept in thematically. I put blank pieces in as place holders for media I still need to capture.

In the final book I will have more blank pages and text to add pacing, but for this draft copy I thought it unnecessary. I will also experiment more with orientation/spread and having physical cut outs.

[jordjordank]

MEDIA320 #8 Editing

Cut down to around 20 images from my shoots and edited from the workflow discussed in tutorial. Exposure on some of them is rough and they start getting fuzzy in places but that just ads to the tone, need to keep images sharp though. While editing aimed for them to be a little less saturated and cooler in temperature to reflect the cold in Waiouru. Still need other images to fill in gaps.