Sunday, March 10, 2013
INDN 252: A Look At Graphics
I think the key in this assignment for this section with regards to graphics is that subtlety is good. The photo has to be able to stand on it's own, and shouldn't be overcast by the graphics. The graphics should serve to enhance the photo, through subtle hints, lines, and text. Perhaps to point out aspects we didn't previously notice?
Expanding on my previous post, here I went through, and did some work on this photo, to bring out the moles with some subtle line work.
In this one, I explored the notion of my chest being an impact point. However, I feel like I overdid it a little bit with the graphics. They would be better with just a simple indicator, rather than the flight path, as it were.
INDN 252: Initial Shoot
So, after my primary sort of test shoot, I moved into the ergonomics lab, and started doing some proper photos there, where there were lots of advanced lighting systems to play around with.
Some of the images are definitely workable, but after talking to the tutors, I want to re-shoot all of these, except for the first one. One of the phrases that was thrown around with regards to my body was "Alien Landscape", which I've decided will be the theme of my graphics for the anomalies.
Going to try some graphics on this one, maybe suggesting the moles are like star clusters or galaxies. I've got to make sure they're kept really really subtle, though. It would work quite well with the whole alien landscape thing, so it's a keeper.
Some of the images are definitely workable, but after talking to the tutors, I want to re-shoot all of these, except for the first one. One of the phrases that was thrown around with regards to my body was "Alien Landscape", which I've decided will be the theme of my graphics for the anomalies.
For this one, I want to look at a combination of the tendon sticking up as well as the odd bone shapes in the background. Possibly hinting at a landscape formation? This one warrants a re-shoot though, so as to perfect the focus a bit more.
This photo is great, but I need to think about re-shooting with a higher or lower angle on the chest, and also cropping the nipple to halfway, so as to make it a point of reference to the image, however not making it a main feature. The chest cavity needs to be the main focus, and it could possibly be implied as a collision crater?
This image feels very "water on Mars", so I'm inclined to keep it, however, I think there could be more of a focus on the variety of different skin textures in the photo here. So it also warrants a re-shoot.
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
INDN 252: Design Physiology
This is one of my newest courses. It deals with human physiology and the relation of industrial design to the forms and functions of different elements of the human body. The course is already starting with a very quick project which we are expected to finish on Tuesday. That's one way of getting us back into the groove of things.
Our first project sounds like a lot of fun though. Split into two parts, we are expected to bare all and photograph our bodies. Well, maybe not quite bare all...but for the first part, we are expected to take photographs of what we consider to be anomalies on our bodies. These anomalies could range from genetic anomalies (birthmarks), to product-induced anomalies (scars and broken bones), to environment-induced anomalies (tan lines).
It's actually rather hard thinking of what would be work photographing on my body. I have a bit of a pigeon chest, so that's an obvious first port of call. It's always been something that people see at the beach or the pool, and their first emotion is that of disgust. So that's always been something I've had to deal with while growing up.
My second anomaly I'd photograph would most likely be the way my hand's tendons stick out like crazy when I move my hand in a particular way. It's quite alien, almost. Almost doesn't really look like a hand at all. I still quite like my hands though. In a weird sort of way.
My third anomaly would be a group of moles on my left arm. Moles have been a part of me for the longest time, and I'm not sure I'd be the same person if I didn't have them. I...wouldn't be me somehow. That sounds a bit stupid, but in a way it's kind of how it is for me. Just the presence of imperfections on my skin, they make me who I am.
My final anomaly would be a part of my skin that I always feel looks far older than it should. A small patch on the inside of my foot, I always feel like it's come from an older person. The veins and arteries that you can see through the skin feel like they are translucent and odd. In a way, I feel like this area of skin shows how much stress our feet go through every day carrying us.
I'm a weird person with a weird body.
On Thursday my partner and I are going to the ergonomic room to take some really good photos. Victoria University has a great ergonomics room, as it has a cyclorama, which will be fantastic for taking photos of ourselves.
As for the second section of this assignment, we have to photograph a moving, changing part of the body. While writing this blog post, I came up with the idea of exploring how the mouth moves in different ways, and the effect it has on the surrounding skin and the lips.
Our first project sounds like a lot of fun though. Split into two parts, we are expected to bare all and photograph our bodies. Well, maybe not quite bare all...but for the first part, we are expected to take photographs of what we consider to be anomalies on our bodies. These anomalies could range from genetic anomalies (birthmarks), to product-induced anomalies (scars and broken bones), to environment-induced anomalies (tan lines).
It's actually rather hard thinking of what would be work photographing on my body. I have a bit of a pigeon chest, so that's an obvious first port of call. It's always been something that people see at the beach or the pool, and their first emotion is that of disgust. So that's always been something I've had to deal with while growing up.
My second anomaly I'd photograph would most likely be the way my hand's tendons stick out like crazy when I move my hand in a particular way. It's quite alien, almost. Almost doesn't really look like a hand at all. I still quite like my hands though. In a weird sort of way.
My third anomaly would be a group of moles on my left arm. Moles have been a part of me for the longest time, and I'm not sure I'd be the same person if I didn't have them. I...wouldn't be me somehow. That sounds a bit stupid, but in a way it's kind of how it is for me. Just the presence of imperfections on my skin, they make me who I am.
My final anomaly would be a part of my skin that I always feel looks far older than it should. A small patch on the inside of my foot, I always feel like it's come from an older person. The veins and arteries that you can see through the skin feel like they are translucent and odd. In a way, I feel like this area of skin shows how much stress our feet go through every day carrying us.
I'm a weird person with a weird body.
On Thursday my partner and I are going to the ergonomic room to take some really good photos. Victoria University has a great ergonomics room, as it has a cyclorama, which will be fantastic for taking photos of ourselves.
As for the second section of this assignment, we have to photograph a moving, changing part of the body. While writing this blog post, I came up with the idea of exploring how the mouth moves in different ways, and the effect it has on the surrounding skin and the lips.
Monday, March 4, 2013
Lebbeus Woods: A Fantastic Graphic Designer/Architect/Installation Artist
Lebbeus Woods is a relatively recent discovery of mine. Introduced to me by my flatmate, I find his visions for a future of architectural structures fascinating, inspiring, and impressive. The fact that he had such immense vision for a world where architecture not only served a purpose far beyond what it serves today, but also has unique aesthetic characteristics is completely and utterly admirable, given the time where a lot of architects were designing tall, sleek high rises.
Lebbeus was designing buildings for a warzone. He designed building that merged the resurgence of a city with its destruction. The almost de-constructivist nature of his work leant towards these fantastic, shattered constructs that never looked like they could stand. And yet that is why his work is so fascinating.
Another grand idea of Lebbeus was to dam the Manhattan river and reveal the gorge where the river flows and build an "underground" city. Ripe with claims that his sketches and designs belonged more in Science Fiction novels rather than in reality, Lebbeus challenged the long-standing preconceptions about architecture.
This piece of design work was actually done for the Berlin Free Zone, post fall of The Wall. The dramatic rift in the building feels to me like a created emphasis on the rift in the city. The dramatic edges and extreme structural rift in the building feels like something is deeply wrong with it.
Now, I hardly have any claim to be any sort of good architectural background to be able to critique these to any degree of a commercial critic. But that's okay, because I'm not critiquing, I'm really just giving my spin on what I think he was trying to do, and maybe throw some mild speculations out there. Don't take this too seriously.
This image is of the plans for New York that I was speaking about before. I think it's a fascinating concept, and it may even be a concept we might have to explore more in depth as the population of the planet grows and we run out of usable space. And it will happen. So maybe Mr Woods doesn't have such a bad idea after all. The most astounding thing about a lot of Lebbeus' work is that not a lot of it was done on a computer. Most of his work was done with traditional mediums, resulting in a fascinating amount of work, all displaying superb amounts of skill.
I love this piece of his. It's a fantastic use of colours and shapes, and I really love the way the city isn't a completely linear development. The city he's designed or inspired by (I'm not sure which!) seems to developed in a very understandable, almost organic way. I'm not sure if the red sections are meant to be highlighting something or if they are meant to be something else. Either way, the way they intrigue me.
Just as this man's work intrigues me. I might be posting some more of his work in due course. Either way, his work is pure inspiration, and hopefully I will be able to use it in some way.
Rest In Peace, Lebbeus. Your work will inspire worlds to come.
Lebbeus was designing buildings for a warzone. He designed building that merged the resurgence of a city with its destruction. The almost de-constructivist nature of his work leant towards these fantastic, shattered constructs that never looked like they could stand. And yet that is why his work is so fascinating.
Another grand idea of Lebbeus was to dam the Manhattan river and reveal the gorge where the river flows and build an "underground" city. Ripe with claims that his sketches and designs belonged more in Science Fiction novels rather than in reality, Lebbeus challenged the long-standing preconceptions about architecture.
Image acquired from: http://www.architizer.com
Now, I hardly have any claim to be any sort of good architectural background to be able to critique these to any degree of a commercial critic. But that's okay, because I'm not critiquing, I'm really just giving my spin on what I think he was trying to do, and maybe throw some mild speculations out there. Don't take this too seriously.
Image acquired from: http://www.architizer.com
This image is of the plans for New York that I was speaking about before. I think it's a fascinating concept, and it may even be a concept we might have to explore more in depth as the population of the planet grows and we run out of usable space. And it will happen. So maybe Mr Woods doesn't have such a bad idea after all. The most astounding thing about a lot of Lebbeus' work is that not a lot of it was done on a computer. Most of his work was done with traditional mediums, resulting in a fascinating amount of work, all displaying superb amounts of skill.
Image acquired from: http://ths-concepts.tumblr.com/
I love this piece of his. It's a fantastic use of colours and shapes, and I really love the way the city isn't a completely linear development. The city he's designed or inspired by (I'm not sure which!) seems to developed in a very understandable, almost organic way. I'm not sure if the red sections are meant to be highlighting something or if they are meant to be something else. Either way, the way they intrigue me.
Just as this man's work intrigues me. I might be posting some more of his work in due course. Either way, his work is pure inspiration, and hopefully I will be able to use it in some way.
Lebbeus Woods, image acquired from http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/01/arts/lebbeus-woods-unconventional-architect-dies-at-72.html?_r=0
Rest In Peace, Lebbeus. Your work will inspire worlds to come.
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