Cheng Mun's 2208 Journal

The creators of this video really took the skills we have acquired over the past few workshops to a whole new level - scale, repetition, deconstruction, positive and negative space, and perhaps a hint of Dadaism as this piece really violates conventions.

So trippy! The title of this piece, Lose My Mind, is completely and utterly captured in the absurdity of this animation. I love it!

The way certain elements are combined and/or repeated seems to be intentional. Prior to the distortion, the pictures were probably beautifully posed. After, the way they were manipulated suggests the cause of insanity.

For example,

The pressure to attend to important calls, meetings, clients, set priorities, and be at many places at once, are probably causes of stress and thereby insanity for this white-collared worker.

This week, we learnt that harmony and contrast can be achieved through size, shape, direction, orientation, colour, and more.

One point that stood out was how a contrast in size can add to the development of a narrative.


Here, there is a contrast in size between the adult's and baby's feet. By placing them together, the heartwarming image allows us to imagine the growth and future of the young child, and how the infant is occupies such a small physical space (but most likely occupies a huge space in his/her parent's hearts).

When harmony is coupled with contrast, we get unity. One example is repeated patterns. Another ways to achieve unity includes rhythm (repetition of similar or varying elements at a predictable frequency).

Here is one example:
Visual Balance refers to the degree of equilibrium in a composition, determined by the choice and arrangement of elements in relation to each other and the frame. This can be achieved through weight and gravity, or by symmetry and even asymmetry (interesting!).

The samples of movie posters shown during lecture were very interesting. I never noticed these visual principles whenever I come across a movie poster.

A new term introduced was 'radical symmetry', which refers to lines and shapes that are mirrored both vertically and horizontally.


Moving on to scanning patterns, they provide cues for proper viewing sequence and keeps in audience's attention within the frame.

After piecing the images together, I realised the black and white image really dampened the psychedelic aspect I was going for. My initial plan was to make the rectangular frame beside Totoro into a portal of some sort. However, it did not stand out at all.

Subtractive Colour:
"When we mix colors using paint, or through the printing process, we are using the subtractive color method. Subtractive color mixing means that one begins with white and ends with black; as one adds color, the result gets darker and tends to black."
The CMYK color system is the color system used for printing.
Additive Colour: 
"If we are working on a computer, the colors we see on the screen are created with light using the additive color method. Additive color mixing begins with black and ends with white; as more color is added, the result is lighter and tends to white."



The RGB colors are light primaries and colors are created with light.

• The high contrast of complementary colors creates a vibrant look especially when used at full saturation. This color scheme must be managed well so it is not jarring.
• Complementary color schemes are tricky to use in large doses, but work well when you want something to stand out.
• Complementary colors are really bad for text.
• example 

Original Images:

Process: 
For the backdrop, I had duplicated the space section so that it would fit within the circle.

Response:
Initially, I had intended for the image to look like a coffee and a donut on a circular plate. However, The space station still looks like a space station, whereas the donut looks more like a planet. The ferris wheel acts more like a frame or window of some sort. The repetition of the circular shape creates harmony in the final image.

Description:
On a black background, the image looks like a window looking out to space. The final image completely deviates from the three sourced images although the theme of space might remain, largely because of the backdrop used.

Analysis and Interpretation:
Once again (similar to previous tutorial exercises), the background plays a significant role in contextualising and giving meaning to an image.

Evaluation:
Perhaps, to achieve my intended look, I should not have included the space backdrop behind the frame. I also wonder what my final image would turn out to be if it was a black paper cutting instead of a white one.


Digital Experimentation:
Here, I applied a different background in the hopes of making the space station and the donut look more like coffee and donut on a plate. By using a different background, the space element and theme disappears. Although it still does not look, convincingly, like a coffee and donut on a plate. Perhaps, it is due to the scale and composition of the image.