FINAL UTC PROJECT

RESEARCH

Project Theme

Our project revolves around the theme of photography and the digital image. The aim is to enable the audience to experience and explore photography and digital technology on a personable level - to enhance our understanding of how it works.

Research

After developing an understanding of the basic components of a digital image (pixel element), and digital sound/audio we became interested in the conversion and translation of sound and image.

"I am an eye. I am a mechanical eye. I, a machine, I am showing you a world, the likes of which only I can see" Dziga Vertov - 'WE: Variant of a Manifesto' 1919

- Tom Gauld

“We consume images at an ever faster rate...images consume reality.” - Susan Sontag - 'On Photography'

'my camera seems to recognize people', 2015, 3 channel video installation - 'discusses the imaginable and unimaginable, the audible and muted, ethics and aesthetics, distance and involvement; it is an exercise in curiosity, going after what is visible and audible in the frame, and what is, simultaneously, escaping it.'

Field Research

Our field research observed the habits and components of the action of taking a photograph. The movement when taking a photo was notable, combined with the frequency, and subject matter etc.

Experiments/Tests

CameraTalk Camera talk - how can we represent a conversation from the camera's perspective? This audio piece records the noises produced by a camera - displayed also as a spectrogram which created a connection with the human voice.

Research Question

What is the relation between a camera and its user? How can we empathise with the camera's perspective? (What is the relationship between me and my camera?)

OUR PROJECT

Plan/Concept

Our project consists of three elements : text, visual and audio

Text: The content of the text will reflect on the research question. It will be written from the perspective of the camera. However, this will be ambiguous. The text will be fragmented and in a non narrative format.

Visuals: The visuals are unclear at this point as they depend on the text content and themes. They will however be in the format of an image or video.

Audio: The audio will be a composition of camera sounds (shutter sound, peeping, focussing/ autofocus, clicking) with deliberate intonation to mock the flow of human conversation.

Final Design

Text: In the form of subtitles ( yellow )

Visuals: The visuals will depict a display sized video on normal sized screen. The display sized screen will be outlined and in focus - the boarder will be out of focus.

Audio: The audio will be played from the device the screen is part of.

Plan Technical Execution

The video will be produced in Final Cut and Premiere as well as the sound and text.

Plan Exhibition Presentation

The aim of the project is to make the camera a relatable object. In order to induce a sense of intimacy the audience will have to be able to interact with the piece on an eye to lens level. This will be aided by the use of perhaps a table and chair setting with the screen on the wall/desk.