1. How was your experience with the Olympus digital camera? How did it compare with other still or video cameras you have previously used? Were you able to successfully implement your Image Capturing Strategies using the features of this camera? In an ideal world, how would your still/video camera of choice function?
The Olympus camera isn't exactly the ideal camera for a video project, but it got the job done. The quality of the stills and videos weren't perfect, but that doesn't matter too much, especially since our final videos will not be seen in high quality. I only have two minor complains about the camera. The first is that I can't zoom in while recording on video. This wasn't too big of a problem, but it was a little annoying because I would often forget, which I suppose has nothing to do with the camera. My other complain is that while I was recording objects that moved fast, the camera would replay it with horizontal lines on the object. It also took quite some time to adjust to light from time to time. The quality of the still was surprisingly good. I have only used a few other video cameras, and they were superior to the Olympus, but that is undoubtedly so because they were made specifically to capture moving images, while the Olympus is primely used for stills. I was able to work my strategy just fine with the camera. In an ideal world I suppose that the only improvement I would make on the camera for this project would be better quality.
2. Discuss your choice of video-editing software and describe your history with this software. If you used this software for the first time, explain why you chose this particular application and how you think it helped you to accomplish your creative goals (or proved detrimental). Will you use this software again for future projects?
The video editing software that I used was Adobe Premier. This was the first time I used this software, and I chose it because I had previously used Adobe Photoshop and was happy with Adobe products. I also used it because I did a little online research and Premier is one of the best video editing software available for windows. I do have a Mac that has Quicktime Pro which I used last semester for a video project, but I wanted to try something different and I wanted a program that would let me do more with video. I struggled quite a bit in the beginning with tasks as simple as the duration a still image was in the video. Once I figured that out, I was able to do the basic things without a problem. I will definitely continue to use the program and try to learn the more advanced things the program offers.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Sunday, November 9, 2008
2nd Reading Response.
1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.
The reading that I have chosen is, Will Self: On ‘Psychogeography’ and the Places That Choose You. I chose this article because the first time I read the title, it sounded rather interesting. I had never heard of Psychogeography, and I thought that the idea of places choosing us, rather than us choosing the places, seemed like a good read. Just by reading the word Psychogeography I was able to get an idea of what it is. The idea of a place choosing you is also interesting, because we usually think that we choose a place, not that we are drawn to it for reasons unknown. I certainly have felt before that a place has chosen me. I also enjoyed the interview because it mentions the flaneur. A flaneur is a person that walks around the city to get a better idea of the city. They don't always to get from one point to another, they walk to experience the city the live in, and sometimes different cities.
2. What are the main points of the essay?
The reading is an interview with a writer who is a recovered drug addict. Before the actual interview a little bit of information is given on the writer, such as his drug addiction, and what made him want to stop his addiction. It also talks about the writer as long distance walker, and why he finds walking as a better alternative to driving or riding in a bus, train, or airplane. After the writer/walker is introduced, it talks about a book by the writer that deals with Psychogeography. Once the interview actually starts, the first obvious question is asked, "... What exactly is Psychogeography?" From what I understand, Psychogeography is a way of disconnecting yourself from your surrounding area, while still experiencing it and being a part of it. Unfortunately the article didn't really talk too much about places choosing us, it is only briefly mentioned. Another main point of the article was asking Will Self how he got interested in Psychogeography and long distance walking.
3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?
The idea of Psychogeography is definitely something that I am now interested in. I always enjoy walking to pass the time and to clear my head. I always thought it was just something that I would do, I never thought it would be an actual practice. Also the idea of a place choosing me is the reason I returned to certain areas from Drift 1 on my second drift. One place in particular is a blue building. In my first drift I had no intention of recording near the blue building. As I continued to a designated spot on my drift map, in the back of my head I was thinking that maybe I should record by the blue building. I decided to record by the building after all. Once I finished my drift and started going over my various pictures and sound recordings, one of the pictures I took of the blue building really stuck out to me. In particular the architecture, and how the exterior would reflect its surroundings. The concept of reflection ended up being one of the main focuses of my second drift. After reading through the reading (and the comments left by other readers), I would like to look into Psychogeography, and the work of Will Self, so that I could get a better understanding of how places choose us.
The reading that I have chosen is, Will Self: On ‘Psychogeography’ and the Places That Choose You. I chose this article because the first time I read the title, it sounded rather interesting. I had never heard of Psychogeography, and I thought that the idea of places choosing us, rather than us choosing the places, seemed like a good read. Just by reading the word Psychogeography I was able to get an idea of what it is. The idea of a place choosing you is also interesting, because we usually think that we choose a place, not that we are drawn to it for reasons unknown. I certainly have felt before that a place has chosen me. I also enjoyed the interview because it mentions the flaneur. A flaneur is a person that walks around the city to get a better idea of the city. They don't always to get from one point to another, they walk to experience the city the live in, and sometimes different cities.
2. What are the main points of the essay?
The reading is an interview with a writer who is a recovered drug addict. Before the actual interview a little bit of information is given on the writer, such as his drug addiction, and what made him want to stop his addiction. It also talks about the writer as long distance walker, and why he finds walking as a better alternative to driving or riding in a bus, train, or airplane. After the writer/walker is introduced, it talks about a book by the writer that deals with Psychogeography. Once the interview actually starts, the first obvious question is asked, "... What exactly is Psychogeography?" From what I understand, Psychogeography is a way of disconnecting yourself from your surrounding area, while still experiencing it and being a part of it. Unfortunately the article didn't really talk too much about places choosing us, it is only briefly mentioned. Another main point of the article was asking Will Self how he got interested in Psychogeography and long distance walking.
3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?
The idea of Psychogeography is definitely something that I am now interested in. I always enjoy walking to pass the time and to clear my head. I always thought it was just something that I would do, I never thought it would be an actual practice. Also the idea of a place choosing me is the reason I returned to certain areas from Drift 1 on my second drift. One place in particular is a blue building. In my first drift I had no intention of recording near the blue building. As I continued to a designated spot on my drift map, in the back of my head I was thinking that maybe I should record by the blue building. I decided to record by the building after all. Once I finished my drift and started going over my various pictures and sound recordings, one of the pictures I took of the blue building really stuck out to me. In particular the architecture, and how the exterior would reflect its surroundings. The concept of reflection ended up being one of the main focuses of my second drift. After reading through the reading (and the comments left by other readers), I would like to look into Psychogeography, and the work of Will Self, so that I could get a better understanding of how places choose us.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Audio Software/Hardware Response.
1. Discuss your experiences with building your microphones. Was this process more or less what you thought it would be? How did your microphone rig work on your Drift walks? Were you able to capture both overall ambiance and extreme closeups? Describe your ideal microphone and recorder setup, with unlimited time and money.
I struggled a little with making my microphones. I was able to do everything perfectly fine until it came to soldering. The first problem that came up was that there were not enough soldering guns. I wasn't able to do any soldering until the second day, and even so I wasn't able to start until the last 15 minutes, and I had to stay after to finish. Thankfully my TA was very helpful and patient with me. I will avoid soldering if it is possible in future projects. My microphones worked really well for both closeups and ambiance recording; and it was even better that I made them myself. I was very happy with my microphone, I wouldn't change anything about them, even if I had a better more expensive microphone, it wouldn't be the same because it would have been bought.
2. How was your experience with operating the MiniDisc recorder? How does this recorder compare to other audio equipment you've used? In an ideal world, how would your recorder of choice function?
On my drift walk I had a little trouble at first, because the microphone didn't record; it seemed to be stuck on pause. After a few tries I finally got it to work. It was a little annoying having to reset the recorder's to manual gain every time, but I never forgot to do so. That is the only complaint I have with the MiniDisc recorder. This was the first time I used an audio recorder, and it was very simple and enjoyable.
3. Discuss the audio-editing software you chose and your history with this application. If you used this software for the first time, explain why you chose this particular application and how you think it helped you to accomplish your creative goals (or proved detrimental). Will you use this software again for future projects?
I used two different software for my audio. The first was Sonic Stage, this was only used to convert the recordings into WAV format. Since I used a PC, I had no problem with the program, I found the process straightforward and simple. The other program I used was Audacity, and it was used for editing purposes. I had very little previous experience with Audacity. I had used it a few times before to make MP3 ring tones for my phone, so I only knew how to open, cut, and export files. Audacity worked very well for basic audio editing. Whatever problem I came across, I was able to solve with a simple online search. I will definitely use Audacity in future projects, not just for this class, until I feel comfortable enough to purchase a audio editing software.
I struggled a little with making my microphones. I was able to do everything perfectly fine until it came to soldering. The first problem that came up was that there were not enough soldering guns. I wasn't able to do any soldering until the second day, and even so I wasn't able to start until the last 15 minutes, and I had to stay after to finish. Thankfully my TA was very helpful and patient with me. I will avoid soldering if it is possible in future projects. My microphones worked really well for both closeups and ambiance recording; and it was even better that I made them myself. I was very happy with my microphone, I wouldn't change anything about them, even if I had a better more expensive microphone, it wouldn't be the same because it would have been bought.
2. How was your experience with operating the MiniDisc recorder? How does this recorder compare to other audio equipment you've used? In an ideal world, how would your recorder of choice function?
On my drift walk I had a little trouble at first, because the microphone didn't record; it seemed to be stuck on pause. After a few tries I finally got it to work. It was a little annoying having to reset the recorder's to manual gain every time, but I never forgot to do so. That is the only complaint I have with the MiniDisc recorder. This was the first time I used an audio recorder, and it was very simple and enjoyable.
3. Discuss the audio-editing software you chose and your history with this application. If you used this software for the first time, explain why you chose this particular application and how you think it helped you to accomplish your creative goals (or proved detrimental). Will you use this software again for future projects?
I used two different software for my audio. The first was Sonic Stage, this was only used to convert the recordings into WAV format. Since I used a PC, I had no problem with the program, I found the process straightforward and simple. The other program I used was Audacity, and it was used for editing purposes. I had very little previous experience with Audacity. I had used it a few times before to make MP3 ring tones for my phone, so I only knew how to open, cut, and export files. Audacity worked very well for basic audio editing. Whatever problem I came across, I was able to solve with a simple online search. I will definitely use Audacity in future projects, not just for this class, until I feel comfortable enough to purchase a audio editing software.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Ten Questions
1. Can I find a variety of sounds around a single building?
2. How will the sound of an area differ in the day and night?
3. How will it differ in different seasons?
4. How would a soundwalk in Manhattan with a map of Milwaukee compare to a soundwalk in Milwaukee with a map of Manhattan?
5. Can different sounds be found near buildings with different architecture?
6. Are there any strange looking buildings inside the range of my drift map?
7. If so, how will these sounds differ from my previous ones?
8. Would I hear different sounds inside a parking structure as I go up/down a level?
9. How will the recording of the outside of a parking structure compare to the sounds found on top of a parking structure?
10. How many parking structures are in my drift map?
2. How will the sound of an area differ in the day and night?
3. How will it differ in different seasons?
4. How would a soundwalk in Manhattan with a map of Milwaukee compare to a soundwalk in Milwaukee with a map of Manhattan?
5. Can different sounds be found near buildings with different architecture?
6. Are there any strange looking buildings inside the range of my drift map?
7. If so, how will these sounds differ from my previous ones?
8. Would I hear different sounds inside a parking structure as I go up/down a level?
9. How will the recording of the outside of a parking structure compare to the sounds found on top of a parking structure?
10. How many parking structures are in my drift map?
Drift 1 Assessment
1. Describe two situations that aggravated, bothered, shocked or otherwise stressed you during Drift 1. (Please note that the situation CANNOT be technology-related.)
Something that bothered me while I was on my drift was the lack of interesting sounds. While I was recording I had my headphones on so that I could listen to what I was recording. At that time the sounds seemed really boring and common. I thought my blog was going to be very boring and repetitive. As I arrived home and started to listen to my recordings, I was able to pick something special and unique out of every recording I did. I tried to find something special about every recording, I soon saw that I had a decent variety of sounds.
Another thing that bothered me a little was the lack of daylight during the time of my drift. If it weren't for that limitation, I would have loved to continue my drift for a few more hours. I found that there were more interesting and lively sounds during my earlier recordings as opposed to my later ones.
2. Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.
The simple act of walking makes me feel peaceful and contemplative. I felt at ease throughout the entire drift. Even when things went a little wrong with my map interpretation. I was especially at ease during my second recording which was the Empire State recording. I was simply sitting on a bench and listening to the sounds of the city.
The second time that I felt very peaceful was during the very last recording. After a long day of walking throughout the city I was more than happy to sit by the parking lot and wait for more interesting sounds to come my way. This recording came out to be about 7 minutes, at first it was just cars passing by, but then around 5 minutes into the recording I get 3 very interesting and distinct sounds. This made for a good ending to a very enjoyable drift.
3. Describe three surprises or unexpected situations you encountered on your Drift and in the days that followed. The surprise could stem from your expectations that conflicted with "on the ground" realities, cultural or social issues of which you were previously unaware, feelings and reactions that you did not expect to have, appearances and soundings of things you did not expect, good or bad outcomes of "on the spot" decisions you had to make, or the discovery of "deeper" realities in the materials you brought home. (Again, skip anything technology-related!)
Probably the biggest surprise I received from my drift was when I decided to stop and record by a building with a graffiti design that read, Bucket Works. As I was sitting there listening to the usual sound of cars passing by I heard two people leaving the Bucket Works building and then they entered a nearby car. As they pulled out of the driveway the car stops and someone asks me if I'm waiting for a ride, then another car pulls up and a large man gets out and starts to walk towards me, and asks if we were here for a wrestling meet. The man in the car replies and says that the wrestler was gone, and just as quickly as the strange encounter started, it ended, and both of the cars leave.
Once I had a chance to listen to the sound files on my computer, I was very surprised to know that in one of my recordings I was able to record the water in a sewer.This may not seem surprising but I found it to be surprising because during the actual recording I was concentrated on listening to the various insect sounds that dominated the area. I was happy to hear many layers in that recording.
I found it very surprising that just a few blocks north of where I started my drift, downtown Milwaukee no longer looks like a city. It seems that from where I started, downtown Milwaukee extends to the south, east, and west. There is very little to the north. I was a little disappointed because in my map of Manhattan, Central Park is to the North. I decided not to stray far from Milwaukee's inner city because I wanted to focus on the sounds of the city, and not so much on the surrounding areas.
4. Describe your favorite experience, situation, place, or recollection from your Drift. Be specific about what happened, how you felt, how you reacted, and why you think this particular experience affected you so much.
One of my favorite locations in my drift map is the Blue Building. I wasn't originally going to record by that building, but after I passed it on my way to another locations, I decided that it would be an interesting place to record. It turns out that out of all of my recordings, the Blue Building recording gave me the most Manhattan like recording. While in this location I heard various car sounds, people walking by, bus sounds, people talking, and even some people singing. The sounds from this location sounded a lot more like I would expect the center of Milwaukee to sound like, and it was only a block or two away from where I started my drift. I hope to revisit this location for my next drift, to see how it will be different.
Something that bothered me while I was on my drift was the lack of interesting sounds. While I was recording I had my headphones on so that I could listen to what I was recording. At that time the sounds seemed really boring and common. I thought my blog was going to be very boring and repetitive. As I arrived home and started to listen to my recordings, I was able to pick something special and unique out of every recording I did. I tried to find something special about every recording, I soon saw that I had a decent variety of sounds.
Another thing that bothered me a little was the lack of daylight during the time of my drift. If it weren't for that limitation, I would have loved to continue my drift for a few more hours. I found that there were more interesting and lively sounds during my earlier recordings as opposed to my later ones.
2. Describe, with details, two situations during Drift 1 in which you felt unusually peaceful, at ease, or contemplative.
The simple act of walking makes me feel peaceful and contemplative. I felt at ease throughout the entire drift. Even when things went a little wrong with my map interpretation. I was especially at ease during my second recording which was the Empire State recording. I was simply sitting on a bench and listening to the sounds of the city.
The second time that I felt very peaceful was during the very last recording. After a long day of walking throughout the city I was more than happy to sit by the parking lot and wait for more interesting sounds to come my way. This recording came out to be about 7 minutes, at first it was just cars passing by, but then around 5 minutes into the recording I get 3 very interesting and distinct sounds. This made for a good ending to a very enjoyable drift.
3. Describe three surprises or unexpected situations you encountered on your Drift and in the days that followed. The surprise could stem from your expectations that conflicted with "on the ground" realities, cultural or social issues of which you were previously unaware, feelings and reactions that you did not expect to have, appearances and soundings of things you did not expect, good or bad outcomes of "on the spot" decisions you had to make, or the discovery of "deeper" realities in the materials you brought home. (Again, skip anything technology-related!)
Probably the biggest surprise I received from my drift was when I decided to stop and record by a building with a graffiti design that read, Bucket Works. As I was sitting there listening to the usual sound of cars passing by I heard two people leaving the Bucket Works building and then they entered a nearby car. As they pulled out of the driveway the car stops and someone asks me if I'm waiting for a ride, then another car pulls up and a large man gets out and starts to walk towards me, and asks if we were here for a wrestling meet. The man in the car replies and says that the wrestler was gone, and just as quickly as the strange encounter started, it ended, and both of the cars leave.
Once I had a chance to listen to the sound files on my computer, I was very surprised to know that in one of my recordings I was able to record the water in a sewer.This may not seem surprising but I found it to be surprising because during the actual recording I was concentrated on listening to the various insect sounds that dominated the area. I was happy to hear many layers in that recording.
I found it very surprising that just a few blocks north of where I started my drift, downtown Milwaukee no longer looks like a city. It seems that from where I started, downtown Milwaukee extends to the south, east, and west. There is very little to the north. I was a little disappointed because in my map of Manhattan, Central Park is to the North. I decided not to stray far from Milwaukee's inner city because I wanted to focus on the sounds of the city, and not so much on the surrounding areas.
4. Describe your favorite experience, situation, place, or recollection from your Drift. Be specific about what happened, how you felt, how you reacted, and why you think this particular experience affected you so much.
One of my favorite locations in my drift map is the Blue Building. I wasn't originally going to record by that building, but after I passed it on my way to another locations, I decided that it would be an interesting place to record. It turns out that out of all of my recordings, the Blue Building recording gave me the most Manhattan like recording. While in this location I heard various car sounds, people walking by, bus sounds, people talking, and even some people singing. The sounds from this location sounded a lot more like I would expect the center of Milwaukee to sound like, and it was only a block or two away from where I started my drift. I hope to revisit this location for my next drift, to see how it will be different.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Reading Response #1
1. Identify the article you have selected and why you chose it.
I chose the article "On A Clear Day I can Hear Forever" by Gary Ferrington. The reason I chose this article is because right away I could relate to it. Gary says that he lives in a City, but not a large city, so right away I thought of Milwaukee. As I read the essay I could visualize in my head exactly what was being described, as it was being described I could hear the sounds in my head. I was able to picture and hear the garbage trucks, the people leaving in the morning for work, and the birds chirping in the morning. I could also picture the trains passing by, because about 6 years ago I also lived by train tracks. This leads to another point, he was descriptive with what he heard, so I'm sure that even someone that doesn't hear those sounds often could imagine them in their own head.
2. What are the main points of the essay?
The main point in this essay was describing the different sounds he heard throughout the day. I found it interesting that he would hear such distant sounds and how he became so accustomed to hearing some sounds that he could even tell time based on the sound that he heard. I suppose that it can be said that the essay is also about how we over look some sounds, and don't even notice them. He also seems to say that not many people take the time to just stop and listen to our surroundings. Sometimes we should just sit still and enjoy the silence.
3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?
As I wrote before, I like how he was able to put sounds and images in my head. I also like how he was able to isolate specific sounds out of many different sounds in a city. All of these things make me want to provide my listener with a rateable and enjoyable experience. I will attempt to bring various sounds from a city, into one drift.
I chose the article "On A Clear Day I can Hear Forever" by Gary Ferrington. The reason I chose this article is because right away I could relate to it. Gary says that he lives in a City, but not a large city, so right away I thought of Milwaukee. As I read the essay I could visualize in my head exactly what was being described, as it was being described I could hear the sounds in my head. I was able to picture and hear the garbage trucks, the people leaving in the morning for work, and the birds chirping in the morning. I could also picture the trains passing by, because about 6 years ago I also lived by train tracks. This leads to another point, he was descriptive with what he heard, so I'm sure that even someone that doesn't hear those sounds often could imagine them in their own head.
2. What are the main points of the essay?
The main point in this essay was describing the different sounds he heard throughout the day. I found it interesting that he would hear such distant sounds and how he became so accustomed to hearing some sounds that he could even tell time based on the sound that he heard. I suppose that it can be said that the essay is also about how we over look some sounds, and don't even notice them. He also seems to say that not many people take the time to just stop and listen to our surroundings. Sometimes we should just sit still and enjoy the silence.
3. How are the ideas or arguments in this article relevant to your own practice as a media artist?
As I wrote before, I like how he was able to put sounds and images in my head. I also like how he was able to isolate specific sounds out of many different sounds in a city. All of these things make me want to provide my listener with a rateable and enjoyable experience. I will attempt to bring various sounds from a city, into one drift.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Soundwalk Follow-up
* Were you able to find places and spaces where you could really listen?
Yes. We went a few quiet spots, when we were in these areas it was very easy to distinguish between sounds.
* Was it possible to move without making a sound?
I wasn't able to because I had to keep up with everyone else. If I were moving at my own pace, I think it would have been possible to move without making any outside sounds.
* What happened when you plugged your ears, and then unplugged them?
Once they were plugged it was very difficult to hear quiet sounds, they were almost gone. Everything that was loud was very muffled. I could only hear cars passing by, and people walking very close to me. Once I unplugged them it was like a rush of sounds all coming at once.
* In your sound log exercise, what types of sounds were you able to hear? List them.
I heard a lot of different sounds. I heard sounds coming from buildings, like air vents, doors opening, and different rumbling sounds. I also heard a large variety of sounds coming from cars. I heard cars starting, bad exhausts, bad springs, tires going over bumps, brakes, car doors opening/closing, music coming from cars. I heard the most from other people, I heard them talk, walk, sing, and different sounds that they would cause; like the sound of metal hitting a bike lock, someone riding a skateboard.
* Were you able to differentiate between sounds that had a recognizable source and those sounds you could not place?
Not always, in these cases I would just jot down the sounds.
* Human sounds? Mechanical sounds? Natural sounds?
Most of the sounds were either caused by human, or came directly from them. Mechanical sounds could be heard inside the union, and outside of buildings. Natural sounds were a little harder to hear, because it was usually something quiet.
* Were you able to detect subtleties in the everpresent drone?
Not always, it usually fell into the background.
* Extremely close sounds? Sounds coming from very far away?
The wind was almost always present in my hears, as well as the more obvious things like footsteps, people talking, and pages being turned by me or my classmates. I heard cars from far away, and also some close sounds began to drift away.
* What kinds of wind effects were you able to detect (for example, the leaves of trees don't make sounds until they are activated by the wind)?
The wind was always in my ear when we walked outside, and it was also heard very clearly when we were around trees. I also heard it mess around with notebook paper.
* Were you able to intervene in the urban landscape and create your own sounds by knocking on a resonant piece of metal, activating wind chimes, etc.?
No, I did not. I did however hear a lot of people hit metal objects with other hard objects that made resonating metal sounds.
* Do you feel you have a new understanding or appreciation of the sounds of our contemporary landscape/cityscape?
I definitely do feel that I have a slightly better understanding. I never really stopped to hear all of the sounds that are around me.
* How do you think your soundwalk experience will affect your practice as a media artist, if at all?
It helps me to distinguish sounds, and try to isolate them. Now I try to pay attention to different sounds everywhere I go, and I am surprised at the things I hear sometimes.
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