Reflections

Various Ideas and themes

In order to help and establish the concept of the time project I will begin to research and analyse ideas from various different mediums. 

                                                                         

In psychology, memory is the process in which information is encoded, stored, and retrieved. Encoding allows information that is from the outside world to reach our senses in the forms of chemical and physical stimuli. 

Visual Aids

With this particular video this recording artist features in a music video which creates an interactive collage of various images of him in a much younger age. The images incorporated in the film are positioned alongside the same location as when the picture was taken, This then makes the whole visual experience when watching a lot more genuine and honest. It creates an impression towards the audience that causes you reflect upon your own child hood memories and where they took place, accompanied by the contents of the lyrics and the audio it compliments the visuals very well 

I believe this is a very effective video that achieves its aim in drawing out emotion and incorporating person images with a more interactive approach, and is a concept which I will consider with my own work.

How I can personally convey my own life through the theme of memory

What would I have left behind If I died right now?

The presents of the Internet

Since being introduced to world of the Internet and social media I have imprinted my personal identity and presents upon through online networking sites such as Facebook Twitter Instagram Bebo. As well as created many online accounts.

• 602 friends 
• 103 photos
• 354 likes
• average on 30 hours on Facebook a month

Andretomlin@hotmail.co.uk (active for 3 years)
a-dot-tomlin@hotmail.com   (active for 4 years)
andretomlin95@gmail.co.uk
andre.t@serdrey.com

• Over 5000 emails received 

https://vimeo.com/andretomlin

As long as these online sites and accounts remain active my online presence containing my personal information photos videos log in passwords and activity will forever remain cemented. Therefore my memory will forever live on, an online archive of all of my memories.However is this really how I would want people to remember? Is this really the way in which people can witness the memories I create?

My activity on the Internet has provided many pathways in which memories can be revisited showcased and cemented in time. 

Leadership program 16th July 2009


uploaded via Facebook













Media studies project uploaded on the
12th of January via Facebook 

First Day of work experience uploaded on the 18th
July 2010 via Facebook

Watching Charlton F.C at the Valley uploaded
on the 4th of May 2013 via Facebook

A$AP Rocky Concert at the O2 Academy in Brixton uploaded
on 23th May 2013

These are all examples in which photos combined with social media can be used preserve memories. A process in which has been adopted by millions of people today, with corporations constantly coming up with new ways in which we can incorporate social media and photo sharing in our day to day lives capturing moments with a push of a button, it has become a lot more popular and accessible. In a way this is an ideal and secure method of creating viewing and storing memories. however without context, theses images have no meaning but when accompanied with information whether its audio of visuals from the moment or a funny anecdote, this then makes it more engaging and entertaining, in a way helps share the experience. 

An Idea I had

Trying to stumble across various ideas which was at first quite difficult, but now I have discovered an idea that has the potential to be very impactful  and have the ability to strongly connect well to its viewers on many levels. The idea is to create a visual interactive installation, integrating memories of myself, past experiences and events that took place also events which have not taken place. The symbolic representation of these memorabilia  can be represented in many different methods for example, a physical representation of objects such as trophies of achievements photo albums and just memorabilia that represent different meanings. The  layout will consist of creating some sort collage of various objects pilled and constructed together, in order bring certain prices of memory to life 

Cornelia Parker, ‘Cold Dark Matter: An Exploded View’,

Bruce Nauman- violins violence silence 

I particularly enjoy this piece mostly for the various interpretations that you can gain from it, the takes various different words and combines them together by overlaying them. By combining the words its as if its creating something new out of it, a new purpose a new meaning. You can even see it as creating a new language.

Tim Noble and Sue Webster 

Memory Idea Review

Within review of my Idea about conveying the theme of memory to Rosie, I have now come to the realization that my initial idea of conveying memory accompanied with my own personal objects and symbols that represent memory may be too personal and not have a universal impact with the viewer, which enables them to connect with the content

I have now decided to focus on the way in which memory are precious and we try to hold on to them but they eventually fade away 

-Time
-age
-memory

memory is a natural organic luxury that increases in value throughout time, so we attempt to capture these

Film Reviews / Screenings

Johan Grimonprez

                                                                               

In his film Dial H.I.S.T.O.R.Y. (1997) Johan Grimonprez focuses on the imbalance of power between the way artists understand themselves to be ‘radical’ and the way terrorists apprehend the same word. Artists consistently faito be ‘dangerous’ in the sense that terrorists are.

 I found this Film quite interesting however quite uncomfortable and detached at times. It contains scenes that are quite dramatic and intense which is also supported by the use of sound and music. The narrative style and presentation is intriguing, Johan Grimonprez attempts to collage various pieces of footage which individually all contain there own different meanings and concepts however successfully manages to use this to connect with his film and makes it commendable, therefore giving them all the same meaning. What I also found very interesting about this film is that during scenes that are quite horrific and disastrous, very up beat and cheerful is played over it, now at first I instantly thought perhaps this is just some sort of tool for humor, however withing the scenes again you start to think perhaps there are trying to convey the attitude in which Americans interpret terrorists hi jacking. 

Monday 3rd February Screening 

My lover is a clock

• Quite uncomfortable to watch
• very weird and unusual 

My darkness is melting

• confusing disorientating 
• spooky
• creates atmosphere 

There smoke in my head

• Quite intense and dramatic

My hands are in love

• very simple and basic but contained an interesting story

Flash tutorial by Paul Corcoran

Today's tutorial was focused on the importance of lighting when using photography in a studio










A Soft Box is used to illuminate a subject however a soft and subtle light upon the subject reducing the visibility of shadows and creating a diffused light. A soft box is an enclosure around a bulb comprising reflective side and back walls and a diffusing material at the front of the light.


We were also introduced to using an Umbrella light, which is pretty much shares the same functions and purpose of a soft box















Finally we were given the opportunity to compose and create a portrait picture of a subject which resembles the icon portrait of the late co founder of apple Steve Jobs.

• The is the main light that illuminates your subject 
• The background lights are used to light the backdrop 
• House lights are names of the natural lighting in the room 
• Reflectors are used to bounce the light from the key light to help shine light upon the area in which the key light does not  
• A light reader which can be wirelessly connected to the key  is used to measure and assess the amount of light is being produced to to shoot in the correct settings which aim to deliver the best results 

After Effects tutorials

Topics covered

• compositions 
• key frames 
• manipulating objects 
• effects & presets 
• time line
• layers/modes  

When creating a composition the frame rate must be set at 25 frame rates per second with a aspect ratio of 16:9











Similar to Photoshop and premiere pro individual content can be layered on top of each other, with the help of the various different blending options located near the timeline, this then effects visually how they all appear

Masking provides the ability to generate shapes and manipulate there movement also control and the movement and appearance of footage.
Masking can be used for

• transitions 
• animating 
• creating special effects 

When you have uploaded footage that appears to be a bit shaky and unstable, warp stabilizer allows you to keep the footage consistently stable and smooth, without any worry of any unexpected movement.






Summary 

Although I am already comfortable using the visual effects software Adobe After Effects CS6 and now currently CC, it was refreshing to look over some of the tips and helpful information regarding how to operate the software. For example I did learn learn a lot more about the importance of RAM, frame rates and aspect ratios.

Animating Stills Animation

Video Copilot tutorial link

14/02/14  

Key Frames compositions & Green Screen

• ·         Key frames
• ·         New solid
• ·         Creating another solid
• ·         Then create a mask ( circle)

• 
  
• ·         To move the anchor point select the pan behind  (anchor point tool) then select and move
• ·         Rename layer
• ·         Toggle mask icon to hide mask
• ·         Create key frame at 0 then move ball  to 2 seconds
• ·         Control c and control v to copy and paste key frames 

• New comp
•  
• ·         Swap ratio size
• ·         New solid and mask solid to make a ball
• ·         Put anchor point in the center
• ·         Position on the edge of the screen
• ·         Create key points at start and finish then at the middle adjust position so it curves down
• ·         Select first key frame select the red handle and drag
• ·         Select pen tool to modify handles 

• 
  
• 
  
• ·         Select graph editor icon
• ·         Graph lines will only appear when you select something 

When dragging on handle it can affect the speed of the object

·         Create new compositions for 3 screens

·         The create a master comp wich all screens will appear (set to original ratio size)

·         Adjust comps with different colours &text (usea a solid)

·         Then drag original comp in the new comps and adjust positioning 

·         Adjust timeline size by dragging bar to the size you want right click then select ‘trim to comp’ 

New comp

Width 3240

height 1920

Create a new comp and move it in to each composition 

green screen/Key light

Key points

·         Track motion

·         Key light

·         Tracker points

·         Experiment with screen matte

Time Art / journal

Time Art

Research and findings

Pas de deux by Norman McLaren

An extremely fascinating and engaging experience that uniquely captivates the mesmerising and alluring choreography of the two dancers. The films strongest quality which I found phenomenal was its simplicity, its ability to draw you in and consistently keep you entertained. Objectively all you are witnessing is the figure of women which it silhouetted with streaks of light that is outlining her body  

However with the male dancer who later on is then introduced to the female dancer stimulates a medley of connotations suggesting the story line concept and intention of the film.

Key points

·         A very simple and minimal layout and presentation

·         Stimulates and creates thought and questioning

·         Fascinating use of lighting

We also watched this movie which was just visually outstanding and remarkable 

Travis – Moving

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjKmQmsRlBk

This video perfectly captures unique innovative techniques which you can implement when creating film. Adopting a very common practice which is the art of projection, but also delivering a more interactive physical experience which I just find amazing. The video triggers many connotations and imagery when viewing the figure moving around the air.

 

 This marvelous shot here creates almost like a ghost figure, miming the lyrics being performed.

 

Key points

·         Simple concept

·         No excessive budget

·         Interactive

-Provides a new visual experience (not conventional)

I was pondering of ways in which I can create a more intimate and powerful visual experience for the viewer so I looked at various different film which use projection and utilize light in a very unique way. As I would like to incorporate this technique and execution in my own work.

Update

When reading the brief and understanding the specification of how the work will be displayed it appears that my initial idea of using projection will not be possible.

How can time be expressed

How has Time been explored in the arts before ?

Norman Duenas - A temporal existence

Time Lapse

Persistence of Memory Dali: Surrealism

Click Trailer

Official In Time Trailer

Purely Pacific Northwest

After Effects Skills & Techniques

Time-stretch a layer

Speeding up or slowing down an entire layer by the same factor throughout is known as time-stretching. When you time-stretch a layer, the audio and the original frames in the footage (and all keyframes that belong to the layer) are redistributed along the new duration. Use this command only when you want the layer and all layer keyframes to change to the new duration.

Time-stretch a layer from a specific time

1.In the Timeline or Composition panel, select the layer.

2.Choose Layer > Time > Time Stretch.

3.Type a new duration for the layer, or type a Stretch Factor.

4.To specify the point in time from which the layer will be time-stretched, click one of the Hold In Place options, and then click OK.

Layer In-point

The Echo effect combines frames from different times in a layer. The Echo effect has a variety of uses, from a simple visual echo to streaking and smearing effects.

The Timewarp effect gives you precise control over a wide range of parameters when changing the playback speed of a layer, including interpolation methods, motion blur, and source cropping to eliminate unwanted artifacts. You can use the Timewarp effect to create simple slow-motion or fast-motion results or more complex retiming. The Timewarp effect works independently of the Frame Blending switch in the Timeline panel.

These are various examples in which the techniques on Adobe After Effects can be utilized to help convey the theme of Time for my project.

3 Ideas

1  My first idea is about tackling the theme of time in a more conventional and traditional approach. 

creating a flip book style animation or stills animation on myself growing and progressing in time. Which will then by played connecting the two other tv screens.

psychedelic  

2

An idea of creating a psychedelic  visuals using the endless zoom technique, not all screens will be active during certain scenes, so content on the screen will appear in a rhythmic pattern

Time Lapse

                               

3  The three screens will display various different events during the day but then will be rearranged on screen and manipulated with speed and time  

Chosen Idea

My Final chosen Idea will be a repeated loop of me performing repeated actions that will appear on each screen, they will appear to look like they are all interacting with each other. For example I will walk out of frame in one screen and then will appear to be walking in to frame in another screen. One of the main themes that I wish to express through this project is conveying my emotion and personality and using time as a tool to express that. Each screen will attempt to reflect a different part of who I am, my interests hobbies likes and dislikes but will all be shot in different times of the day, contributing to the primary theme of the project brief 'Time'

I have been inspired by many different works of art to help me decide on my chosen idea. The main component which I really intend on emphasizing is interactivity. And of course the use of multiple screens 

Pipilotti Rist: Pour Your Body Out (7354 Cubic Meters)

Pipilotti Rist's lush multimedia installations playfully and provocatively merge fantasy and reality. MoMA commissioned the Swiss artist to create a monumental site-specific installation that immerses the Museum's Marron Atrium in twenty-five-foot-high moving images. Visitors will be able to experience the work while walking through the space or sitting upon a sculptural seating island designed by the artist.

Paul Sermon & Andrea Zapp: Body of Water

A site-specific telematic installation linking the shower room of the Ewald/Schlaegel und Eisen mine in Herten with the Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum in Duisburg. The images of visitors in the shower room in Herten are mixed with images of the Museum visitors in Duisburg and appear on one side of a water screen. Historical film footage of miners showering are projected onto the other side of the water screen. Realised for the Connected Cities Exhibition, Wilhelm Lehmbruck Museum Duisburg in Germany, June 20th to August 1st 1999 (catalogue printed). 

Special Effects: Human Cloning and Camera Techniques

Regarding this video I do not particular want to use the clone effect for my video, however the way in which I will edit each video it will create the impression in which It looks like I use the cloning technique.