The final video.



The original video which I rejected due to worries of it being confusing.

Went along to the art block after creative writing class, and experimented projecting onto water. Instead of using the white fix tray, there was a transparent one, and Rob suggested we used that, sliding a sheet of white paper underneath. I have to admit, that originally my ideas for projecting onto water, weren't that creative. Basically my tick boxes were i) tray of water ii) good angle from projector iii) ripple effect for the scene link. But Rob gave me lots of good ideas, trying things out with canvas and mirrors, and coming up with interesting reflections. After adjusting the focus on the projector, it turns out that the quality of the video is fine. The sound was good, too, so I'm really pleased with how the film's turned out.

Deciding on how the installation was going to be, took a while. I realised that projecting downwards would be almost impossible, unless you have someone stand and hold the projector at that particular downwards angle. In the end, the tray of water sat upon two stands/benches, and we carried on seeing what other ways we could come up with. To be honest, mostly it was Rob whom came up with the variating ideas. I was content with just having the boxes ticked, but when we tried something, and it seemed to look amazing, I was really inspired to try and find the best way to get that ripple effect. There was the idea of projecting from underneath the tray, and Rob put a sheet of photographic (we think?) paper/plastic into the water, to see what effect it'd make. The film came through but it was a bit too dark, and I think there was a strange greenish tinge to it.

So the sheet went, and I got back to projecting onto canvas, only this time, with the projector pointing from under the tray. That way, we could see the ripples in the water with the movie, which was perfect. The only things left I had to adjust, was the positioning of the structure (had to watch out since some people had already marked out where they want everything to be) and the angle of the projection. I kept using blocks of wood to try and get the projector resting at the perfect slot, since one of the problems, was with the grooves in the tray itself. They form a large cross, which cuts up my movie, so I end up losing the impact at key points of the film. I kept trying to position the projector just right, so the footage would be shown closer in, and between the grooves, avoiding the distraction.

After a lot of chair-to-stool swapping, and fumbling with chunks of wood later, I managed to get a good angle. The only thing I regret, is not being able to project the movie bigger, as I feel impact would increase along with the size. I liked the idea of projecting onto the ceiling, but since it's a very uneven surface, the footage would end up really broken up, although, that also created an interesting effect, if not relating very much to my theme. Another experiment I liked, was to simply project the film at an angle against the white wall, creating a long, skewered picture, which seemed rather dramatic, but there'd be no ripple effect, which is too important to ommit.

In the end, I found an unoccupied space and Rob helped to put up a clean, blank board onto which I could project, resting against the wall, with the tray of water infront, and the projector underneath. There was actually one last question, and that was how I was going to create the ripples. Messing around with the water gave the idea of simply flicking droplets onto the surface, though I'd have to watch the projector. Another thought was to 'have a leak', as suggested by Rob, from above, so that there'd be occasional droplets into the tray. I thought about filling up a balloon with water, and pricking it to make that 'leak', but I'm too scared of the thought of it coming undone, and falling down, splashing and getting the projector wet. Wouldn't be wanting that! I picked up that see-through sheet of card/plastic, and just wafted it gently at one end of the tray to create small waves. It looks pretty good like that, I think. And since I'll be standing there, I might as well dabble my fingers in the water at the appropriate times to create alternating ripples. After all, you can't time and control a leak!

After some consideration over the sequence I had put together for the final film, I realised I had to make changes, despite having already burnt copies onto DVD. I had to re-think the actual sequence, since I noticed that combined with the poor quality already, the jumpy scenes will cause too much confusion as to what is going on. And since I want to show how this virtual reality can be an impressive, convincing immitation of nature, and natural emotions, I decided I would have to select two key footages, where there is time given to the viewer to absorb what is actually happening; enabling them to follow a hint of a storyline containing emotions they can relate to more easily. Therefore, I have chosen to feature two parts, evolving around two pairs of important characters; the first pair are the parents of the last, creating a link. I chose not to use any visual editing to join the two sequences, using sound as the key in bridging the relationship. In fact, the whole thing is dependant on the sounds edited, to reinforce emotives. Watching a 3D animation alone may not trigger emotional reactions from the observer, since to them, it may only be a load of polygons. But when it's done well, and combined with an evocative soundtrack, it should create an impact and get more of a reaction. I hope to show my peers at the projection, that digital reality can be just as touching as real life, despite it being an echo of realism.

Okay, now that I've burnt my new film onto DVD, I need to grab lunch, and then squeeze in another experiment with the projection installation at the art block. Last time, we tried projecting onto water in a smallish blue tray, which wasn't very effective, since the test image couldn't show up clearly (probably because it was blue, but Magaret slipped in some white paper though it didn't really help). I spotted a big, white tray in the back where they make prints at the end of class, in which they keep the fix. I asked and so long as I don't break anything, I should be able to borrow it for projecting onto. I think I still want to use a ripple, and that is to link the two scenes, expressing the idea that the parents' lives 'rippled' out, influencing their children's. For the rest of the time, the footage will be on still water, which ties in with the whole idea of a virtual reality, I believe.

Reality is solid, therefore, land. Water is not solid, and yet reflects what is real. Therefore, water can be seen as a metaphor for the virtual world.

To create that ripple, I think I'll put the tray into that trolley on wheels I spotted in the studio..if it's still there, that is.. and just move the trolley by its handle gently. I need to see if the ripple will bounce and carry on, though.. I can't have it distorting what happens! Okay, got to go now or I'll never have the time to test, with creative writing class at 2pm.

"Skies provides viewers with an interactive experience of the environments of nature. Visitors encounter a large dark room containing two video projections of a night sky, one on the floor and one on the back wall. Visitors can walk around the imagery or directly onto it."

I like the game-like element to this installation, and also the many different types of weather captured onto video; weather indoors!


"As the 5 hidden paths are discovered by multiple viewers, the imagery and sound transform according to the specific paths discovered. Depending on which paths are found, the environment projected will be a night sky, day sky, water, land, or a sunny sky.When visitors walk onto the video projection, black paths appear under their feet at specific locations."

I like the idea of all these natural elementals, being captured to project into a manmade environment.

This projection makes it seem like there really is water, and fish..
The enlarged projection of an eye creates a really eerie image, where you feel like you're being watched, and cannot escape its scrutiny. I love how the projection of the moon is not crystal clear, and wavering, creating a dream-like effect.
ii) The use of water screens as medium onto which you project the footage, is really impressive.. but I think for my own installation, I will project into a tray or some such of water, and somehow use movement/vibrations to create gentle ripples now and again.. I wonder if I will be able to time the ripple with the screen changes in the video..but that will be tricky..I have to figure out how I'm going to cause the ripples first. If by hand, I might get in the way of the installation.. Also, I still need to see what the footage will look like in water to start off with, since I know it will be more pixelated and reduced in clarity and quality if it's going to be projected big.. maybe I can get away with having a small projection. I already have a degree of distortion in the filming of the existing video (I literally sat before the video and filmed it with my digital camera since I wanted a 'shaky' feel to it, as if I was there, filming in that particular 'world') so I don't want there to be too much, in case people can't see what is going on completely..

i) After seeing this piece by Michael Pinsky, I am fascinated by the idea of projecting onto water since the surface is always shifting..further giving the projection this illusion that it's very much alive and also swimming like some organic matter. If I could somehow do the same for my video that would be fantastic..though I would have to think about the scale of the surface I'll be projecting onto. Since it's all going to take place in the studio, I doubt I'll be using as much space as a full swimming pool! Though, I've noticed how the resolution of my video put together, isn't really perfect.. it's not as crystal clear as I'd hoped it to be, so I was thinking of projecting it onto a small flat screen..

An example of 'land and water' projections.

Apparently, for this installation, when the image is water, the water ripples under your footsteps, and when it is leaves, your footsteps causes them to scatter. What a fantastic collaboration of projection and..whatever it is that enables that effect..! I'm afraid I don't know enough about that sort of technology.. but I'd love to find out, since it's really interesting..! I like the whole idea of this man-made nature, with the mimicry of water's natural behavior.

This installation by Amy Youngs features a tank containing an artificial landscape, and a projection of motion through the glass. Using a computer interface, the crickets inside "interact" with the projected environment by chirping. Each chirp they make, advances the cricket-eye-view video footage of outdoor scenery.


I am really inspired by the idea of creating a virtual reality for the crickets..

Amazing 3D modeling by the makers of the video game, Final Fantasy series. I am interested by the environments created, which aim to be as realistc as it can be, in terms of looks. What happens, is a different matter. As well as the environments, I'm also quite taken by the rendered figures, which required the process of recording real-time actions from actors in order to have movement, and by how this mimcry of realism expresses emotions and tries to persuade you that it's believable. From the textures on the clothing, to the changing weather designs, I find it amazing how an entire world, which seems so 'solid' and almost real, can be created from scratch using computer software. At this point, my inspiration falls heavily on something that is completely man-made, and yet which attempts to mimic nature.

I have decided that I will be selecting sequences from the video game's FMV footages, and adding sound as well as visual effects which weren't there, in attempt to give it even more realism. I also want to actually film the existing sequences themselves, in order to get that 'shaky hand' effect, as if I was actually there, shooting footage of the virtual world that is created.

An example of the 3D animation of the character 'Selphie', using real life actors, and recording their actions.

An example of the 3D animation of the character 'Zell'.

An example of the 3D animation of the character "Irvine". I will be using this footage as one of the sequences in my film.

Old Light, New Shadows, by Georg Hartung. When I first saw this image, I thought the room had been painted.. but actually, it's a projection of positive and negative pixelslides of the room, from two positions. There's two projectors being used, and "the focus mechanisms of both are slowly and continuously in motion"...what a creepy effect. I wonder how many projectors we'll be able to use to project our film.. Another piece by Hartung. At first I was confused over this projection, trying to work out what's what, but it turns out that the mirror is reflecting the projection of the flame turned upside down onto a picture of a candle. That'd be a good idea, using mirrors and such, to make a confusing installation..

The projection of the flame onto the real candle is such a curious design! I need to think about the environment/setting in which I will project my video..and how it will relate to the meaning I'm trying to get at..

Hartung's projection idea features the showerhead giving out light instead of water! Quite an interesting idea..although I wouldn't be able to do that with a full video, unless I put a piece of paper or something that's cut like holey cheese, infront of the projector. That's if I want a broken-up video.. would be difficult to see what's happening, though..

I just found this Laser Cut piece to be rather quirky and interesting to look at.. reminding me that props can be used with the projection of the video..

Using kinetic energy, the machine can draw a heart on its own. There's something almost 'humble' about a mechanical, emotionless object depicting the symbol of human emotion. I'm really interested in this idea of something man-made, expressing a gesture of something which is natural.

I'm interested in the way we are tricked into thinking there is something there, when the person is really just a projection against the tiles. Though the projection has no solid presence of its own, the atmosphere created, is still a very convincing one.. probably convincingly creepy, at that..!


Another projection into a shower stall. If it wasn't for the excessively luminous lighting, I would have fallen into thinking it was a real person behind the 'curtain' at first glance.


The positioning of the video means you probably shouldn't be afraid to go near it, considering you are the one looming over it. And yet there's still something creepy about this design, which would make me, personally, feel a bit reluctant to advance upon.. It's probably the lack of space, too, making you feel like you have no choice but to go towards that screen. I think a projection that is face-on, would be most comfortable, as opposed to one that makes you strain your neck up or down.


This ghostly projection effect was instantly eye-catching. It seems the colours green and blue, give the impression of the supernatural, despite it also commonly representative of the Earth's sky and seas.


The way projection has been used on this building, makes it seem like something out of this world, with its surreal glow..

What I find most intriguing about Chiharu Shirota's pieces with the wool, is the way it seems to give out this feeling of menace..perhaps anger? With the piano, it's as if the music which it used to be able to play, has turned into this haywire echo of blackness..With the beds, the arrangement gives an atmosphere that is unsettled, and stressed, like a nightmare that has become physical, reaching out with its strands. Eventually, in some pieces, almost the entire scene is filled and suffocated with the wool. I really like how something simple can create such a dramatic image, the way it captures a sense of emission from the objects..and how this 'emission' suggests movement linked to something that is immobile.