Weekly Expression

BA (Hons) in Creative Media Production

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I find this picture very visually striking as it provides a deep meaning that the artist wanted to convey. We can see how the raster and the vector elements in the picture are combined to create a completely different image than the original.

Analysing the image may provide the belief that people are sheltered underneath the beliefs and lives of others. While our friend can stand with us, cheering us on from the sidelines, at the end of the day, we have to create our own future.

With the use of photo-manipulation, the artist has given a new meaning to the ordinary.

Credit:  Go your own road by Alltelleringet

Although visually simple, this image conveys the sense of a spiritual entity - a way to get away from that which is earthly, and go beyond the scope of one’s life.

The staircase was shot once, and then copied over multiple times leading upwards towards the sky - this is all overlaid on a barren deserted landscape - this gives a moody atmosphere, which is also helped by the sepia toned used in the final edit of the image.

Credit:  No Boundaries by Alltelleringet

Basically marketing material for Electronic Arts, the game publishing juggernaut - this video conveys the experience of basically playing the game and brings it to a live action setting. All the muzzle-flares, blood graphics, jets and other edits were done in post-production (mainly After-Effects).

This YouTube Channel (Rocket Jump, formerly known as Freddiew) focuses primarily on creating video manipulations that tell a story within the video sequence. All the elements used help to immerse the viewer in the narrative and sell the idea that they are viewing what is happening through the soldier’s point of view.

Credit: Battlefield 4 by Rocket Jump (Youtube Channel)

A perfect example of 2D motion graphics combined with live footage. The artist is performing in sync with the music - this is then taken to the next level in post-production, where vector elements are overlaid to give a vastly different look and feel to the video.

The rhythm at which the elements are edited in are also a means of adding to visual presentation - too many effects could have ruined the illusion and gave the video a cheap look.

Credit:  Unleash Your Fingers by  Emrullah Yildirim

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This was created in Adobe Illustrator following a tutorial I found online (linked below). It was a very fun and rewarding task and I believe the end product came quite nice.

http://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/create-a-detailed-christmas-lights-text-effect-in-adobe-illustrator--vector-19163

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I started experimenting a bit more with my Canon 700D camera, these are some shots I took - some are over and under exposed to show what the different settings do to an image.

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A video our lecturer showed us in class regarding Polarising filters; their uses and how they affect the image one shoots with his camera.

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Ethos, Pathos, and Logos - Rhetoric and Advertising

Very informative website with regards to the Persuasive Techniques used in Advertising.

Researching our latest lecture topic in Contextual Studies with regards to Adverts, I have stumbled upon this website which I thought I’d share.

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In our latest Visual Thinking lecture, our Lecturer asked us to find a song and portray the feeling we experience in a visual collage. Here is my take on Imogen Heap’s Speeding Cars.

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The king of Coke teams up with the family docs

Our lecturer asked us to basically re-write the above linked article to make it appeal to a local audience as a journalist would deliver the news; here is my take at it.

The Coke Partnership

The coca-cola company is being criticised for allegedly sponsoring the AAFP to close an eye and look favourably on the juggernaut’s shortcomings with regards to harmful effects on the health of individuals consuming their beverage.

A large sum of money was given to the AAFP by Coca-Cola and this raised serious questions on the biased state of their reports when mentioning sugary soft-drinks. Coke is listed as a “proud partner” of the AAFP and hence they are less scrutinised by authorities because as the reporter puts it, “they are innocent by association”.

This “partnership” of sorts has been in place as early as 2003, when coke had given 1 million dollars to the AAPD, and the effects of this money is clearly seen when the link between sugary sweets and dental health was found to not have clear “scientific evidence” by the same people that carried out the tests.

Reports on how to properly take care of a child’s diet mentioned everything from more exercise to not eating junk food, but never came close to listing sugary sweets as a harmful weight gain product.

A spokes-person for the CSPI, the organisation raising questions with regards these issues with regards to the coke beverage, stated that media outlets should start to focus and report more on this story as it is everyone’s interest that this “partnership” is not encouraged any longer.

Being the large colossus of a company it is, coke has found ways on how to make the general public look favourably on its malpractices; though this has not passed by unnoticed by everyone because the CSPI are questioning the legitimacy of reports stating the that results for the link between sugary drinks and weight and dental diseases is not conclusive.

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CameraSim - Experimenting with Settings

During our Photography lecture, our teacher showed us a very interesting website, where you can test out different settings of a simulated camera, and see how they affect your photographic results.

Below is a picture with the subject of the photo (the girl and the pinwheel) in focus and little to no motion blur.

And now you here is the same picture with a clearer background but slightly motion blurred subject.

It is a fascinating experience to test out different settings and see what the results are instantly.

Please follow this link to test it out yourself: http://camerasim.com/apps/original-camerasim/web/

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Mise-en-scène

In our latest contextual studies lecture, our lecturer introduced us to the concept of Mise-en-scène. This comprises of everything that makes a scene in a movie, from the Set design to the lighting, costumes and locations used to film a scene in a particular manner.

As an article on the subject published by Gabe Moura puts it, “The arrangement of everything that appears in the framing – actors, lighting, décor, props, costume – is called mise-en-scène, a French term that means “placing on stage.” The frame and camerawork are also considered part of the mise-en-scène of a movie. In cinema, placing on the stage really means placing on the screen, and the director is in charge of deciding what goes where, when, and how.David  A. Cook, in his book A History of Narrative Film, points out how a mise-en-scène is formed by all the elements that appear “within a shot itself, as opposed to the effects created by cutting.” In other words, if it’s on the screen and if it’s a physical object recorded by the camera, then it’s part of the mise-en-scène. “

Below I have linked an interesting video, an analysis of Mise-en-scène of a scene from American Beauty:

It is a very interesting and informative video which I recommend watching, of course the movie is very enjoyable as well!

Article on Mise-en-scène: http://www.elementsofcinema.com/directing/mise-en-scene-in-films/

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Adobe Photoshop Tutorial - Stag on a Sunset Background

Above is an image created using Adobe Photoshop - following a tutorial given to us by our lecturer, we were tasked in creating this image using various tools in Photoshop.

Below is a screenshot of the image in Photoshop with all the layers in place, right before it was exported.

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Introduction to Semiotics

“Semiotics allows [us] to design meanings”

A very interesting video on Semiotics, the study of meaning and how it is interpreted in society and different cultures across the globe.

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A day in my life - created with emoticons.

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Mood Board - Street Life Assignment

Love depicted in street photography, couples embracing and expressing their feelings; important moments captured in photography.

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Sequence

Linked above is the opening of one of my favourite movies, Memento. 

I chose this because in just a few moments, the film creators are able to convey a brief summary of what the whole movie revolves around.

 Furthermore, the movie is set in sequences that tell the story backwards, which is truly a unique way of how a movie is portrayed to its audience.

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The Life Of A Pinhole Photographer - Justin Quinnell

Our lecturer suggested that we should research pinhole photography and how it works, although this video is not a direct explanation in the techniques that go into this art form, it is a representation of how skilled and talented one must be to capture extraordinary photos using this method.

I hope you find it as interesting and entertaining as I did, enjoy!

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Understanding Aperture, Shutter Speed, ISO, & Light

This post is rather a redirection to a very interesting and informative video regarding the various elements involved in capturing a great photograph. All the elements have to be mastered in order to capture moments in the best manner.

Tony Northrup explains how the various elements of a camera come together and are affected by each other in this concise but detailed video:

Enjoy!

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Street Life

I have chosen a small gallery of photos from two of my favourite photographers, David Wnuk and Marius Vieth. These shots beautifully portray street life in entirely different ways, yet they all revolve the same theme.

This shot is part of Marius Veth’s 365 project, where he embarked on journey of taking 365 photographs - 1 per day.

David Wnuk’s “Motion” - It shows a taxi driving in motion. Very visually appealing shot which shows the hectic nature of New York.

The composition in this photograph conveys mood and talent of David Wnuk. I love the selection of depth of field.

A pedestrian crossing the road. Simple yet artistic. Part of Marius Veith’s gallery and 365 project.

Person walking alone surrounded by nature. The lighting is phenomenal in this photograph.

Links for the artists’ galleries:

http://petapixel.com/2014/01/22/365-project-changed-life/ -  Marius Vieth

http://www.pbase.com/dawidwnuk/streetlife - David Wnuk

Street life is a very wide theme, with this post I hope I have helped to shine a light on a part that is really appealing to me, and share that with others interested in the theme.