Observation #1
Observation #2
Observation #3
Observation #4
Observation #5
Observation #6
Reflection #1
Reflection #2
Reflection #3
Individual Exercise #1 Reflection
Link to Individual Exercise #1 and Camera Sheet (Google Drive)
https://drive.google.com/drive/u/3/folders/1POPsvsjnycsQsF4H_OaOGFBEZ2xFXeas
When filming my individual exercise, I used my phone and an app, filmic pro, so that I could have greater control over my shots’ exposure, focal length and focus, which I would have been unable to do so if I used my standard camera app. Therefore, I was able to not only manipulate and develop my composition between the two shots, but also its aesthetic qualities.
In terms of composition, I think that my second shot was more successful. The first shot doesn’t consider the rule of thirds as well as the second shot did; as the large metal “QV” sign in the far right of the shot takes up a little bit too much space and doesn’t actually line up with the top right corner of the shot, an aspect I corrected second time around. The first shot also wasn’t level, evident by the buildings in the background not being parallel to the shot’s frame, making it seem less clean and intentional. The smaller “QV” stand in left of the shot, whilst still in the technically correct third of the image, seemed a bit low and obsolete in the first shot, compared to the second where it’s centred in its third, making its place in the shot seem much more intentional.
I also decided to play with different exposure and focus levels between the two shots. In this regard, I like elements of both shots. Whilst the first shot is rather underexposed, it really allows the fluorescent lighting within the shot to catch the audience’s attention. It also allows for the reflections of the glass I was shooting in front of to be more visible, creating a dream-like quality in the shot. On the other hand, I think that the second shot is a bit over-exposed and losses the dream life quality of the reflections in the glass, which I like about the first shot. However, I do like the more over-exposed shot as the fluorescent lighting looks a bit more blown out, which also provides a dream-like quality to the shot. I feel like I needed to take a final, third shot that finds a balance between the two.
I am very happy with the location that I chose to shoot the shot in. Despite originally wanting to avoid filming in front of the glass, I like the effect that it had on the shot, allowing me to capture the action in front and behind me, creating more points of interest. I also like the inclusion of a vanishing point in the middle right of the shot, as it creates some depth and dimension.
In week three, I was able to finally attend a practical class. Seeing the cameras for the first time was a bit overwhelming, as the vast number of settings and controls are a lot more than what I’m used to. With that said, I learned a lot during the lesson and feel more confident using the camera. All the techniques I learned in class; including how to set the monitor using colour bars, using manual focus, and checking it by zooming all the way in and correcting exposure, all make me feel a lot more confident.
Whilst filming exercise #3 I learnt a lot about being an active camera operator. For some reason, it had never occurred to me just how much camera movement occurs in film, and that the camera is rarely ever static. This is something I was able to put into practice during exercise #3. Whilst I didn’t film the first component of the exercise, I did film the second component, which involved greater camera movement from a static tripod. Whilst the exercise didn’t specify that it could only include one take, our group decided to adapt this to our exercise given that the exercises preceding this one had similar constraints. As a group, we did take care to prepare the shot, such as making sure Coco would be in focus in the final shot by adjusting focus based on her final position, rather than her preliminary position.
Upon review, the final product of the second part of the exercise had promise but wasn’t executed as well as I think it could have been. I think that it could have had tighter framing to draw more interest to the subject, Coco, and the camera could have been placed more to stage right to display a greater distinction between the two halves of the room created by the kitchen and the walkway. I also think it would have been more effective to cut off the walkway completely by the end of the shot to emphasise a scene change. In future, I think I should also push myself to take more creative approaches to these exercises, as there were quite a few examples from my classmates who really played with changes in the scene despite the camera remaining in the same position on set.
The front windshield of the car forms a frame around the former football field. Two modern designed houses – so small they could really be apartments, frame the edge of the glass. The entire football field is surrounded by a series of houses and apartments peering over the edge of the field. The former grandstand glows in the distance – alive with the activity of a gym, restaurants, and early evening shopping. The middle of the windscreen peers down a staircase into the dark field. If the accelerator is triggered, the car will drive through a post and tumble down the long staircase into the middle of the field. This place is rather peculiar – the entirety of the football field is overlooked by houses as if they are waiting for a game to occur on the field.
I suddenly snap out of my own world. The train has stopped. Out the window are no signs of a station. No blue banners indicating for people to snap out of their own worlds and get off the train. It’s just darkness. Within the carriage, others begin to move their eye lines from their laps to peering out the window. An announcement plays over the PA. No one moves – no jarring movements, no shocks. It’s as if the train was still moving and all the passengers hadn’t noticed anything is wrong.
Over the past few weeks, I have begun to have a greater understanding of what makes an observation worth noting. Thus far, many of my observations have been based on questioning human psychology. I recently was able to write an observation in the second category – nature and environments. I only have one so far, as when I am observing the world around me, I tend to focus on people rather than places. I think that environment-focused observations as less about questioning why, which is what I find many psychological observations to be prompted by, and more about just noting the peculiar – things that are just a bit odd or out of place.
By doing this studio, something else I’ve noticed is how few moments I take during the day just to stop and notice things. Whilst many observations happen out of the blue – most of them do happen when I am taking time to immerse myself in the world around me – void of talking to other people, being on my phone or using headphones, as cliché as it sounds. It makes me realise how inspiration comes when I let go of being busy.
Watching the class exercises from week two also made me excited to start filming, as I was unable to attend the first two practical classes. The works shown in class, particularly exercise two, really seemed to play into the idea of observation and just finding shape and meaning in what’s being presented in front of you. Historically, I have found beauty in shots that are directly opposite the subject, resulting in not very deep staging. After watching, the exercises, the shots which used angles and much deeper staging, particularly those with visible vanishing points, were the ones that caught my eye. I also believe they lent themselves to the idea of “observation” much better, as there was more to look at on screen.
An uncomfortable silence fell over the room despite being told to “take a break”. Usually, an invitation to take a break during class is welcomed by the class participants as an excuse to bubbly talk amongst themselves, however most people in the room lunge for their phones or find something deeply interesting on their laptops. Some individuals even leave the room. Whilst it may seem that this is a room full of antisocial human beings stuck in the generation of technology, that is not the case here. Even if the devices were removed and the door was locked these people would still not utter a word to each other. It’s a room full of strangers – the only known similarity between them is that they are taking this class.
I placed the pin pad up onto the bench in front of me. It’s far enough away from me that I have to stretch out of my chair to get it to the patient. Despite staring deeply into the computer, I notice the patient covering his hand whilst typing in his pin, despite there being very little chance of me seeing his number unless I stood up and stared at him directly. I begin to wonder what has caused him to act so cautiously.
I anticipate that this studio will develop my skills in gaining inspiration and finding deeper meaning in the world around me. This can eventually provide ideas for films, starting with smaller observations that may tell a greater story. This studio will also develop my practical filmmaking skills.
Through this studio, I hope to develop not only my ability to write narrative films, but to also find more inspiration in the world around me. I am someone who can get quite stumped when needing to come up with ideas for full projects, so I hope I can develop my ability to gain inspiration, even from small and seemingly meaningless things. I want to develop my ability to create narratives that are complex but understandable to audiences. I think that the content of this studio, being around observations and to a certain extent – personal perspectives of these observations, can lend itself well to my development of this. I also want to further develop my filmmaking skills, particularly in creating and editing clear audio and using more professional equipment.
During the tutorial this week I felt an excitement to make and develop film projects which is a feeling I haven’t felt in a while, as last semester none of my classes had a fictional narrative aspect to them. Whilst this studio is grounded in observations of the real world, I am looking forward to developing my observations into a narrative piece.
I understand observations to be a recording of the details of the world around us that allows us to uncover greater meaning or infer something about something, someone, or a situation. Whilst observations can infer greater meaning, they should be free from personal bias. The inference should be something that not just the original observer would pull from the observation. Anyone should be able to read the observation, or even the original observer in 2 years’ time, and understand what was observed and the meaning that was conveyed. In class, it was mentioned that there are two types of observations – psychological and natural, one relating to the behaviour of people and the other the natural world. When seeking observations, I have found that details of the world that pose a question, perhaps why a person did an action, are easiest to write about.
My dad launches his hand at the handbrake, and I break as softly as I can. My reaction time to the breaking red Mazda in front of us had been slowed by our downhill trajectory. Dad begins his usual spiel about me not paying attention to the road and my not-on-par reaction time – a sense of guilt and shame begin to grow within me, despite knowing that I had been dead focused on the road in front of me for the past hour. As we go around a bend the Mazda begins to shift into the right lane, despite its left indicator blinking. As we come to a stop at the light, I notice there are large indents in both car doors. The lip of the car has lost its ruby red paint and has the appearance of being scratched by a rather violent cat – the silver metal poking out from underneath. I suddenly feel a little less guilty.