THE APP USED TO EDIT OUR ELIZABETH CASTLE PICTURES; LIGHTROOM CLASSIC.
In this film we decided to create it black and white. This is so that the film could look more nostalgic and vintage. By creating this vintage look in the images we took at Elizabeth Castle they were able to fit with the aesthetic from the Jersey Archive images we received from Jersey Heritage. Our film was supposed to aim for Tourism attractions which therefore linked to the history of the grounds.
In the images we decided to created a dark atmosphere and vibe to the images, we achieved this decreasing the exposure and decreasing the blacks so we could have a darker mood. However we decided to give the image some dramatic look by contrasting the black and white tones, we further did this by increasing the white and decreasing the darks. Due to this there is a sharper contrast between the tones. To add a more dramatic effect to the images I added a slightly dark vignette around the image, however in order to create a natural aura to the image it was very minimal just enough to create some dimension to the image.
By developing this image in black and white it created a completely different visual look and emotion to the image. Black usually connotes darkness, death, and evil deeds this fits with the image as you are able to see soldiers about to fire from a canon. Which during that era was a deadly weapon that caused many soldiers from the oppositional group a painful death. Furthermore to darken the mood in the image I turned down the exposure to create a more depressed and deepen the mood already in the image. Furthermore I increase the white in order to increased the contrast in the soldiers outfits from the darkened background.
Continuing with the black and white filter I used a similar editing technique and in the image above in order to create a dark serious mood. This is to further support the sincere topic of gun firing, and some of the audience may be affected by this sort action eg post war, or family members in the army. In order to do this I decreased the saturation in order to create a dark mood and a sense of sad and ominous emotion for the viewers.
In this image you can see an establishing shot of the landscape in a hidden bit of the castle. This image was important to keep similar to the remaining images in order to keep the same mood through the film. The only different images that would stand out In the film would be the archival material provided by Jersey Heritage. This shot is one of the most important shots in the film as its shows the landscape and the area in which the movie is taking place, this shot therefore set the scene for the audience and creates an understanding of the environment.
To edit the sound in my film I used Adobe Audition. The class was given a workshop by Sam to demonstrate how to use this application when editing and creating soundscapes for the film. Hannah Fernandes was our audio editor in our group.
THE APP USED TO EDIT OUR ELIZABETH CASTLE SOUNDS; ADOBE AUDIOTION.
Sam, the provider of the workshop, prepared us a folder of sound material that he gathered from the trip to Elizabeth Castle. Majority of the sounds Hannah worked with were taken from this folder, as our film group did not have the equipment to gather our own material. However, Hannah used the audio from one of the videos captured for the canon fire. Using Adobe Audition, she was able to make it louder and clearer so it could be heard in the film.
Hannah used Sam’s materials to create the soundscapes. Using the combination of sound effects, seagulls and the sea, to create an establishing background noise for the film. This was to help establish the setting and surroundings at the beginning of the film. Hannah was able to take other sound effects from this too, for example rifle firings.
This folder included some dialogue clips recorded on the trip. They consist of recordings of demonstrations and other staff character commands. Hannah distributed a selected few of these clips across my film. She did this because the focus of our film was supposed to aim for Tourism attractions which therefore linked to the history of the grounds.
Furthermore Hannah gathered more sound effects from the Media Drive to expand our sound collection for the film. This includes the backing music for the film, called ‘Café del Mar – Terrace Mix 2’. However, the clip weren’t long enough for the entirety of the film. So, using Adobe Audition, she removed parts of the clip that weren’t useful and disliked by the group and duplicated it in order to extend the backing track to fit the film.
THIS IS SHOWN IN THE BELOW SCREENSHOT:
This is Hannah’s folder which was created for all the sound effects that would be used in the film eg: backing music, and Adobe Audition edits Hannah created. This was useful as it allowed our entire sound material to be transferred to the film editor’s computer. This then allows the film editor, Alice, to add in the sound clips to our film as the finishing touches.
This is a review and reflection on my past A level photography studies. Topics included are ones where I believe I showcased my best work.
Anthropocene
The Anthropocene Project
The Anthropocene Project is a multidisciplinary body of work by Edward Burtynsky, Jennifer Baichwal and Nicholas de Pencier, combining fine art photography, film, virtual reality, augmented reality, and scientific research to investigate human influence on the state, dynamic, and future of the Earth. The Anthropocene is an informal geologic chronological term that serves to mark the evidence and extent of human activities that have had a significant global impact on the Earth’s ecosystems.
Rut Blees Luxemberg
Inspired by the work of Rut Blees Luxemburg (born 1967), a German-born British photographer. Her technique is to take photographs at night, mostly exploring the urban landscape. She is a Tutor at the Royal College of Art. In 2020, Luxemburg was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society, Bristol. Her work ranges from large-scale photographic prints, through public art works and operatic mise-en-scène. She mainly photographs at night, using long exposures which allow her to use the ambient light of the city . Her poetic images are recognisable through their contemplative, considered and atmospheric tone.
I believe this project was a success as I was able to produce a series of meaningful images highlighting the excessive use of artificial lighting and its effect on the environment, similar to the objectives of the The Anthropocene Project.
Inspiration
Outcomes
Feminity vs Masculinity
The themes of ‘Feminity and Masculinity’ are a binary opposite – a pair of related terms or concepts that are opposite in meaning.
Masculinities and femininities refer to the social roles, behaviours, and meanings prescribed for men and women in any society at any time. Such normative gender ideologies must be distinguished from biological ‘sex,’ and must be understood to be plural as there is no single definition for all men and all women.
Doug Dubois
Doug DuBois is a photographer and professor at Syracuse University, known for his work that explores family dynamics, community, and the complexities of human relationships. His photographs are striking, often capturing intimate and emotional moments that reveal the depth of human experience.
Doug Dubois often explores themes of identity, masculinity, and family in his photography. In his series “All the Days and Nights,” he focuses on the relationship between a father and son, examining the complex dynamics of masculinity and power within the family structure. Through his images, he challenges traditional notions of masculinity and explores the emotional and psychological impact of societal expectations on men and boys.
Inspiration
Outcomes
Ansel Adams
American landscape photographer and environmentalist Ansel Adams is best renowned for his black-and-white photographs of the American West. In order to ensure that all tonal values are represented in the photos, he co-founded Group f/64, a group of photographers who promoted “pure” photography. This style stressed tight focus and the utilization of the entire tonal range of a shot. Ansel Adams fought for environmental preservation, the establishment of national parks, and the preservation of the power of nature and its beautiful settings via the creation of a lasting legacy.
The Zone System
This zone system was created by Ansel Adams and Fred Archer. They developed this zone system to help photographers control their black and white images. It was also designed to provide structure for determining exposure, which ensured that the photographer could create a properly exposed image each time they took a photo. It was made to put the 11 zones into order of gradient. Each zone represents all of the different tones you would see in a black and white photo.
Inspiration
Outcomes
Mediums
Photography –
Henri Cartier-Bresson
Henri Cartier-Bresson was a French photographer who is considered to be one of the fathers of photojournalism and masters of candid photography. He sought to capture the ‘everyday’ in his photographs and took great interest in recording human activity. He pioneered the genre of street photography, and viewed photography as capturing a decisive moment, which he later wrote a book about. He was influenced by Surrealism and began his career in film working with renowned French director, Jean Renoir as second assistant director. He was born on the 22nd of August, 1908 In Chanteloup-en-Brie, France and passed away on the 3rd of August, 2004 in Céreste, France.
The Decisive Moment
The Decisive Moment is a book by Henri Cartier-Bresson, a French photographer who is credited with pioneering modern photojournalism. The book is a collection of his best-known photographs, accompanied by his thoughts on photography and the creative process. The title refers to the idea that photography captures a single moment in time, and that the photographer’s job is to be in the right place at the right time to capture that moment.
Inspiration
Outcomes
Film –
Chris Marker
Chris Marker was a renowned French filmmaker, writer, and multimedia artist. He is known for his innovative and thought-provoking works, which often explored themes of memory, time, and political and social commentary. Marker’s films, such as “La Jetée” and “Sans Soleil,” pushed the boundaries of traditional filmmaking and incorporated elements of documentary, fiction, and experimental techniques. His use of voiceover narration, montage, and found footage created a unique cinematic language that captivated audiences. Marker’s contributions to the art world continue to inspire and challenge audiences to question the nature of reality and the power of images.
La Jetée
“La Jetée” is a renowned short film directed by Chris Marker. Released in 1962, it is composed almost entirely of still photographs, which creates a unique and mesmerizing visual style. Through its haunting imagery and poetic narration, “La Jetée” explores themes of memory, love, and the fragility of human existence. It has had a profound influence on experimental filmmaking and remains a captivating and thought-provoking cinematic experience. It tells of a post-nuclear was experiment in time travel by using a series of filmed photographs developed as a photomontage of varying pace, with limited narration and sound effects.
The focus is used to direct and prioritise elements in a shot and therefore prioritise certain information. For example, it will determine who the audience should look at (even if we are not listening to them). It may switch our focus (known technically as a pull focus / rack focus / follow focus) between one element and another. Elements may not be people, but could be objects, spaces, shapes or colours, which may represent an idea, theme, belief.
Tracking / Panning / Craning / Tilting / Hand held / Steadicam
Establishing Shot / Long Shot / Medium Shot / Close-up / Big Close-Up / Extreme Close Up
Insert Shot
Continuity editing
Continuity editing can be seen as the opposite of montage editing as the main aim is to create a sense of realism or ‘believability’ known as verisimilitude and has it’s own structure of rules where shots are edited together at particular times or on particular shots. For example:
match on action
eye-line match
graphic match
sound bridge
30′ rule
180′ rule
Mise en scene
Mise en scene plays a huge role in communicating the tone of a story – but what is mise en scene? In classical terms, mise en scene is the arrangement of scenery and stage properties in a play or film. Today, mise en scene is regarded as all of the elements that go into any single shot of a production.
Sound
Moving image depends on sound for much of its’ meaning. It is impossible to overstate how important a role audio plays in the film viewing experience. While it’s perfectly natural to be drawn to the visual side of film making, those striking visuals don’t hold the same weight without strong cinematic sound design to back them up. Whereas a painting is purely visual and a song can be purely aural, cinema combines sight and sound for a unified experience where one bolsters and elevates the other.
What is sound design?
Sound design is how filmmakers flesh out the aural world of a film to enhance the mood, atmosphere, and/or tone. Sound design components include sound effects or SFX sound design, mixing, Foley sound design, dialogue, and music. Sound design is the final and most important element needed to create an immersive experience for the audience.
– Double/multi exposure
What is Multi Exposure?
A ‘multiple exposure’ is a type of photograph that is created by exposing the same frame of film to light more than once. Multiple exposures allow a photographer to superimpose one subject or scene over another on the same frame of a photograph. Think of the classic ghost photograph, often caused by forgetting to wind on an analogue camera between shots thus creating a ghostly multiple exposure image. Multiple exposures can also be created digitally, although this is done during post processing by overlaying multiple photography over each other. A sports sequence photograph can be seen as being another example of a multiple exposure.
Outcomes
– Lighting
Chiaroscuro Lighting
Rembrandt Lighting
Butterfly lighting
Rim Lighting
Aperture
Aperture refers to the opening of a lens diaphragm through which light passes. Photographers can manually control the aperture by switching to ‘A’ or ‘AV’ mode and then changing the f/stops using the dial on their camera It is generally written as numbers such as 1.4, 2, 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11 and 16. The lower the f/stop, the bigger the hole, meaning it lets more light into the picture and it is a larger aperture. The higher the f-number, the smaller the hole, meaning less light is let into the photo and the aperture is lower.
In conclusion I am happy with certain aspects of the film, such as the edited pictures and my role which was the sound design. For future reference I would feel best doing another film project on my own in comparison of working in a group of 3 as I feel like it wasn’t a great representation of all of my creative ideas and aspects that I could’ve explored on my own. Its defiantly a way of presenting my images that I will keep in mind for the future as once I came to terms with it, I did really enjoy producing the sound, but due to me only making one aspect of the film I think that I would struggle in upcoming projects producing the layout. If I could do this project again I would like to include videos to the film and not just still images as I feel that it would help capture the story behind the Castle as a whole while also fitting the dystopian scene and setting that we where trying to represent. Lastly I would of rather of tried to capture more of the history of the castle such as the world wars etc, rather than just focusing on one aspect which was the architecture. I am happy that we got to do this project as its another idea that I can incorporate into my final exam.
These are the final outcomes for the images we will be using in our film. As our film is going to be based off the history of Elizabeth castle and what it was used for in the past, I edited these images into black and white to evoke the moods of nostalgia, sadness and yearning. As well as using black and white to emphasise the storyline of our film, there was not much colour in the images anyway apart from dull beige colours that took over the image; the black and white distracts that for the viewer.
Image analysis
This image was very underexposed when I was choosing which images to edit for final images. I decided to experiment with it, I increased the exposure, brightness and highlights to brighten the image and slightly decreased the shadows so they weren’t as overpowering the image. However, I did increase the contrast a bit to keep the image parted with the light coming from the top of the stairs and the darker, shadowed stairs. Although this image was an experiment i liked the outcome so made it a final image of mine.
I liked this image straight away as the square shaped ‘window’ of the point of view from inside the castle force a focal point of the pier and boat in the background. The window causes kind of a boarder to draw the viewers attention to the scene outside. The camera is focused on the setting outside, it is more exposed and brighter in comparison to the darkness inside the castle. With the context of our film being based around the history of Elizabeth castle, this could represent how lonely soldiers felt while at war, trapped inside a dark place whilst looking out.
Archives are repositories that hold a vast array of records, documents, and materials that provide insights into the past. These materials can include historical documents, photographs, letters, diaries, maps, audio recordings, videos, and so much more. They’re like treasure troves of knowledge, preserving our collective memory and allowing us to understand and appreciate the experiences of those who came before us.
One of the primary purposes of archives is to ensure the preservation and accessibility of these valuable records. Archivists, the guardians of the archives, work tirelessly to organize, catalog, and protect these materials. They use specialized techniques and technologies to ensure the long-term preservation of the documents, preventing them from deteriorating over time. This way, future generations can continue to explore and learn from our history.
Archives play a crucial role in historical research and scholarship. They provide researchers with primary sources, which are original documents or materials created during the time period being studied. These primary sources allow historians to delve deep into the past, uncovering hidden stories, and gaining new perspectives. By examining firsthand accounts and artifacts, historians can piece together a more accurate and nuanced understanding of historical events and the people involved.
But archives aren’t just for historians and researchers. They are also valuable resources for the general public. Archives provide a window into our shared heritage, allowing anyone with an interest in history to connect with the past. Whether you’re tracing your family tree, studying the history of your community, or simply curious about a particular time period, archives offer a wealth of information waiting to be explored.
In addition to their historical significance, archives also serve practical purposes in the present. Government archives, for example, preserve official records that are essential for administrative purposes, legal proceedings, and accountability. They ensure that important information is accessible when needed, contributing to the smooth functioning of society.
Nowadays, archives have expanded beyond physical buildings. With the advent of digital technology, many archives have embraced digitization, making their collections accessible online. This has greatly increased the availability and reach of archival materials, allowing people from all over the world to explore and engage with historical documents without having to physically visit the archives.
This film is a photo film about the occupation of Jersey during World War II. I’ve gathered some archival images and taken my own photos to showcase the history and resilience of the local community. It’s a powerful journey through time, exploring the streets and stories of that era.
We searched through the Jersey Archives Catalogue to find an appropriate poem/ letter from the Second World War because Elizabeth Castle was used in the war. Originally, we weren’t going to use any archival material because we wanted to base our film off factual history, however we decided to make a more cinematic film. We thought including information about the war form a letter would be a more creative and cinematic way of showing how Elizabeth castle was involved in the war.
We chose a letter written from Elina Hellyer, née Teele, to Patricia from her aunt of ‘Rockwood’, Mont Cochon. The letter contains news of the liberation of Jersey, the family and life under the German Occupation. We accessed the letter on the Jersey Heritage website. We are going to include it by placing it over our film, in a low opacity. It will scroll down so the viewer can read it as the film is presented. I am going to get my grandmother to read out part of the letter to add to the film because it will add to the sense of nostalgia, as if Elina Hellyer could be reading out her letter in present time.
Me and 18 other A-Level Art and Photography students went on a trip to Paris to get inspiration for our coursework. We visited galleries, including Musée d’Orsay and Jeu de Paume, and an international photo exposition held annually, called Paris Photo. Besides this, and despite the bad weather, we were also lucky enough to do a number of things, including visiting the Sacre-Coeur, taking a night boat tour of the Seine, and going to the top of the Montparnasse Tower.
