LBM WEEK 1 DAY 1 : Photography work : Learning how to manually use our DSLR cameras

Today was the first day of Lens Based Media. The day started later than usual because of the storm going through London. We started off the afternoon by looking through different photographic images and trying to understand how they were captured from the technical side of photography, such as variation in the ISO, aperture and shutter speed. Our tutor Tom defined what these terms are for and how they work with the DSLR cameras depending on what effect you want in your image.

We then experimented with our cameras by changing the aperture and shutter speeds while using different kinds of lightings to take portraits of our fellow classmates.

Fig 1: Experimenting with Lighting (2013) Authors Own

Fig 2: Experimenting with Lighting (2013) Authors Own

I found this quite difficult because we were a lot of photographers around one model and so it was hard to achieve the angle you wanted for a picture.

I was not at all pleased with the outcome of my images. I will, however, carry on taking photos to improve and get used to my camera.

Exploratory Stage Review

I have immensely enjoyed the six week exploratory stage at Ravensbourne.

The exploratory stage was extremely varied and packed with subjects that were new to me; and I feel that I have gained an insight into many aspects of design, media and fashion in such a short period of time.

Since this was the exploratory stage, I pushed myself with experimentation to try and develop my work as much as possible because I know that I might not possibly get the chance to do some of the projects I did during those six weeks ever again.

I am very happy that I got the opportunity to explore and discover these different pathways. I ended up choosing Lens Based Media. I hope to continue experimenting to truly discover and develop my work.

Graphics WEEK 6 DAY 3

Our last day of graphics involved finishing our weekly project which was to design a future poster for an exhibition about ourselves in 2033. We had to think of ideas and design them throughout the week and then create the final piece Friday morning.

As I know what I want to be in the future I already had a theme. It was just the type of theme that I found quite difficult to decide on. I had to go through three completely different kind of techniques which I developed and started but I wasn't pleased with the layout of any of them or the ''type'.' For my first idea I wanted to make a collage, the second idea was using photoshop however I did not like the outcome of it at all. Finally I decided to go with something simpler and minimal and I did not like those sketches either as I felt like the page would look too empty for a poster.

I started doodling in my sketchbook and quite liked the owl sketches I did and so I decided to convert them into a whole poster. I then added the exhibition title ' Louise Animations'. I am quite happy with the outcome of my poster, especially as I struggled to find and develop an idea that I aesthetically liked. I am quite glad with the final turnout of my poster as I experimented with many different things.

Fig 1 : Dafts of Poster (2013) Authors Own

Fig 2 : Second Draft of Poster (2013) Authors Own

Fig 3 : Final Version of Poster (2013) Authors Own

Graphics WEEK 6 DAY 2

The second day of graphics consisted of experimental work and an introduction to typography in Graphic Design.

The day began by watching a video with Milton Glaser, an American graphic designer, best known for the I ♥ NY logo. He also designed the logo and packaging for ' Brooklyn Brews'.  Milton Glaser spoke to us about his work as a graphic designer and how he goes about working. We then watched a video called ' Radical Design, Radical Graphics' directed and produced by Andy. This video introduced the importance of typography in our everyday lives. It also brought us back to the past with French propaganda posters of May 68 '' Nous Sommes le Pouvoir'' - Beaux Arts. The important role of typography during this period was clear.

Fig 1:  Les Beaux Arts Affichent Dans la Rue ( 1968) Beaux Arts , http://www.dijonart.com/ 

Our task of the day consisted mainly of experimental work. We were then given the task of recreating letters from the alphabet using as many techniques as we could and without drawing them.  I thoroughly enjoyed my experimentation with relief impression.

Fig 2 : Experimentation with relief impression (2013) Authors Own

Fig 3 : Experimentation with relief impression (2013) Authors Own 

Fig 4 : Typography experimentation (2013) Authors Own 

Fig 5: Typography experimentation (2013) Authors Own

Fig 6 : Typography Experimentation (2013) Authors Own

We then had to make small boxes and put a word into that box using the lightboxes. I had never used a lightbox before and I found it quite nice to use since it's very effective. I chose the word ' mystery' because it's the first word that sprang to my mind. I aimed to create something quite bold and simple but that stands out. I am not really sure if I like my design as it's quite minimal compared to what I usually produce and so I found it quite different. 

Fig 6 : Poster Idea 'Mystery' (2013) Authors Own

Fig 7: Different Poster Ideas(2013) Authors Own

Graphics WEEK 6 DAY 1

I began the week of graphics not knowing what to expect since this is the first time that I have explored graphics as a subject. This week taught me about the different kind of graphics that exist, and highlighted the importance of graphics to portray a message and meaning to an audience.

We started the first day by listening to Martin Luther King '' I have a dream '' Speech August 28, 1963.

http://youtu.be/HRIF4_WzU1w

This speech taught me that graphics play a huge role in propaganda and getting messages across clearly.  Martin Luther King's speech inspires me to have my own dream.

Our second task of the day was still life drawing of portraits using different drawing techniques. I enjoyed this task as a lot of experimentation was included and it was fun to draw people that we see every day. We used four different drawing techniques : Drawing with our eyes closed, drawing with our mouths, left hand and a linear drawing (I had never used linear drawing technique before). Each drawing came out in a different style; abstract, graphic, neat  and messy, which I found interesting as I am used to seeing myself produce one kind of drawing style, so I was quite surprised and happy to discover this.

Fig 1: (left) James drawn blind (2013) Authors Own.
Fig 2: (right) : Dan drawn by mouth (2013) Authors Own. 

Fig 3 : Katie drawn using left hand (2013) Authors Own

Fig 4 : Linear self portrait (2013) Authors Own

Our last task of the morning was then to draw someone's ear in 15 minutes. I drew Brandon's ear. I experimented by using different coloured pens which I thought might show a contrast between the darker and lighter parts of the ear. I am quite happy with what I produced as I took a risk by using these colours.

Fig 5:  Brandon's Ear (2013) Authors Own 

Fig 6 : Ears (2013) Authors Own

Fig 7: Ears (2013) Authors Own

During the weekend, we had been given homework to collect 10 images of famous people. In the afternoon we were told we had to create a collage of a face out of the images we had collected over the weekend. I honestly found this task quite difficult. I found the concept of cutting up final images and putting them all together to create a new one quite difficult because all of the images were already finalised so I wasn't really sure where to cut or where to put what. I experimented with lots of different collage placements throughout the afternoon. I am quite happy with how my collage turned out however I do not think it looks like a proper real life face but more like something imagined, since my character has three arms...

Fig 8: Collage of Face (2013) Authors Own 

Fig 9 :  Viewfinder Drawing (2013) Authors Own

3DD WEEK 5 DAY 3

We commenced our last day by designing five miniature models of  bridges constructed out of A4 paper. This was a prelude to our afternoon task which was to create a real bridge in groups.

Fig 1 : Bridge 1 (2013) Authors Own

Fig 2: Bridge 2 (2013) Authors Own

Fig 3: Bridge 3 (2013) Authors Own

Fig 4: Bridge 4 (2013) Authors Own

Fig 5: Bridge 5 (2013) Authors Own

For our real bridge we were handed the following items, 30 bamboo sticks, 6 sheets of cardboard, some tape and elastic bands. The bridge had to span two tables which were placed approximately three metres apart. Furthermore it had to be able to support a miniature electronic model car which would test the bridge once it was finished.

My group decided to build the frame of the bridge first, and we opted for a classical suspension-type style.

Fig 6 : Bridge Frame (2013) Authors Own

Fig 7: Bridge (2013) Authors Own

Fig 7 : Bridge (2013) Authors Own

Fig 8: Bridge (2013) Authors Own

Fig 9: Bridge (2013) Authors Own 

I thoroughly enjoyed this task, as we had to think quickly given that we only had two hours to construct the bridge and working as a group was fun.

In our group, everybody actively participated and contributed and the end result of this was that our bridge was very stable.

Fig 10: Outcome of the Bridge Task (2013) Authors Own

3DD WEEK 5 DAY 2

On our second day we had to design and then build spaghetti sculptures which must hold four balls per person with the option of working in pairs. Again I worked with Daniella Avanzi. In the morning we designed the spaghetti sculptures in our sketch books while waiting for a free space on the glue guns.

I found it quite difficult to manipulate the glue gun whilst holding the spaghetti because the spaghetti would break easily in the lucky event that you were not burned by the glue gun! Although fragile I noticed that curiously the spaghetti would bend because of the heat.

We decided upon a triangular sculpture design.

Fig 1 : Spaghetti Sculpture ( 2013) Daniella Avanzi  

Fig  2 :  Spaghetti Sculpture (2013) Daniella Avanzi

Fig 3: Spaghetti Sculpture (2013) Daniella Avanzi

Fig 4 :  Spaghetti Sculpture (2013) Authors Own

Our next task was to try to protect our piece by using one sheet of A1 paper and three sheets of A4 paper. We decided to scrunch up the paper and fill in the body of the sculpture as much as possible to add structural rigidity. At the end of the day, our tutor tested each of our protected sculptures with a basket ball to see if any of them were fit for purpose. Unfortunately ours was not basket ball-proof!

Fig 5 : Filled Spaghetti Sculpture (2013) Authors Own

Fig 6 : Filled Spaghetti Sculpture (2013) Authors Own

Fig 7: Filled Spaghetti Sculpture (2013) Daniella Avanzi

Fig 8: Filled Spaghetti Sculpture (2013) Daniella Avanzi

3DD WEEK 5 DAY 1

I was extremely excited for the 3D week as I would like to study for a degree in 3D animation. I also was curious to explore and learn other creative possibilities in 3 Dimensional Development.

Our first task of the day was to transform different sketches into designs. For example, our favourite fruit into a rabbit hutch, 10 dots into a house plan etc.. This process helped open up my imagination for the last sketch, which was to design an MP3 player. I really enjoyed this task and I am happy with the outcome of my sketches because they are each very different to one another. The methodology used to create these sketches really worked for me and taught me that design ideas can come from anything.

We then had to create and design something that would hold a water bottle (three quarters full of water) 20 cm off the ground. We were only allowed to use one sheet of A1 paper and a strip of tape the length of my elbow to my hand. I found this task quite tricky, because of the weight of the water bottle, and found that the most effective support was achieved by simply scrunching up the paper. Although far from a beautiful design the water bottle was successfully held up ... until the teacher tried it out!

Our task for the afternoon was to create an object which would support our own weight. We were allowed 4 sheets of cardboard each. We were also allowed to work in pairs if we wanted to and so I decided to work with Daniella Avanzi. First we decided to create a bench for two people, however mid flow we decided that the structure would support us better if we turned the piece upside down. Our bench morphed into a tall stool.

We found this task quite difficult because of the carboard restriction, which meant that our stool was not quite large enough to seat two persons.