After collecting all of my footage, I have started to think about how I will edit my piece to best reflect the noticing practice of tuning. One way in which I have begun formulating ideas is through an editing exercise:

In this exercise I experimented with different techniques to influence what the viewer might pay attention to within the frame. An example of this is the graphic match, which uses shape to create an eyeline match. I used this technique to encourage the viewer to notice the similarity between two shots with similar colours and shapes, and create a flow between each shot. Another technique I used was creating a metric montage by having each shot the exact same length regardless of its content. For this exercise I had each shot run for 6 seconds to fit within the time frame, however in my final edit I could employ this concept by keeping each shot at its original duration of 15 seconds. This would give the viewer time to tune in to different aspects of the composition in each shot.

The exercise also gave me the opportunity to manipulate the audio from the footage, and select a soundtrack that would enhance my noticing practice of tuning. I found that by having the soundtrack at a very low volume I was able to create a calm atmosphere while allowing the viewer to focus on auditory information from the shot. This will most likely be an idea I will explore in my final edit as I am pleased with the effect it has created. I was also able to experiment with a number of audio fades as well as visual fades (e.g. cross dissolves, fades to colours). I feel that having cross dissolves creates smoother transitions between each shot, and does not distract from the focusing of the lens. I am intrigued to use these techniques to tune into the unseen qualities of my surroundings.

My decision to tune into various aspects of nature in particular was informed by my test shooting for the tuning prompt. I found that nature was an interesting concept to tune into as it is always shifting and changing, and we often ignore certain sounds and other stimuli in our surroundings. I particularly liked how the scene in Her tuned into a beach setting, as the sun and water are elements that are constantly shifting (i.e. the lens flare on the camera and the camera focus on the ocean). After receiving feedback on my equipment for the test, I am interested to see how filming on a DSLR camera will produce a different kind of tuning into the unseen than that of a phone. I also like the idea of being able to focus in and out using a camera lens, and how this can draw attention to- or away from- certain elements.

My recipe was also informed by the constraints I tested for each consideration. Here is the list of constraints I will be following, in order to allow what I make to ‘tune’ effectively:

Equipment–

1. Use a DSLR camera- Allows me to to focus or blur out certain information in the frame so as to ‘tune’ in to certain elements
2. Use an external microphone- Better tune into certain sounds, as my camera microphone could have sound interference such as wind or not pick up certain noises

Framing- 

1. Use a number of close ups (x6). This is because in my test production I found close ups most emphasised my tuning practice
2. Include some long shots (x4)- Allows me to tune into a broader range of movement within a frame

Sound- 

1. Include diegetic sound- Draws attention to auditory information
2. Include ambient soundtrack- Sets a relaxed tone for the viewer to tune into sounds

Location-

1. Film at a park- A range of visual/auditory information to tune into
2. Film a diverse number of stimuli in the location.

Duration-

1. Each shot approx. 15 seconds- Time for the viewer to observe and tune.
2. 2 mins and 30 seconds total.

Camera movement- 

1. Use static shots- Reinforcing James Benning’s principle that static shots will allow the viewer to tune into subtle movement within the frame.
2. Include dynamic shots to add diversity and flow to the piece.

The two pieces of media I have found inspiration in which notice are:

Her (2013), Beach scene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7t4r2G2XCE&frags=pl%2Cwn

American Beauty (1999), Plastic bag scene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qssvnjj5Moo&frags=pl%2Cwn

An idea I would like to incorporate into my assignment from the film Her is  the concept of tuning between different elements in a frame, by focusing on some stimuli and omitting others through blur. This is seen when the people in the foreground are out of focus, whereas the ocean is in clear view in the background. I think that this creates an interesting relationship between the character and his surroundings.

A technique I would like to use from the scene from American Beauty is the use of the static shot, which creates a lingering effect on the two characters and the video of the plastic bag they are watching.  It maintains the viewer’s attention as the only movement in the shot is coming from the television screen. This idea of movement and attention would be interesting to explore in my own work.

After evaluating my initial testing, finding media inspiration and testing constraints, I have selected the prompt word of tuning. My recipe for noticing is as follows:

Aim– To tune into various aspects of nature, through shifting the focus on visual and auditory stimuli.

Equipment– Nikon DSLR camera, external microphone, tripod

Method:

1.  I will travel to a park that is familiar to me, with the intent of discovering unseen qualities in my surroundings.
2. I will record a combination of static and dynamic shots whenever I notice an aspect of nature that is interesting in terms of either visuals or sound. I will use my camera lens to focus or blur out certain information in the frame so as to ‘tune’ in on certain elements.
3. My footage will be comprised of close ups (x6) and long shots (x4) that will run for approx. 15 seconds, some more or less depending on movement in the frame. This will give me about 2 mins and 30 seconds of footage to manipulate in total.

Sound– A combination of diegetic sound from microphone + an ambient soundtrack to be chosen at a later date.

Lingering test exercise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYbaOf7YGKg

Tuning test exercise:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKDHSYXiJ9M

Having completed my two noticing tests for lingering and tuning, I now have a clearer idea of the kind of media I want to produce and the style of noticing I wish to undertake in my assignment.

As I was completing the test for lingering, I experimented with shot duration and let the camera roll for the time it took for people to pass from one part of the frame to another. This allowed me to closely observe the movement taking place within the space, and my use of long shots gave the footage a voyeuristic quality. I found that static shots worked best for this exercise as they allowed me to maintain attention and audience focus on an event, as demonstrated in James Benning’s work.

I feel that to improve in response to this prompt, next time I would film for longer periods of time. This would give me more opportunities to edit in an interesting way. Feedback from my peers showed that I could improve by incorporating transitions such as fades into my edit to allow for a better flow in my work, as well as cleaner sound editing.

In my tuning exercise I used a lot more close ups, which let me focus on specific stimuli in my surroundings. I was more drawn to using dynamic shots such as pans in this test as they slowly revealed the environment to the viewer. For both exercises I captured the footage on my phone, which I felt that it would allow for a more authentic version of noticing within each space- however, I feel that this equipment is more suited to the lingering prompt as opposed to tuning. If I were to respond to the tuning prompt in my assignment, I would use a camera instead which was an idea supported by my peers. This way I would be able to focus and unfocus on objects in the foreground/background to ‘tune’ more effectively. As I was editing I was also able to make use of crossfades and other transitions, as well as zooms to zero in on objects.