My Media Blog

Reflecting: What are the differences and similarities between what you expected to notice and what you recorded? From watching your pair’s media and talking to them, how do you think their way of collecting with media differs from yours? How has making this work led you to understand key ideas about noticing in relation to readings, exhibition, discussion?

I was expecting the Convent to be a place of tranquillity, just simply because of what I had heard previously about it, also knowing it to be a spiritual place. I was not surprised at all when I noticed how peaceful it was at the convent, however, what did surprise me was how it could be so quiet despite being so close to buys roads as such. I also did not expect the Convent to be as busy as it was; yet I found that people kept to themselves mostly, and so it felt as if you were almost alone at the convent.
In terms of the media I collected, I was expecting to collect a variety of greenery-based photographs, finding bright patterns and colours on flowers and trees as such. This pull towards more natural stimuli is what I am used to noticing at my own location of Princes Park. However, after looking over the photographs, I noticed that I was especially drawn to the architecture at the convent and the odd patterns and textures within them instead. When shared with Tash, she enjoyed how the photos captured the geometrical patterns within sculptures and buildings as well as sharing common earthy tones. The manmade construction was able to accompany the plant-life so harmoniously, and I believe the incorporation of these patterns and earthy tones, that Tash described, are the reasons why they coexist.

When looking at the media that both Tash and I collected, I realised that despite both choosing to view the locations with close up perspectives, different elements were captured from each. Going into an activity like this, I was not sure what to expect when looking over my media, but whilst mine captured the shapes, symmetry and texture of the architectural work, Tash’s captured patterns within the parks greenery, displaying how even the blades of grass could create almost a mosaic-like image. In relation to the relativity of this activity to the readings as such, I think it has finally cemented what idea the readings are trying to evoke. I could relate to the reading that cited noticing via collecting. Whilst at the convent I did notice the different textures and shapes from building to building, it was not until I collated all my images together, that I noticed the real pattern in its tones as such. Placing the images side by side and very close to one another, almost like a list for photographs, enabled me to discover more than one pattern within the media I recorded.

. Noticing: You will embed in a blog post all of the moments of noticing in either video/sound/photographs you and your pair collected in your locations. List what you notice when you play all of your media back. Are there any similarities or patterns between your pieces of media? Draw connection lines between similarities in your list to draw a map. What did your pair notice in your familiar environment? Was there anything they noticed, that you had not noticed before?

After collecting the photographs from Abbotsford Convent it was interesting to piece them all together and notice the geometric patterns that many of them shared. Within the convent there was a variety of sculptures and buildings that, when examined closely, contained lots of geometric shapes and rich colours also. The textures of the buildings and sculptures were also really different to one another, some smooth, others rough. However, when compiled together, these differences were the common factor amongst the media. Another thing that became really apparent to me whilst at the Convent, was the tranquil and undisturbed nature of its environment. Despite it being a very windy day on my visit, the place felt still and was really detached from the rest of the hustle and bustle of the outside world- especially surprising to me, considering how close it was to a freeway. Similarly, there were a number of other visitors at the Convent on the same day, yet the noise was at a minimum, and it felt as if you could keep to yourself throughout your time there.

Whilst I noticed the tranquil feel in Tash’s environment, this meant she was more attune to the noisiness of traffic at Princes Park, the location I had chosen. When I am at the park, I find myself able to block out the noise of nearby traffic as I have become so used to it over time. Only until Tash mentioned it, did I realise how this may be evident to someone experiencing that environment for the first time, especially if they are more accustomed to a quieter place. However, Tash captured a real beauty to the park, with the close up images of the flora. Within these images, the shapes and patterns of the greenery really emerged, because of the intimate closeness of the camera. Although I do find Princes Park to be a beautiful place, I am more used to viewing its beauty as one whole, vast landscape, rather than so up close and personal. Similarly, the images I captured at the Convent were also more zoomed in and thus able to draw out the different patterns within each.

. Prompt: In this post you should outline what your process of collection will be. This process should be informed by an idea from the Mason reading, Bogost reading or Patrick Pound exhibition. Further, you should list what you know, don’t know and expect to see and/or hear in your pair’s location. You should not do any formal research to find out about their location – you should speculate from your own knowing of the world.

My process of collection at Abbotsford Convent will be setting myself to notice patterns, shapes and colours that deviate from what I am used to seeing. As proposed in the Mason reading, setting myself to notice these in particular ensured that the media I collected all collated together with one common theme. I find this important to have, as the Convent seems to be such a large space that might be overwhelming if I did not have much of a direction. From what I already know about the convent, it seems to be a really harmonious, open space that combines both architecture and greenery to create a spiritually rich environment. Thus, what I expect to notice is a place with a tranquil, open environment with a warm, welcoming feel.

3. Reflecting: What made you stop to record the moments of noticing you did? How did the way you collect relate to your initial research prompt? What did you discover/learn about making media through noticing? What question(s) arise for you out of this making?

I went into this task just looking for something basic to notice to begin with- but still challenging myself to notice things that I never usually do. The idea of noticing something as simple as street signs may seem easy for others, but for me, it was actually quite a task. I have a pretty bad sense of direction as it is and usually just rely on location apps on my phone to take me places. Thus, I never find myself looking up anymore to realise what the street I’m on is called, because that information is digitally provided. Similarly, I wouldn’t even be able to name the next few parallel streets to mine, despite living in the same location nearly all my life.
Thus, I put my mind to it, to try and take notice of street signs at least once a day, something I found a lot more difficult than I expected, because I would usually look over it. I did learn that forcing yourself to notice something you usually would not is hard. Even if I have the idea in my head, actually remembering to check what the street I’m on is called always seemed to slip my mind. Something as miniscule as this challenged me a lot. I think it’d be interesting to know how we can accustom ourselves to notice something all the time- not just when we try our hardest.
I think I’d like to try something a lot more creative for the next task, however, this was a good starting point to understand the initial idea of noticing.

1. Prompt: Respond to a moment of discovery/learning/epiphany about noticing which emerges for you either from a reading or discussion in class. This post should demonstrate that you’ve engaged with the course material in a way which moves beyond describing what the author or someone else said. This post should lead you to a question or query which you will explore through making.

Initially, the idea of ‘noticing’ seems quite basic and straightforward. Every day we go through noticing things, realising some and sometimes not. However, even after our first discussion about what we notice, it came to my attention that the whole prospect of what we are conscious and aware of, actually says a lot about us. The reading touched on the fact that, individually, we are all susceptible to notice different things. The idea that we can be ‘professionally sensitised’ to different stimuli based on our hobbies, professions and practises, really got me thinking. I think of myself, generally, as a pretty forgetful, oblivious person- failing to notice certain signs or people around me, which others would usually pick up on. However, when sat down, thinking about what I noticed on the way to class, I found that a lot of things actually enter my conscious thoughts throughout the day- that I perhaps don’t make much a deal out of. This poses a major question: As a media student, what is it that I notice more than others may? I’m hoping that in the next few tutorials and practicals, an answer to this question, no matter how abstract, will be found.

I think throughout this topic there will also be opportunities to further engage with our own noticing. By this, I mean, having a greater control of what you are consciously aware of, and maybe becoming accustomed to noticing things you never used to. I found that even this initial task one has already helped me somewhat in doing so. Similar to being ‘professionally sensitised’ to certain things, I feel like repeated exposure and repeated conscious awareness of specific stimuli would eventually result in noticing a lot more.