Experimental Animation

Our latest project has been to create an experimental animation.

Our teacher for this project is Max Hattler; an experimental animator.

In groups of three we were given a shape and a colour to respond to.

Our group had circle and green to dark green.

After taking initial photographs around college we realised we were all really interested in texture and the layering of texture - we began to take close up photos of vegetables and natural objects.

In our first sequences we put together, we began layering up the images and altering the opacity, however this made the whole thing pretty wishy washy.

We then completely changed the process and began using concentric circles moving towards and away from the screen with different textures, which we felt was far bolder.

Here are some screen shots of the animation so far.

Still need to work on an ending and the combinations of textures.

Power of Making at Victoria and Albert

Yesterday I went to the Power of Making exhibition at the Victoria and Albert museum.

There was such a variety of work; from riding saddles to machines that could ultimately replicate themselves - the exhibition truly celebrated the practice of making and the opportunities it presents. There was also a workshop going on - where they were showing the public how a 3D printer works and getting people to design and then print mini buildings which they were making into a miniature city - kinda like a monopoly board. I thought the 3D printing was awesome but didnt realise just how long it takes! - about 45 minutes for a 5cm by 5cm shape.

Really loved this film that was shown - focusing right down on the detail of each craft.



I was also really interested in the work of Sabrina Gschwandter who makes quilts out of 16mm film - creating really interesting patterns.

Also came across this new app called Penki that allows you to 'paint with light' using you iphone. Here is a little video that shows hw it works - really wanna try this out!



Overall it was a really interesting exhibition - making you look at objects in a different light.

Consume Peckham Trailer

Thought I would just share the Consume Peckham trailer that has been made by Donald Chung.

Here is a link to his website:
www.donald-chung.com

One Dot Zero at the BFI

So last week I went to the one dot zero animation festival at the BFI. Went to a screening called Wow and Flutter: 'sharing the most innovative and surprising new work across motion graphics, character design, typography, animation and experimental works form fresh talent and celebrated masters.' Here are some of my favourites:

Another Earth Promo from Glint on Vimeo.

BUG: Bjork at the BFI

Last week I went to the BFI to see a screening from BUG also known as 'the evolution of the music video' which was presented by Adam Buxton.

Adam was a really funny and entertaining host - taking you through Bjork's vast range of music videos in an inviting way. He also explored Bjork's new album app and looked at some of the hilarious comments people leave on her music videos on youtube!

Here are some of my favourite videos of hers they showed from the night:

This one you can only describe as the cat video.



This one I could just watch over n over n over.




 This one - love the song - also the video reminds me of the film Brazil.

 

 And this one is one of Bjork's latest videos directed by Michel Gondry - this song is really starting to grow on me.

 

Nokia Lumia on Millbank

Last week Nokia held an event at Millbank tower to promote their new Lumia Phone.

They used Millbank Tower as a huge projection screen and hand a couple of DJs play on a stage part way up the tower.

To be honest I was pretty disappointed with the whole event. The graphics for the first 25 minutes were pretty dull; a retro kinda snake ran round the tower repetitively and only in the last 5 minutes did they really come alive.

In those five minutes they started to use the whole of the tower. They made it look like the tower was spinning and you were sent through a tunnel which was pretty interesting to watch.

Here are some pictures of the event courtesy of Rachel Dare.

Consume Peckham

So these past few weeks our whole year group has been working on making documentaries of local businesses in Peckham.

My group accidentally stumbled upon a company called Life Skills which, although is a nationwide company, provides specific training in different areas to teenagers aged 16-18.

Life Skills in Peckham concentrates on construction: all the 60 or so students learn brick laying, plastering, painting and decorating and basic carpentry.

They are also taught maths, english, ICT and employment.

All 16 documentaries will be shown at the Peckham Plex cinema on the 8th December.

There will also be an after party in the Bussey Building.

This is a totally open event so the more the merrier!

Here are the two poster designs the design team produced.

Amazing Sound sculptures

Just found these amazing sound sculptures by Zimoun - its a pretty long video but they're so hypnotizing.

Some of the sounds are just beautiful.

Technology Light Play

So this is my final outcome for a project I've been working on called Biographies.

Everyone in our class was randomly assigned a famous and interesting person including designers, chefs, cartoon characters, thinkers and so on.

I was given Oskar Fischinger.

I had never heard of him before but I really loved his animations he made; he was just so ahead of his time.

Aside from his animations he also made a machine called a lumigraph.

When a button was pressed, this caused a particular coloured light to shine.

When multiple buttons were pressed this made patterns that would move around.

I became interested in how in everyday live we are constantly pushing buttons on technology and subsequently are making things light up, flash and move without even realising it.

My final piece is more a collection of experiments from filming this lights; playing with the sound, speed, rhythm and making patterns out of the shapes.

I really feel this is something I would be interested in pursuing further -  one week just wasn't long enough.

Minotaur at the Old Vic Tunnels

Over the weekend I went to an exhibition which was being held in The Old Vic Tunnels under waterloo train station.

All the work in the exhibition related to the theme of the ancient Greek mythological creature The Minotaur.

I really enjoyed the atmosphere of the tunnels and there was also a restaurant down there as well as bar which you could use.

Michael Najjar's motion work was hypnotizing; a cityscape that altered slow slowly you were aware something wasn't quite right but you couldn't see it change until it had.

Doug Foster's work also had this same effect; a projected image held above water that had such a fluid symmetrical motion you couldn't take your eyes off it.

For the exhibition Stanley Donwood also created a piece where you entered into a labyrinth that had strange noises, lights and heights to make you feel uneasy. A room of mirrors at the end also threw you off balance.

New Technology

Last year we were given a project that I never got around to putting up on here.

I really enjoyed this project as I had the opportunity to really incorporate my love for music.

The brief was to find a new way of using a piece of technology and experimenting with materials and technology. 

I started out quite lost until I bought a lovely old gold projector from Battersea car boot fair.

This got me started thinking about light and shadows.

I then started using my scanner as a way to control light.

I shone the light from the projector into the scanner then begun to move the lid of the scanner up and down in time to music whilst the scanner was scanning.

It took a lot of experimentation to get the effect right; using different objects and techniques.

The outcomes I made were pieces of visual music - of about the first 20 seconds of a song (the time it takes for the scanner to scan)

Here are some of the results:

I think it's important with these images to click on them to make them bigger

This is Rolling Stones' Under My Thumb

And this is Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

Pentax Pictures

So I've been pretty busy working - saving up some money for the new term... But I've been taking some snaps on my Pentax ME Super which I've been trying to get to grips with!

portobello road/notting hill

nick frost and simon pegg at regent street apple store

the view from my halld window - the shard under construction