Final Evaluation :)

For this assessment, we worked in a group and each half term we did different projects. Our first project we had to produce an individual stop motion video. Stop motion is an animation technique to make a physically manipulated object appear to move on its own. The object/person is moved in small movements between individually photographed frames, creating the illusion of movement when the series of frames is played, as continuous sequence. I researched different stop motion videos on Youtube and I analysed and evaluated them. I have created my own stop motion video. We then had to produce a stop motion video as a group. Our first idea was to do an gummy bears, as a stop motion video moving them around, but then we decided to do a katy perry style stop motion. Two of the members in our group, twirled around in a circle and walked towards each. One of them had a red and white dress on with blue glittery heels and the other person had a white dress on. 


I thought this project was quite easy, as the program we did the stop motion on -"imovie" was easy to use. I enjoyed this project because I learnt a new skill while making the stop motion video. We also worked with location lighting.  

Then we moved on to working with the video camera skills. I also took photographs in the studio. our group experimented with different lighting effects, with the fan and coloured gels. I enjoyed this part of the project, as liked the different coloured gels in the background and I learnt how to change the lighting in the studio. We worked with the flip cameras and the Sony HDR FX1 video camera. I thought that the flip camera was easier to carry around and easier to use, however it was poor quality. The Sony HDR FX1 video camera was better quality but it was quite heavy to carry around.


 I learnt different video techniques. We were told to go outside and test the video cameras out, we also had a list of different video technique shots we had to focus on. 

Here is the list we were given:

Pan shot from left to right.

Pan shot from right to left  (different shot).

Close up shot, ie, a tight shot of someone’s face clipping off the top of the head.

A wide angle shot taken from a low viewpoint looking up.

A tilt shot from low to high.

A tilt shot from high to low (different shot).

A shot which manual focuses on a person walking towards the camera and retaining focus.

A shot which manual focuses on a person walking away from the camera and retaining focus.

A ‘Pull Focus’ shot moving from a static shot onto another static shot ie, from a branch to a person in the background.

Here is another list we were given of video techniques:

• The video camera / Flip Camera we are using and its functions.
• The techniques you will be using, Pan, Tilt, and Zoom.
• The ‘mm lens’ being used for wide angle, normal, and zoom techniques.
• ‘Pull Focus’ technique with an explanation again in a new blog entry.
• The advantage of ‘manual focus’ over ‘auto focus’.
• The type of tripod you used along with a comparison to a normal photography one, main features and differences. Benefits of using a tripod over handheld.

I enjoyed working with both video cameras, as I learnt some new video techniques.

The next project, I was asked to design and create a poster/flyer and a CD cover. I had to make up a name for my CD cover and a artist name/band for my CD cover. I also had to take photographs of what I wanted to put on the  front and back cover of my CD. I had to edit the photographs on the program called "Adobe photoshop". I had to research examples of posters/flyers and I had to research examples of CD covers to put on the blog. I was required to focus on the branding,advertising and marketing of the CD cover.


I had to design and make some initial ideas of the CD cover ,this helped me to choose a final idea.I also had to go through a development process of how I edited the photographs and how I designed the CD cover.

The examples of the posters/flyers helped me to design my own poster,as I incorporated the designs/design theme and colour scheme into my poster. The examples of the CD covers that I researched inspired me and helped me to do my CD cover,as I used similar designs and patterns on my CD cover. I used similar designs and patterns to the examples of the CD cover because the patterns looked interesting and distinctive. When I took the photographs,it helped me a lot,as it gave me some ideas on what I should put on the CD cover.

During my experiments,I thought that some of the photographs that I took didn't work well,as a front/back cover of a CD,mainly because there was too much going on in the photograph and no space to write text.I also thought that it was difficult to read the text over the photograph. However there were some photographs that I took that worked well,as a CD cover.This is because the photos showed good composition and good quality.It also showed a variety of different patterns and textures in the photograph.Some of the photographs was suitable for the back cover of the CD ,as it had the right amount of space to fit the songs list on.

For my Final CD cover, I thought that I achieved what I wanted to achieve,as the photographs that I took  went with the Band name I made up and it went with the album name I made up. The poster also went with the band name I made up.The poster was eye-catching,appealing and the font stood out.The final CD cover I made was eye catching,distinctive and it stood out. I like the front photo of this CD cover as, it shows different patterns and textures in the water. I like the different contrasts in lighting it adds a brilliant effect to this photograph. I could add a drop shadow effect on the word 'Empire of the Sun" to make it stand out more.If I was to do this CD cover again I would use thicker card to make the CD cover with.

If I could do this assignment all over again I would make sure I worked quicker and produce better quality photographs in the studio. 

Overall,I have enjoyed most of this this project. I have learnt new skills e.g. video techniques, photoshop skills etc. I liked the designing and creating my own CD cover the best, as it was quite a creative project and I think I took better photographs for the CD cover. 

CD Cover: Development

This is the photograph I used for my front cover of my CD cover. I edited this photograph on Adobe photoshop.I edited the brightness and contrast of the photo,the colour of the photo,the exposure and hue/saturation of the photograph.

Here are the stages of development I went through before getting the photograph above to look like that.

First, I edited the brightness and contrasts of the photograph by clicking on the picture of a sun button shown on the left.Then I edited the exposure of the photograph by clicking on the +/- button shown on the left. I also edited the colour by clicking image>Adjustments>Hue/saturation and I change the Hue to more to the colour orange.

Here is a screen shot of the hue/saturation window that pop ups.

After I changed the hue and saturation of this photo.I changed the photo filter to the colour orange and I changed the density to 37%. Above is a screenshot of how I changed and adjusted the photo filter.

      

I cropped some of the photograph and the small bird cut off the photo, so I had to use the clone tool to clone the small bird in a different position on the photo.

CD Cover: Final Design

This is my final design for my CD cover.I chose this CD cover for my final design,as I liked the photographs,as the back cover is simple but very effective and the front cover is bright,eye-catching and appealing.I chose the sunset photograph with the church reflection for the front cover of my CD and for the back cover of my CD I chose the birds flying photograph.I thought these two photos worked well with each other. The band name is called "Empire of the Sun" and the font for this band name is called "BANK GOTHIC". The name for the album is called " Reflection" and the font name for the album name is called "VTKS Deja vu". I reflected the word reflection. This added a visually appealing effect to  this word.The colour of the word "Empire of the Sun" is purple and the colour of the word 'Reflection" is blue but I added a gradient effect on top this word to make the colour of the word Reflection different shades of blue.The font the song list at the back of CD cover is "Times New Roman". The names of the songs are in capitals and there in bold to make them stand out more.

Research: Album Covers

This image of a house links to the photographs I took for my album cover as most of my photos were took of houses/buildings/the church.  I quite like this photograph, as it goes with the album name "see this through and leave. I also like how it all links together. This photograph looks striking, as there is different contrasts in lighting, as the house is light and the car is quite dark. This is quite an unique and different photograph for an album cover.         

The image is of a sunset with pine trees on this album cover. I like this album cover, as it goes with the album name "Come around Sundown". This photograph on the album cover captures the whole theme of the album name. I like this album cover, as it looks eye-catching and visually appealing. It also looks simple but effective.