Outcomes: Video

Here is the moving image version of my final piece. I feel that I've felt what I always wanted to create for this project, which is something dark, mysterious and without revealing the whole story. The sense of the transformation is there, but after the change, everything becomes so quick and questionable, which is reflecting tot he underworld society. The video piece is also mirrors to a famous quote form Alice in the Wonderland...

"I wonder if I've been changed in the night? Let me think. Was I the same when I got up this morning? I almost think I can remember feeling a little different. But if I'm not the same, the next question is 'Who in the world am I?' Ah, that's the great puzzle!" - Alice

Outcomes

As my second media is in the form of a lookbook, I have created a collection of images which reflects back to the theme/substance/concept of the video. With the combination of the frames that were mentioned in the previous post, I believe the outcomes fit perfectly with the overall auraa of the project, which is darkness/masculinity/transformation. The choice of black and white photography is a right choice as there were no color photographs in the victorian time and therefore fitting to match with the overall time frame of my inspirations.

Frames

While browsing through the internet, I've found an archive of these black and white frames and more importantly it fits perfectly with my lookbook images as it reflects to that particular period. These frames also adds a depth to the frameless images and will make the images more interesting and bring out the aura of the photos more.

Photoshoot

Due to the climate of the last shoot, it was near impossible for the model to wear summer clothes due to the sub zero temperature. With a bit of luck, the day I shot the film was perfect, so it was only obvious that I should shoot the photoshoot in one go.

The brief wanted us to explore 2 medias which can connect with one another. Working within a fashion sphere, I believe is best to match the video piece with a photoshoot that explores the same theme and that theme is the notion of the victorian society, the underground world and the twisted aura that comes with it.

For the photoshoot, I will divide it into two different obvious parts. The first part containing three images would be on the "girl", a transformation picture will be added to separate the two parts, and that picture will be on the line of looking into the mirror (finding one trueself). The second part is on "men", where the character in question is able to wear and act like men in the underground society and all pictures in this part will be dark, twisted and a sense of hiding (staying away form the real world).

Editing Tools

As the sphere of moving image is still really new to me, I have had quite a few difficulties in editing the piece through Final Cut Pro and adding finishing touches with After Effects. The way I solve these problems is mainly through youtube, which I find very useful and an unlikely source. Although there would be more effects I would like to add, but my skills are limited therefore I can only work with what I know or I'm capable to do. Editing is definitely something I wish to experience more and to expand.

Video Screen Shots

Here are some key screenshots of the video piece. Looking at the footage shot, I feel I have a more simple and elegant piece than last. The over complication nature of the previous piece has been stripped away and left with a strong essence within this piece. One of the key frames/elements I've removed are from the last section, which is the "transformation" phrase. I feel it can confuse the viewer too much if I drag it too long. So, what's left is just a still shot of the subject staring out from the piece, as if to say she finally can be herself and also a lot more comfortable to how people view her. This is reference to the Underground world of the Victorian Times, as people feel more at home in this dark/secretive world.

Change of Cameras

The Nikon D90 was my preferred camera last time as it could shoot the video piece in HD, but for some reason the quality of the video is not really up to standard. After a few tweaks in the settings menu, I still couldn't find a solution to the problem. As I recently got myself a Panasonic GF1, I decided to give this ago as it also has a high quality video capture function. After a few test shoots, I do find the GF1's footage is a lot better than the D90 and therefore I'll be using it for this piece.

Storyline

On the last shoot, I felt the storyline was way too complicated and I think the concept that I have should be as simple as possible. Therefore, I have taken away a lot of the "Alice in the Wonderland" elements as I think it made the piece hard to understand. However, some references are left e.g. reading a book under the tree, top hat and of course the expressions of Alice.

Change of model

Due to the short notice of the shoot, the original model was not able to complete the shoot due to workload. With a bit of luck, Candy kindly stepped in and replace Sharon for this project. Although I don't have much preference on models for this project, but I feel Candy might be a better candidate due to dark/innocent aura she can produced, which is something that I'm trying to express in this video piece.

Warmer Climate

Due to the climate experienced in the last shoot, there were many factors that could be avoided if the weather is warmer. Having waited for another month, the forecast for this weekend is perfect for shooting the piece, therefore I will go ahead with the same concept and location.

Video: Dior Homme - The Ritual Of Dress

Video: Good Morning Rachel by Christopher Hewitt

Good Morning Rachel from Christopher Hewitt on Vimeo.

http://the189.com/design/art/good-morning-rachel-by-christopher-hewitt

Video: …the old temple

Dead Meadow "That Old Temple" from Artificial Army on Vimeo.

PROCESS before assessment

Although I have shot the short piece for this project, but I feel I need to reshoot it for numerous reasons, which have been mentioned in previous posts. And to the other media side, I believe I need to shoot it in a warmer climate, as some of the clothes on the model is not suitable for the winter winds that have been present recently. I also believe I have a good concept to work on, but I need to polish my moving image skills more in order to max out my vision, and create a fine, flowing piece.

Video: Dolce & Gabbana’s Men’s Spring 2010 Collection Trailer

Dolce & Gabbana's Men's Spring 2010 Collection Trailer from Selectism on Vimeo.

Description:

“The film shot by Belgian director Pierre Debusschere, starring Robert Sheehan and set to electronic beats by Australian rock band Pivot, infuses nature and science with Dolce & Gabbana’s “male beauty” inspiration for spring. The film will premiere onNOWNESS, Thursday, March 11th.”

Video: Android Homme Spring 2010 Campaign

ANDROID HOMME SPRING 2010 from Javier Laval on Vimeo.

Description:

“Shapes and symbols have been a method of communicating and comprehending the unknown since the beginning of time. Android Homme brings you a brand video that utilizes some basic symbols and shapes to outline the process of reprogramming. This piece, directed by Javier Laval, is intended to stimulate and trigger memories from our ancient past to our near and distant future.”

Video: "The Sandpit" - A short film by Aero Director, Sam O'Hare

The Sandpit from Sam O'Hare on Vimeo.

More info here.

Live Studio Sessions: Charlie Le Mindu

Description:

On 11 and 12 March 2010, avant-garde hairstylist and designer Charlie Le Mindu takes up residence to create a pair of headpieces for a live performance by French experimental art-punk band La Chatte in the LiveStudio space, all broadcast live. The brief? Diamonds, religion, and 'bigger than anything attempted before…'

Video: Deftones x 13thWitness – Rocket Skates

Here is a good example of focusing/defocusing while shooting. It kinda gives an illusion of action, or it could have the opposite effect, if it is used slowly. The video is also a good example of moving the clip through the beat of the music, which makes the audience more involved with the piece and helps the viewer to move with the piece.

Description:
13thWitness and the Grammy-winning band, the Deftones , have collaborated on the video for the Deftones’ new single “Rocket Skates” from the Deftones highly-anticipated new album Diamond Eyes. Filled with rich coloration, sharp edits, and visceral features by the Deftones, “Rocket Skates” is a balanced collaboration between the visual genius of 13thWitness and the sonic amazement of the Deftones.

Feedback: Leo Wong

Leo came round this afternoon to check how I was doing on my moving image piece. After looking at the video, he kindly gave me some comments on how I can improve it. I trust his views, as he has worked in a few projects using this medium before.

Comments:

- Don't let the model walk from off screen to on screen (left edge to right edge)

- If transitioning from walking to stand still maybe use 'Crossfade'

- If the model walks from left to right, then make him/her appear from right to left.

- Use Final Cut Pro for rough cut, but try to use After Effect for other changes/effects.

- Change the piece so that they are in sync with music

- In the Sun scene (at the end), maybe try darken the areas around it, then fade out altogether.

- Try to avoid black screens.

Second Media: Lookbook

To follow on the requirements of the brief, we were asked to expand out moving image piece to another medium. Due to the fashion nature of my piece, I've decided to take on the Lookbook format. Which will be taking some stills from the video and also extra shots from a photoshoot in the future, which will have more pieces and looks. I also want to explore into new ways of creating a lookbook, instead of just in print type, this I will need to look at more examples.

Problems: Video Quality

As mentioned before, I have used a DSLR with HD video recording to shoot this piece. However, it seems like the quality isn't too great, as you can see some pixels within it. I have maxed out the settings as I can, for example shooting at 1280x720 and using 1080i quality, but for some reason, it isn't up to standard. Therefore I either have to continue using it, or maybe try a different method to work round this problem. (deliberately blurring the image)

Problems: Wind

Due to the open space, wind is inevitable. However, this problem was only realized when the video is uploaded to the computer, as the small screen on the camera cannot see the tiny shakes it is causing. Although its already on a tripod, but the strong wind still affected the outcome.

Problems: Weather

Although the sun was out, but the temperature was around 3 degrees, therefore it is difficult to shoot it comfortably, as Sharon was shaking all the way through the shoot. Some of the scenes were also cut off earlier than planned because of this issue.

Outfits

Due to the problem of not able to change in the 'wild', therefore I only chose one outfit for each scene. The more 'girly' outfit have a more 'innocent' essence to it, while the 'male' version is a great contrast, which is what I want. Where the girl is moved away from the 'perfect' world, into the Victorian underground society, where she is able to become a man.

Location and model

I chose a nature scene because through my research, I have been fascinated by films which were shot in nature. It creates a calm and innocent atmosphere, which is what I want for the first part of my piece, 'The normal world'.

For model, I've asked my friend Sharon who was interested to the project, so she kindly said yes to the overall shoot.

Watching Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton

Went to watch "Alice in Wonderland" by Tim Burton tonight. I have to say I was a bit disappointed of it because the story line was so-so, as the film is by Disney, therefore all the endings/happenings are quite obvious. However, in terms of inspiration, I like the way this film is dealt with a dark theme, which is true to Tim Burton's signature style. I will take away these elements from the film for my moving image piece, as I find it fitting for the latter part of my piece.

Video: 2010: A Space Odyssey by Rodarte

This video by American clothing label, Rodarte is made to complement its newest collection. There have always been a strong link between fashion and film, in fact, the two can not be separated. I've seen a lot of fashion films before, but this really captivates me. It is not because of its storyline, but actually the lack of it. I've always enjoyed things which are abstract, weird and everything in between. The lack of lead in films, makes you imagine, and is free to be interpreted. Therefore this is a good direction for me to work towards, an abstract film.

Description:
Guinevere van Seenus stars in Aanteni, a high-fashion techno-thriller from CFDA award-winning design sisters Rodarte, shot by their friend and frequent collaborator, the photographer and video artist Todd Cole. Set in the deserted grounds of Paypal founder Elon Musks Space X jet lab in Hawthorne, California, the film was inspired by the pioneering spirit of the space race, which, according to Rodartes Kate and Laura Mulleavy, has defined generations of artists in their desire to use new mediums and question the established rules they were taught to follow.

Camille Rose Garcia - “Down The Rabbit Hole” Exhibition

Here is a small preview into Camille Rose Garcia's 'Down The Rabbit Hole' Exhibition. It seems that she has taken it quite literally, as there is a strong sense of the original illustrations from the novel, but in a way, the work has a more 'Spongebob Squarepants' feeling about it.
This reflects on something which I don't want to do. I would like to have a more subtle look to my piece, this means that I don't to link the imagery/stories of Alice in the Wonderland, but still carries a some sort of tie in to it.
Apart from this, I also need to show a sense of disappearing/disappeared city around the final piece. And this means losing the second status from the character, just like Alice have to go back to the real word.
Wonderland is the disappearing city.

More info here.

The Story

There are three parts of my piece which I want to portray:

1. The innocent girl - A girl wondering around in nature, feeling restricted, but wanting to go for an adventure.

2. The Transition - The journey to the underworld, which will reference back to "Alice in Wonderland", where the Rabbit will lead you to the next world.

3. The Male - Third part shows the girl transformed and dressed up as a male, a reference back to the London's Underworld society, where these actions are accepted if you are within the underworld. Therefore the girl begin to relax, and feel more comfortable in this world than the 'normal' sphere.

4. The fourth, which is just going to be a short, shows the world around her will disappear, and the camera will fade back to the sun, or the 'hole' referring to the rabbit hole in "Alice in Wonderland".

Video: Wood Smoke By Fredo Viola

Wood Smoke from Fredo Viola on Vimeo.

Milk Magazine: Alice in the Wonderland Feature

Video: Lifetime Spring/Summer 2010

Lifetime Spring/Summer 2010 from LIFETIME COLLECTIVE on Vimeo.

Video: Lifetime Collective 2010 Fall/Winter Video Trailer

Lifetime Fall/Winter 2010 from LIFETIME COLLECTIVE on Vimeo.

Video: Toronto Falls From Phillip Bloom

Toronto Falls from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

http://the189.com/design/art/toronto-falls-from-phillip-bloom?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+the189/feedme+(ONEEIGHTNINE®+News)&utm_content=Google+Reader

Video: Lumitectura By Arno Bruderer

Lumitectura from barno on Vimeo.

More info here.

Video: Alexandre Herchcovitch Masculino Fall/Winter 2010

ALEXANDRE HERCHCOVITCH MASCULINO FALL WINTER 2010 from Rodrigo Braga on Vimeo.

Video: ‘Wild child’ Trailer By Jamieson Fry

Wild Child from jamieson on Vimeo.

Video: Raf Simons 2010 Fall/Winter Menswear Film

Known to have an unusual and abstract approach to fashion, Raf Simons 2010 Fall/Winter presentation proves just that. Filmed by Pierre Debusscere, the video shows an conceptual and uncanny side, with some random soundtracks which puts a sense of speed to the piece. This is definitely an approach I'm really interested in, as it seems to be transforming from one form to another. Detailed description is below:

The idea of fragmentation was really important in this collection – psychologically for the Raf Simons man, and literally in the garments. Several garments were physically fragmented so that they can be worn as whole, traditional pieces or as individual parts of one piece. For example, the trench was divided into three parts: a bolero, a bustier and a skirt, although the skirt can only be worn as part of the trench, not on its own. We also wanted to further redefine the tradition of classic tailoring. Using Velcro and press buttons gave another dynamic to the tailoring and suiting – it gave the collection speed. Pierre Debusschere’s film about the collection plays with the twin ideas of speed and fragmentation.

Video: Splitting the Atom

This is a video piece for the preview of Massive Attack's latest album entitled 'Splitting the Atom', directed by Edouard Salier. It is a certainly a memorizing piece, and a different direction I can move my project into.

Trial two: Long distortion

In my second trial, I looked into the long distortion technique, where a photograph is shot line by line. It is quite impossible with the equipment that I've got as it will have to scan the object 15,000 times to create a similar distortion picture. Therefore I opted for digital tools instead.
First, I've picked an image from the Victorian era that links it with my subject. I then created a canvas which is twice the width. To follow that, I cut the original image line by line, some are more stretched than others, and placed them into the canvas.
Here you can see the original image and an image that I have manipulated through photoshop. I really like the final outcome of this experiment, as it creates a strange aura, a feeling which I would like to include in the final piece. The distortion also reflects to a change, a transition through time or even space. This transition effect is key into communicating the change form the real world to the underworld.

Trial one: Composition

Here is a work developed by the first technique mentioned in the previous post. I've shot nine images of myself turning my head from left to right consistently and then layered these shots over each other on photoshop, with a opacity of 20% each. I have to say is quite an interesting take on normal photography, and is also something which I can try out if the subject is walking or in action. However, overall the outcome is not as dramatic as other techniques.

The science behind scanner photography

Here are some diagrams and samples into how slit scan works. In the first example looks into a composite of images which are taken one after another in fast speed. When all the images are put together, it creates a blur. Which seems interesting to explore.
On the other hand, the second example shows a different way into recording the image, which is reading it line by line. When the photos are put together, it creates a long distortion.
At the last example, it shows the different time frames needed to create the different versions of the distortion.

Thoughts: It is interesting to see the different ways which I can distort an image or a moving image piece. As the subject I'm working on carries a mysterious and strange aura, therefore this technique can surely emphasize what I'm trying to deliver.

Slit Scan Technique

Through a general research into this technique, I've found that it is actually quite a complicated process, which needs a modified camera to take the shot. Here are some information regarding this technique.

Slit-scan is an animation created image by image. Its principle is based upon the camera’s relative movement in relation to a light source, combined with a long exposure time. The process is as follows:

1. An abstract colored design is painted on a transparent support

2. This support is set down on the glass of a backlighting table and covered with an opaque masking into which one or more slits have been carved.

3. The camera (placed high on top of a vertical ramp and decentered in relation to the light slits) takes a single photograph while moving down the ramp. The result: at the top of the ramp, when it is far away, the camera takes a rather precise picture of the light slit. This image gets progressively bigger and eventually shifts itself out of the frame. This produces a light trail, which meets up with the edge of the screen.

4. These steps are repeated for each image, lightly peeling back the masking, which at the same time produces variation in colors as well as variation of the position of the light stream, thus creating the animation.

Naturally, this effect is very time-consuming, and thus expensive, to create. A 10-second sequence requires a minimum of 240 adjustments.

Thoughts: Due to the equipments and time to master the skill needed, I need to find a different way to approach this technique. And the answer is probably photoshop, but before I go into that route, I would look into this technique a little bit more. So, I'll understand the science behind it.

Slit Scan Photography

As you can see, although the photographs are using the same technique, but there are many different ways to approach it which produces many different effects. However, is it controllable? and most importantly, how?

Ansen Seale: Temporal Form

Came across these images while browsing through 'today and tomorrow'. At first, I thought these were manipulated by photoshop, but it is actually a form of photography called 'Slit Scan'. I think the ways the image is changed, causes a sense of mystery and a notion of change. It is the latter emotion which I'm interested in. As the transition from the real world to the underworld, is what I want to investigate and communicate to the audience. Therefore, I'll look into more examples of Slit Scan photography and find ways on how to use it.