Music videos over the past decades

         In our Cyberarts class, our next big project will be to create a music video to a song of our choice. but before we can do that, we needed to do some research. Our teacher provided a couple links for us to choose from, which were comprised of 30 all time music videos over the decades. We were to watch 9 of them and write our summaries about them. here's the link to the site I chose to watch from.

From the 9 videos, I watched, "once in a lifetime" by talking Heads (1980), honestly gave me chills down my spine and tripped me out. With the singers constant head jerks and odd body motions, it made me continuously think that they were on something while making this. The second video I watched was "Cry" by Godley and Creme (1985), the main pull I had to this video was loving the transitions from face to face, all mouthing the words to the song. the video was beautifully executed. The third video was "Buddy Holly" by Weezeer (1994). This video, I consider, to be the first video amazing in concept, wonderfully executed. A number of effects put in post-film from the tracking of the characters from the original show, Happy Days, the grain of the video and color match were excellent. the fourth video was " Coffee and TV" by Blur (1999). The main draw I got from this video, was the little milk carton and his big adventure to 'find' the lead singer. I also consider this video to be an art piece because it catches your eye and pulls the viewer to continue to watch the video.the fifth video was " All is Full of Love" by Bjork (1999). The main reason I watched this video was the whole concept was a robot who was built and who finds love through the video. the sixth video was D'Angelo 'Untitled(how does it feel) (2000).This is a video that received a ton of controversies, and mimic videos (P!ATD Girls Girls Boys). I would consider this to be an artistic video because it got the attention it needed and deserved. It also has a lasting effect on people. The seventh video was "Here It Goes Again" by OK GO(2006). Although this video was filled all through webcam, it is extremely strong and it set the type of videos they made from then on. 'One Takes' as they're called on YouTube, this type of video brought a ton of attention towards the band and a very young YouTube. Although the concept is extremely simple, and the video is just them singing while contorting around treadmills, it was intensely choreographed between the four band members. The eighth video I watched was Kanye West's 'Runaway'(2010). This video helped change the 'proper' length of set music videos (about 3-5 mins) Kanye had made a full short film (35 mins) uploaded to YouTube. Throughout the story, Kanye is trying to get a female Pheonix to adapt to human life and our way of living. this concept is a fairly odd thing to come up with, but it's Kanye. A very intense story and excellently executed by Kanye and crew. I would consider this video to be very artistic, with no single, or easy, way to explain it unless you've watched it yourself. The final video I had watched was 'Single Ladies' by Beyonce (2008). Of course saved the queen for last, and just wow. The choreography for the three featured on screen. With a simple set, costume, hair, and makeup, it really makes everything else to the point and surprisingly aggressive. Like the saying 'less, is more.' And that's what this video is.

We were told to compare 'We Used to Wait' by Arcade Fire to earlier decades, I think that it's a very, very strong video, and I think it brings back the feeling of something new and innovative to the table, instead of copying and pasting the same new video algorithm.

Open Shade / Direct Sunlight / Window Light

Below are three photos I took for a school project.  Open Shade / Direct Sunlight / Window Light

This photo, taken in open shadow, has a more cool or cold feel to it. Looking directly into the lens, she gives a more connected feeling to the viewer. Her facial expression creates a calming feel, but at the same time a off feel to it. The way she has her body positioned, the picture, has a colder feel to it. The position of her to the background works because, although she is placed directly on the ground and the camera is above, she looks comfortable, giving this picture a comforting feel. the lighting is low, based in shadow, but it helps with the cool, comforting feel, like she's being watched over or protected.

 While in direct harsh sunlight, this photo I took, shows a more upbeat feeling thanks to the sun ray into the camera lens. Her facial expression helps as well at bringing the feeling up. Her body position relative to the frame helps the happy feeling to the picture because, as the camera was positioned low, she seems fairly empowered, powerful and motivated to do something. (Funny enough her shirt says motivation.) The lighting situation here, helps the picture because, being in direct sunlight brings the mood and tone of the image more upbeat.

Taken while using window light, this photo has an intense feel to it. Looking directly into the camera lens, she provides half the feeling to the picture. her body position relative to the camera, although very christmas card or family portrait like, helps bring the intense feel to the picture. The background and shirt combination help bring unity by using distracting patterns and colours. The primary and secondary colour combo of her shirt and the door behind, help bring out the unity of the picture even more. The position of her body in the frame feels like she's about to break out into a run, helping that intense / waiting to see what happens next feeling.

The Renaissance Presentation

https://drive.google.com/open?id=15e1T20Wy0BGaJP2DPgVkaFgGOCPlW0YP6muMe8xE_BE

The link for my presentation is posted above.

Steve Carty Photography Workshop

        The other day Steve Carty, a famous photographer, came into our CyberArts program and did a photography workshop with us. We were after asked by our teacher to choose three pictures from that day to upload to our blog. So featured below are my three pictures from the workshop.

 So the first photo above is taken in a studio with a single light fixture off to the right side of his face. with no reflector, we shot inside at Iso 400 at 120 shutter speed, the f-stop was at 16. the lens was put into a length of 50mm. The subject was placed an arm's length away from the background. the background is not lit by any other light beside the one single light. The subject was in a very comfortable state and that relates to his expression. The placement of the frame, being vertical, works much better than if it was horizontal.

In this photo, I had placed the subject against a brick wall outside. The day was fairly overcast, so the subject is fairly evenly lit. No use of a reflector for this picture. The subject, again, is in a very relaxed state. The camera was set down to Iso 200 f-stop was set to its lowest, 4.5, the lens was still zoomed to 50mm. The placement of the subject works, once again, being vertical rather than horizontal.

For this photo, we went back into the studio, this time, the subject was placed a bit more centered towards the light back to an iso 400 and shutter speed 120, f-stop 16. This time, a gold reflector was used to bump up the side of his face. The subject once again was very comfortable in his position, reflected on his facial expression. The single light I used, was focused a bit more downward onto him. the framing of this picture works vertically because it has a stronger composition than if it was horizontal.

This is a diagram of the studio set up that we used.

Four Influences of Exposure

For our first assignment, we were asked to find four images, two based off shutter speed and two off of  depth of field (DoF), and explain how we know that's what they are.

 This first image would have to be using a very wide DoF. I know this because, if the DoF was any shorter, it would become a fairly blurry picture.

 This photo uses a very, very shallow DoF. I know this because, the bugs eyes are extremely in focus and the background has no texture to it, it's a flat green.

 So this picture is using two  Influences, Shutter speed, and DoF. A fast shutter speed and shallow DoF. I know this because, the high shutter speed allows the sparks to be caught mid strike from the lighter, and the finger is able to be caught so in focus with the lighter, because of the DoF.

This picture uses the opposite Influences than the one above because it uses a slow shutter speed and wide DoF. I know this because, the shot is very wide and all in focus. I know that this photo uses a slow shutter speed, because the water looks very soft as it moves over the sturdy rocks.

What I Want to Take Photos of.

For our second assignment we were asked to choose three pictures of what kind of photography we wanted to shoot. I had said pictures of cosplayer's in costumes that tell a story. Below show the type of photo's I was talking about. All three photos include a total different lighting for each one. The first includes harsh sun light with a shallow depth of field, the middle is light provided from a flash with a long depth of field, and the last uses window light with a wide depth of field.

      Two of the three photos include story without having to use any words to portray it, as the first photo doesn't really provide that. I want to take pictures of one of my friends, and mainly outside in an urban environment, like downtown, or in studio with professional lighting. Although you wont be able to see eyes, you can still get a strong message across.

Don't Threaten Me With A Good Time Kinetic Typography