DSDN101 project two: story boards and developments

Brainstorm cloud

Here I just put a few ideas together before I drew up potential ideas.

Brainstorms

The word eating is supposed to show the letter E devour the rest of the letters and then eventually burp.

The word squeeze uses the letter Q as a hoop for all the rest of the letters to squeeze through, particularly S which struggles to get past. The word dice used block-like fonts so that it relates to the 3D form of actual playing dice. The dice are dropped and roll, with the E at the end stopping at the wrong position

The word box is written as if each letter represents faces of a box. As music plays the X, which acts as a lid, flips up suddenly and the word toy springs out like a jack-in-a-box toy. It springs around while music plays in the background like a real jack-in-the-box. The word race is set out like a marathon-type race where the small letters (a,c and e) zoom past the screen then stop at the finish point. Lagging behind and arriving at a much later time, R follows the rest of the letters slowly as it pants and puffs. Once it reaches the finish line, it faints from exhaustion. This is meant to be humorous and cartoon-like. The word Authority starts off all one size, but then the A grows much larger than the rest of the words and and then tilts so that it has room to grow even bigger and stand over the rest of the words.

The wor Jazz is zoomed into, and the J stands on an angle (like how saxaphone players postion their instruments), and then the ascender curves out so that the shape of the J looks more like a saxophone. Jazz music plays in the background and the J moves around characteristically like a saxophone being played by a jazz band member and by the end of the clip, the J stays on the same angle and spins around the way a double bass is spun around by the bassist. The word thriller is written in a creepy font that looks distorted and crooked. Three scratch wounds appear and tear the letters in the middle of the word, and then blood leaks from the wounds and suspenseful music plays. by the end of the clip the words shake like shrugging shoulders and evil laughter is played in sync to the movements.

Story board 1

Letters drop one by one and begin to roll like dice once they hit the ground. they keep spinning and then stop one by one in the correct order, however E continues to spin for a longer amount of time and when it finally stops it drops on it's side.

story board 2

E zooms through the screen rapidly and stops when it reaches the end of the screen. This is followed by C and A which also travel fast as they go past the screen and stop to make the order "ace" The screen zooms out and we see a fat R which is slowly pacing towards ace with human-like leg movements. once it stops the R expands and then gets skinnier as it is tying to breathe heavily. Finally the r drops/ faints from exhaustion and a, c and e leave the screen leaving the R.

the word squeeze is formed in a line and the Q flattens itself like a basket ball hoop and jumps down to the centre of the screen. One by one each letter takes turns jumping through the Q and settling back in order at the bottom of the screen. When it comes to S jumping through the Q, it gets stuck and is too fat to fit through. it struggles and wriggles  to get through, then finally it sucks in it's weight and glides through down to the bottom. Q then rises and takes it's place between s and u.

Exploring ideas

Dice 

First idea is to have the letters tumble into the screen rather than fall from the top, so that it looks as though the dice have been tossed rather than thrown. Second idea is to have the letters bounce when they hit the ground instead of instantly spinning, and this is because it looks more realistic to have this happen. next idea is that the letters drop in a random order and then roll around until they are in the correct order that reads 'dice'

Race

The first idea is to show more human characteristics on the R, so not only does it's descenders move as if they're legs running but the circle within the R expands and shrinks like a mouth inhaling and exhaling. the second idea is to have the letters run uphill rather than flat grounds. This is so that when the r falls over, it then tumbles down and crashes once it leaves the screen. This is so that there is more motion in this clip.

squeeze

The first idea shows the letter s as a different and thicker/bigger font so that there is a clear contrast between the S and the rest of the letters. the next idea shows the letters that make up the word squeeze shrink from big to small as you read from left to right. This is because I associate the idea of changing sizes and shrinking with the word squeeze. The last idea is just the same as the original idea for squeeze, but the arrangement of the letters is written from top to bottom rather than from left to right. I tried this out to get a different way to use the space.

Final story board

I have chosen to go for the squeeze storyboard as my idea because there is a lot of motion used it this idea, but there is also some humour and personality put into it. Rather than having the word 'squeeze' start off at the top, i think it looks better to have the letters jump through one by on from outside the screen so that the audience is engaged and trying to figure out what it will eventually spell out. Also I like the idea that the words go from big to small to emphasize contrast and the imagery of the action to squeeze. sound effects will play as the letters bounce and slide through the Q and also when the S struggles to fit through

Initial shoots

                                                                         Initial shoots
                                                (these are not all in order)

The night starts off with people drinking, leaving their glasses everywhere, socializing and drinking so that they can get drunk and have a good time.

Lots of money is spent at the bar, people want to use alcohol to induce having a good time

I wanted to show people having a good time at the start of the night, where everyone is dancing, smiling, having fun with friends and inviting the camera to watch them have a good time. The friendliness is luring, it is an image that makes the viewer feel like this activity is fun, it makes the viewer want to have this kind of experience. I dont mind that the subjects are looking right at the photo because in a way it is inviting the camera to join in with the fun and I managed to take this photo while they were dancing so it doesn't look posed or like a fake-fun time.

I took a lot of pictures of people staggering in groups or friends because i though this would create good transition photos from the good times to the not so good times. This is to show the alcohol kicking in and how easy it is to lose control of your composure. 

more pictures of people staggering and having a good time, laughing among each other.

I thought this would give a humorous touch to the series, because hunger and eating quite a lot is something that the audience can Identify with when it comes to drinking, because it's something most people experience whilst or after drinking. Also, this person was all by themselves while they were eating.  You always have that one person that strays from the group, which is something that can really effect your night. This person didn't seem to care so much, but perhaps his friends are wondering where he is and are worried.

For me this was a really eerie sight, where a couple were snorting some kind of substance, and for me this represents the bad times. Alcohol can lead you to make some pretty bad choices and can be a gateway drug to even more dangerous drugs and it's quite a shocking thing for the audience to see how out of control and dodgy partying can be.

Pictures of crowds helps build the 'party life' image and how large numbers are attracted to this idea of fun. The audience can identify with the image because it reminds them of how crowded and suffocating large crowds can be. 

This is an example of a really bad time, when people get to the point where they get sick and drinking no longer becomes fun. Another thing to consider is the fact that not only was this person sick, but she was by herself. This makes the audience feel a little sorry for this person because it makes you wonder how she felt and what happened to her after that point.

Another example how how a good time turns into a bad time is when the cops get involved, Sometimes drinking and partying can lead you to feel more brave than you would do when you're sober, or it just encourages you to do things you'll definitely regret in the morning.

I tried to play around with different shutter speeds and camera settings, and I quite liked the blurry effect on this image and how the centre is focused, because it puts the audience in the mind set of a clubber, where everything is moving fast and drinking sometimes effects your vision.

Theres always that one girl that cries when she drinks, and this is definitely a time where the good times turn bad. the crying girl in the centre has the comfort of her friends but it shows how alcohol has control over your emotions and composure, and this can make the party turn to a less fun time for a group.

Alcohol can sometimes just make you aggressive as opposed to friendly. This example shows that this person does not want to invite the camera into his fun night out because he is not having a good night. He is by himself and you can tell by his expression that I easily irritated him when I decided to take this photo

Antiques Hunter

Antique Venitian Rococo chair (1820c)

url:

http://www.trademe.co.nz/antiques-collectables/furniture-woodenware/furniture/pre-1900/auction-467720916.htm

On trade me I have found an antique chair that is titled as a piece produced from the Rococo era, so I will investigate and argue whether this chair really is a piece of authentic Rococo furniture or not.

The seller claims that this chair was made in 1820c, however the rococo period spanned from 1720 to 1760 when LouieXV was in power in France. This does not support the facts because this chair supposedly was made a century after the rococo period.However there are a lot of visual features such as excessive curves and botanical symbols such as leaves and flowers that mimic the conventional styles and characteristics of Rococo. The materials used often used in Rococo furniture include velvet upholstery which is used repeatedly throughout many designs as well as silk, which emphasizes luxury and wealth, which is actually where the Rococo era was rooted from, and aristocrats in France that made this style popular and fashionable. The seller does not specify the materials in this chair but it is clear that the fabric in this chair could be velvet or a replicate of velvet, even suede, which helps complete the rococo look. Additional features such as the trimm around the fabric which is almost braided creating a curvy, over-the-top and almost unnecessary detail, contributes towards the Rococo style as well as the golden coloured carvings on the legs, arms and body which embellish the entire frame work of the chair. Lots of intricate details are common in the Rococo style and the more elaborate, the more wealthy the product appears, which is what Rococo represents. What makes the Rococo style so unique and extravagant is that there is a lot of emphasis on asymmetry, where the carefree lifestyle of the wealthy is expressed through the carefree logic of the designs. This chair however is not so lavishly decorated and there is symmetry throughout the design so this does not show that this would be an original Rococo design produced during the late 1700's.  While it is evident that this chair was not produced during the Rococo period, the dates and visual characteristic prove that this chair could be produced during the Rococo revival era, starting from 1820-1930, which became more popular throughout the mid-19th century. This would make more sense, not only because of the time this chair was produced in, but also because of the amount of decoration and how much less lavish the decoration is, due to the less carefree aristocratic lifestyle of society during the 1800s and the increase of the middle class, particularly in England.

References:

1)"The Rococo Period began in 1720 in France. This was during the reign of King Louis XV of France. This period has been called the Louis XV or the Louis Quinze period. Madamede Pompadour, the official mistress of King Louis XV employed the stylish marchards-merciers. These merchants transformed or made various pieces for homes in Paris."

"They transformed Chinese vases into ewers (a pitcher with a mouth used for liquids) with Rococo handles or gilt-bronze. They also mounted writing tables that featured new Sevres porcelain plaques. At Pampadour’s request King Louis XV took over the porcelain factory in Vincennes. It was later relocated to Sevres. This factory became a major producer of porcelain slabs and painted plaques that were often used on tabletops and other pieces of Louis XV furniture."

"Rococo style furniture makes for a wonderful antique. It came after the Baroque period. Rococo had more to offer with plant motifs, stalactitic representation, scrolls, acanthus leaves, Grotesques and floral or fauna designs. It was more of an excessive version and asymmetrical, while Baroque was more symmetrical in design. Cabinet making was very popular and ornate during the Rococo period."

"The Rococo Period was more playful and delicate. It was lighthearted and elegant, some people of the time thought it was frivolous. Shells and wave-like motifs can be found on antique furniture of the Rococo Period such as armoires, tables and chairs. Foliage and seashells were also carved into beds and mirror frames. For collectors of this time period look for a signature or stamp on the furniture. Parisian guild workers were required to stamp or sign their pieces form 1743-1790."

"In 1730 the Rococo Period took off and was became widely purchased in upper class homes form adornment. It only stayed around until around 1760 when Neoclassic culture made itself known. By 1780 the passion for Rococo was mostly gone in France due to the write and philosopher Voltaire. He criticized society for being degenerate and superficial. Rococo paintings were either erotic, pastoral or sentimental. A few famous painters of the time were Antoine Watteau and Francois Boucher."

2011. Antique rococo furniture. http://www.antiquefurniture.com/antique-rococo-furniture/

2)"Rococo furniture refers to interior design pieces from inspired by the extravagantly decorated Rococo period in 18th century France. Noted for its extensive decoration, Rococo furniture is sumptuous and extreme in design, and often employs many different types of material and ornamentation in a single piece. While Rococo furniture may not suit more modest taste, it can provide an aura of luxury and will definitely create an design centerpiece that is impossible to miss."

"The Rococo period in France and central Europe came on the heels of the slightly more restrained Baroque period, beginning in the mid 1700s. Popularized by Louis XV's influential mistress, Madame de Pompadour, Rococo design emphasized detail, well-defined sculpted lines, and ornamentation. This era is sometimes considered the height of French decorative art, thanks to the extreme focus on perfected details in every piece. Not surprisingly, the Rococo period was followed by a Neoclassical backlash, in which curving, gilded swirls were overtaken by a return to plain, monochromatic, and geometric styles reminiscent of Ancient Rome."

"Many decorative arts, such as painting, gilding, and bronzing, were used to add additional levels of detail and magnificence to Rococo furniture. During the period, a decorative chair might pass through several different workshops on its path to completion, including a carpenter, carver, upholsterer, and gilder. Not surprisingly, the detailed style was primarily used by wealthy merchants and the nobility, as few middle-class or working-class households could afford such dramatic decoration."

"Rococo furniture tends to feature a fully sculpted look, in which no element has been left without attention and detail. Tabletops, for instance, are often shaped and carved, rather than being left as rough rectangles or circles. Some traditional Rococo furniture also features intentionally eschew symmetry, finding charm in the contrast between asymmetric lines. Surfaces are carved in S-shapes, curls, or shell-like designs, mimicking the undulating lines found in nature, rather than straight lines."

"Popular types of Rococo furniture include chairs, sofas, tables, and bed stands. Mirrors with highly ornamented frames are especially popular in Rococo design, as the period marked the beginning of access to inexpensive, well-made glass in Europe. Small tables and footstools are also associated with Rococo furniture, as the era popularized the idea of light, easily moveable furniture."

"Upholstery fabrics are also important to Rococo; silk and velvet fabrics are typical choices. Fabric patterns frequently displayed floral or pastoral designs, sometimes made to match the carved decorations on the furniture. Chinese design also influenced Rococo upholstery, many reproduction fabrics depict highly romanticized views of Chinese pagodas, dragons, and villages"

2012. What is rococo furniture?. http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-rococo-furniture.htm

3)"The Italian Baroque period of the 17th century evolved into the French Rococo style around 1740. The word "Rococo" blends the French words "rocaille" (rocks) and "coquilles" (shells) to describe its prominant shell motif, sensuous curvilinear design, and layers of textures and colors. The style was a reflection also on the changes in French society, mirroring the wealth of the rising French middle class"

"Rococo furniture, art and architecture were built on curves and more curves. Everything Rococo was sensuous and sinuous, reflecting a less serious, more frivolous lifestyle. Through the Baroque period the adherence to symmetry prevailed. Then master craftsmen devised a way to create different design elements on each side of a piece of furniture, without losing a sense of balance. This asymmetry is indicative of Rococo"

Sandra Kirkland. August 02 2011. Characteristics of the french rococo furniture. http://www.ehow.com/info_10020826_characteristics-french-rococo-furniture.html

4)"Beginning in the 1820s and 30s there was a revival of Rococo, which began with patronage by the wealthy elite. To them, Rococo represented the aristocratic culture and status of the past in contrast to the rising middle class power of the 19th century. The architect Benjamin Dean Wyatt was a major advocate for the style, and he created Rococo Revival rooms for the Duchess of Rutland and the Duke of York, among others. Artists such as Jules-Robert Auguste, R. P. Bonington, Eugène Delacroix and Paul Huet imitated Watteau and other Rococo artists in their own work."

"Evidence from the Great Exhibition in London of 1851 suggests that Rococo revival was one of the dominant commercial styles of the mid-century, but by the 1860s it was declining in popularity."

2005. Rococo revival. http://bindings.lib.ua.edu/gallery/rococo.html 

New proposal for time project

I have decided to change my idea for this project because i was inspired by Paul Smith's collection, 'make my night' where the drinking and party behaviors  of young men are explored in a way that involves the audience through storytelling and documentation. This collection inspired me because it made me question how drinking and partying can have such positive and negative effects for a young person, like me who is surrounded by the idea of a good time is to basically get trashed in town and wake up hungover. Thus, I wanted to look at drinking from a sober point of view and see 'why us young people love to drink so much?', where is the line between a good time and a bad time when it comes to alcohol. I want to show the good, fun times with alcohol, the bad, regrettable times and the ugly-just for laughs!
1) aims/objectives of this series is tow understand what is the difference between a good time and a bad time from drinking and partying in town and find out how a photograph can capture this idea and reflect on how young people drink.
2)methodology: I want the point of views to be different and so therefore I think that different camera techniques will help depict the different perspectives. To show the bad aspects of drinking, im thinking that slow shutter speed settings will add a blurry effect that helps the viewer identify the the perspective is from a drunk person and their view of that night, and this works with how excessive drinking can make everything seem and look strange, dizzy, messy, disordered etc. I also plan to use fast shutter speed settings to capture spontaneous moments such as a fight breaking out, or a person tripping over and so on. This will be more of a sober third person perspective, which will add more of a observational feel to the images, and could possibly make the viewer find it quite funny to laugh at drunk people doing funny and random things. I am trying to use different perspectives to fully explore this idea and allow the many different ideas and opinions from the audience be evoked so that they may relate or identify with the difference between drunk, sober and the period in between the two stages.
3)Rationale: I've chosen this idea for this project because i want to look at how alcohol contributes to a person having a good time and/or bad time under the influence of it. i want to show how alcohol can be the reason for a good time or bad time, and thats the underlaying message behind the series. The audience should reflect on the issue and think about how far is too far?
4)output: I want to present this series through a power point with two sections, one to show the good times, one to show the bad times, I had considered juxtaposing images side by side to show contrast, however i think it makes more sense to group the images so that a transition appears from the good times to the bad.

more artist precedents

                                                              Paul Smith-Make my night

In this collection the idea is to expose the behavior of young men at parties who are under the influence of alcahol. I really liked the idea of this collection because it is quite relevant to younger people in society and the drinking culture that is becoming more popular among young people today. the idea explores masculinity and how drinking is a part of the 'Masculine identity'. "Paul rejoined the discourse with the masculine identity in Make My Night. Ostensibly a record of a very laddish night out, Paul used a similar technical method to that of the previous series combined with the use of multiple self-portraits. As before, he becomes the anonymous everyman but this time is more overtly the narrator as well as the protagonist of a frequently observed ritual.  "" This quote was taken from Smith's website, http://www.paulmsmith.co.uk/portfolio/make-my-night/make-my-night.html, and it describes how the photographer is the protagonist and narrator at the same time. i think that this is very effective because the viewer has different perspectives of the photographs, for example a viewer may judge the people and situation at first but then may relate to the situations or even feel as if it's a new way of looking at the drinking culture  that is encouraged by many young men. for me this relative to time because firstly it is a window into the more liberal and rebellious lifestyles of young people in today's modern world and secondly because it works with the idea of 'good times', and it makes me,a viewer, think back to my good times (which by the way, were not as tragic as these guys'), and this is effective because it involves the audience and makes them think.

image retrieved from: http://www.paulmsmith.co.uk/portfolio/make-my-night/images/condom.jpg

There is an element of humour in these photos, because it almost seems like a parody of the way people party and behave when they are drunk. Everyone laughs at the drunk person, who would probably never wear a condom on his head whilst sober, but as a drunk party-goer would do things he would probably regret in the morning. This helps the audience connect more with the photographs because humour keeps the viewers interested and involves them with the images.

image retrieved from: http://www.paulmsmith.co.uk/portfolio/make-my-night/images/toilet.jpg

image retrieved from: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cY0QFaFf1pI/TPhAfmsU2vI/AAAAAAAAADk/uzIln2sMrx4/s1600/sick.jpg

while the collection explores the high's of drinking and partying as a young man, it also looks at the low's and creates an undesirable outlook on excessive drinking and this almost brings more meaning into the idea of the collection, where the viewer identifies that good times can end up bad. This could even be a way of the photographer trying to portray the message that the effects of alcohol can be unpleasant, even dangerous and shows this to the audience so that they dont take the subject light heartedly

artist inspirations

                               Ground Zero by Slinkachu

retrieved from: http://www.perspective20.com/2010/05/slinkachu/

image retrieved from: http://saharsblog.wordpress.com/category/slinkachu/

image retrieved from: http://saharsblog.wordpress.com/category/slinkachu/

image retrieved from: http://www.perspective20.com/2010/05/slinkachu/

I really like the photographers idea by using small figurines to show unique or realistic everyday situations and makes it humorous at times, such as the figure rowing on spilt milk, or two businessmen fighting like kids. I think that this is creative because it deals with problems or issues in society that we dont see or notice. For example when I look at the last photo, i think that the idea behind this photo is competition in the professional world which has greatly increased after the world's economy crisis that is still effecting society today. This captures the viewer's attention at first because it is witty but as you think about the image you begin to develop an idea of what the photographer is trying to communicate. The photos are often juxtaposed with wide-shots of the space where the small models are positioned so that encourages the viewer to look all over the picture to try to find the small models. This makes me think that the artist wants the viewer to "search" for a hidden message in our seemingly-normal environments and look past the ordinary to find new problems or situations that are over-looked or ignored. I think that it also shows that little problems count too, just because you cant see them, doesn't mean that they dont count.

Ray's a laugh by Richard Billingham

image retrieved from: http://larissagrace.files.wordpress.com/2011/02/richardbillinghaml.jpg

retrieved from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDA3LFHTCHYsGq9rQFe5CAr7l92EqG3mEyXehe5pOiQWlFOuaRtStmGHBdIftxUL1I7xvF2ysIXB59OY7i_rZzh2HQ95ekq39WlCDcwkJ8FTvpGncHyF6tK_cjAP0N8g5mshSw_39q3Kk/s1600/richard_billingham_rays_a_laugh_07.jpg

retrieved from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPxfJjqa7J9tgOJnwaIpeICQWsuAJEJ1wa7gnNFpDGnpXGxRN4jFdYuAd__mupmxdVVFIGtgwlHixtLufFtPLlJxJY9ihI3p3aP7lZmQNb_WzzZanYU0bNOJvuH96yAVyoPx0OA6vPe6GM/s1600/tumblr_ksreixCuDu1qa90ano3_500.jpg

image retrieved from:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/photography/genius/gallery/images/billingham.jpg

I really like this collection by Richard Billingham because it gives me, the viewer, an inside look at the reality of this person's normal family life and allows me to relate to the situations in the pictures, such as couples still dressed in night gowns, arguing, eating in front of the television etc, which is a more accurate representation of families today as opposed to how families are shown in things like magazines or advertisements where the ideal family lifestyle of the 1950's is copied. This collection is honest and has  character because it is caught in the moment and is not posed, and this makes the collection seem more like a documentation of the families in the world today and how our perception of family life these days have changed from what society had once perceived it to be.  The view point looks like an outsider invited to watch the lives of the family members, like a reality television show. This could say something about the privacy of households in today's society and how families these days dont feel that they have to hide their true nature because the idea of family has changed throughout the years. In a photograph where the family cat is flying mid-air, the photographer would've had to be quick and have his camera set to a very fast shutter speed. This image is one that makes the viewers become more aware of the fact that the photographer is responding as fast as he can to what the subjects are doing and this gives us the impression that the subjects are fast paced, and aren't as peaceful or relaxed as the photos make us believe,

and this emphasizes the modern depiction of a dysfunctional family.

The last resort by Martin Parr

retrieved from: http://www.lvxphotography.net/media/2010/05/martin-parr2.jpg

          retrieved from: http://todayspictures.slate.com/resort/images/LON6977.jpg

retrieved from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLNBoKuMkCBZ3RmoKppYC-iaJHdzW6WPjvnKcPzPruhZPZw_mY2cNdxw2R1i7VSfF1EwC83EdGhW8F6TGAqD6s3jl2GOoJPRv0pWgobVaXFWlmjIXFv948CqOFxzp2u582-lq1BymsJcu/s400/Martin_Parr_The_Last_Resort_1148_67.jpg

retrieved from: http://www.rrr.org.au/assets/martin_parr_the_last_resort_1145_67.jpg

This collection works well with the idea of time because, like the 'Ray's a laugh' collection by Richard Billingham, the photographer tries to capture the moment, and the focus of the image is not about making the picture look aesthetically pleasing but instead let it tell a story or document situations in real life. When I look at these photos, I think that the artist aims to create a nostalgic view of summer, where the kids all want ice cream by the beach, everyone is out soaking up the sun, shops and ice cream bars are packed with que's and families all take their spot on the beach. The people in the photos are at times not ready for the photos that the artist takes and this helps make the photos look like documentations of a classic summer that many of the viewers can look back on and relate to. There are some colour saturations used in some photographs, and this almost makes the pictures look parodic, as the images look more superficial and gives me the idea that we, the people in the beach, create that 'uglyness' or unattractive view that is shown in the pictures almost to say that this is what our modern society is like; rushed, superficial, mass consumption etc...

initial shoots