Chapter 15 Slides

Here are the slides for Chapter 15.

Fall Break continued...

I was just able to post this video to Youtube. It's Wyatt in action, chatting up a storm.

Fall Break

I went home to New Hampshire for Fall Break last weekend, sadly missing class. I found some great Sights, Sounds, and Motion on my trip.

 This is my cousin's dog Milo. He's the man. As you can tell he just caught a ferocious stuffed teddy bear and is biting down on the jugular.

 The one, the only, my nephew Wyatt. Mean muggin.

 New Hampshire at its finest. This is my backyard. Its a great field, however it's covered in poison ivy. 4.2 acres of beautiful nature.

Sorry JR. I had to post this. At the Nashua Garden I found this sign. 

This was on my drive back down to Baltimore. It was cloudy and gross all day, then when I hit the Maryland border the skies parted. 

Midterm

SIGHTS

This is a picture I snaked from Genna's blog. It is from the Red Panda's Chapter 9 presentation. My favorite part of this picture is the lighting. The glow of the projector and computer screens adds a really cool blueish tint. Also the backlight is very strong and adds more composition to the photo. Katherine and I are intently looking at the computer screens while Genna and John chill in the back. We had a killer presentation and this is the picture to prove it.

Now this is a great picture, taken by yours truly. Class had just been dismissed and we were all taking pictures and videos outside. It was Thursday and basically the weekend and everyone was just happy to be there. The sun was shining and it was a beautiful fall day. James has his arms outstretched, ready to take on the world with open arms. I really like the sunspot on the car in the background, it helps show just how nice it was that day. Also the line of the curb cuts across the middle of the photo which adds a little more depth.

Another picture I stole from a fellow Red Panda, Kate. This is a great example of how a still picture can show motion. Dan and Doc Chris are breaking it down on a beautiful sunny day. I really like how their facing the opposite way which helps create some balance. Also the shot is framed really well and doesn't cut off any important subjects. Another aspect I like is the fact that Dan's shadow flows into Doc Chris then continues onto Doc Chris' shadow. The two and their shadows kind of look like a W. W for Winning.

Another one I robbed from Katie. There's a lot of Red Pandas in the picture so I had to choose it. Doc Chris lookin' fly behind me as I'm surrounded by Dan, James, and Genna. I like how the rest of the class in the background so it adds depth; Dan looks huge in the front while the NoNamers are fairly small in the back. We were in the shade but it was sunny out, so the lighting is pretty close to perfect. I also enjoy how James, Genna, and I are facing the same way, then the door is the background which separates Dan who's facing the opposite direction.

SOUNDS & MOTION

A crazy little thing called Sight Sound and Motion. Doc Chris and Dan here breaking it down. What you hear in the video is the singing and snapping of fingers. It's beautiful outside and the birds are chirping. I make a small cameo but quickly back out of the frame. The Doc and Dan have some really nice dance moves, and the camera zooms out a little as the action progresses. Everyone was just happy to be outside and this is proof.

The Red Pandas group reflection last week. James and I had to make sure his car didn't get towed on N. Charles so we were absent in this video. John does a great job of recapping that week's class and reflecting. Dan's still going ham with the snapping as you can hear it through most of the video. Mairead did a great job of filming and making to have the sun to her side as to not film directly into the sun. Kate and Genna are looking sharp and you can hear Doc Chris somewhere in the background.

EXTRA CREDIT

1. Are you glad you took this class and please explain why you are glad and not because I am a wonderful person? No sucking up!

Yes of course I am glad I took Sight Sound and Motion. As I am a senior Communications major, I've taken almost every Comm. class Loyola has to offer. With so many different classes it's easy to forget your roots. Sight Sound and Motion allows me to brush up on everything I've learned in this major. It brings everything back to basics and solidifies the my base knowledge of the Communications field. 

2. What did you learn that you did not know before coming into this class?

What can you do that you could not do before taking this class?

Before this class I had never blogged before. Now that we have to update our blog weekly, it only augments the learning experience. We now each have our own personal timeline of what we've learned in class and we can update and read it whenever we want. It shows us how we've evolved as a class. Also, I didn't know anything about Google+. It is an awesome social network that can be used for leisure, entertainment, education. It really is a wondrous tool.

3. Evaluate your group's performance, your own personal growth in this course and please give your opinion on the direction of this class.

My love for the Red Pandas will forever be undying. Our group is great, everyone does their part. Everyone is all about "edutainment". I really like how we're almost done with the textbook. Every group has done a great job of presenting their chapters. I'm excited to see what we can do as a class once we're done with the book. I'm sure Doc Chris has some surprises up his sleeve. A class music video project or some other type of way to get all of the groups together on one epic project would be pretty awesome.

4. Finally, you must evaluate me. Be fair but be truthful. Have I been helpful, did I listen to concerns that you had, have I tried to work with you through individual and group situations? Do you like the way the class has been conducted? Do you understand the purpose of putting people on trial? Here is hint, it is not to embarrass you.


Doc Chris has been the "edutainer" of the year. Not only does he keep the class on our toes, but also makes sure we're grounded in learning and taking away important lessons from each task. He's a human textbook and really knows the field of Communications. The trials are a great learning experience. To be put in the spotlight in front of your peers is a daunting and intimidating task, but Judge Dr. Chris is their to guide you along. 

Motion at the Tailgate

Here are some vids from the Ravens tailgate. Sadly this Jets fan couldn't inspire his team to victory with this really short alright kegstand. The Ravens put a whoopin' on the hapless Jets, dominating both sides of the field.



And here we have Judge Doctor Chris himself at the tailgate. We had been there an hour and were losing hope, but sure enough our knight in shining Ravens gear showed up.

Ravens Tailgate

On a cold, dreary Sunday afternoon (October the 3rd) a few Red Pandas and some other members of our class ventured forth to the frozen tundra that was the Ravens tailgate before their Sunday night matchup with the N.Y. Jets.

Considering it was a night game and we were there at 2 in the afternoon, only the most dedicated fans had started tailgating. They were pretty legit with portable TVs and a great smelling grill.

 Ah, Lot O. A little birdie told us that we could park in Lot O for free... well, maybe not. Upon our arrival we were asked for a cool $40 to park in an empty lot... welp, cya later. We found a nice spot on a side lot that we could post up for a while. A strange man was coming around asking us for $40 to park there, so we boogied on out real quick.

 Ah yes, my artistic photo of the day. I have no idea why this kid was posting up on a backhoe, but he was...just chilling, minding his own business.

A true Ravens mobile. I was pretty sure this was Doc Chris' car when I first saw it, and if it's not I say we start a fundraiser right now to get him behind the wheel.

Overall the tailgate was pretty legit. I wish we could have gone later in the day, but alas JR had to get back for the Yankees (yuck) game. I will post the video later of a rowdy Jets fan doing a kegstand for us. A+ investigative journalism.

Chapter 9 Outline

 The Three-dimensional Field: Depth and Volume

The Z-axis
 i.      Describes a point located away from the frontal plane
 ii.      How far an object seems to be from the camera
 iii.      Illusory third dimension – depth – is the most flexible dimension in film and video
 iv.      Originates from the screen and goes backward from the camera lens to the horizon

1.                                                              v.      Screen width: x-axis
2.                                                            vi.      Screen height: y-axis
3.                                                          vii.      Screen depth: z-axis, appears to be infinite
4.                                                        viii.      Stereovision or hologram projection : z-axis extends not only to the horizon but also to the viewer
5.                                                            ix.      We judge the perceived distance relative to ourselves and not to the screen

1. Graphic Depth Factors
   1.                                                                i.      The farther away an object is, the smaller it appears and the higher it seems to be in the picture field
   2.                                                              ii.      Objects in the foreground are more clearly defined than those in the background
   3.                                                            iii.      Light and shadows create volume, the presence of the third dimension
   4.                                                            iv.      Five Graphic Depth Factors
      1. Overlapping Planes: the most direct graphic depth view
         1. The object covering the other object must be in front of it
         2. Relative Size: can guess a size or know how large an object is by contextual clues, such as other object
            1. Can tell how far object is by relative size of screen image
            2. Larger object appears closer; Smaller object is farther
         3. Height in Plane: if there are no contradictory distance clues, you will perceive objects to be more distant depending on how they are on the screen until they reach the horizon
            1. Not always reliable
         4. Linear Perspective: among the most powerful and convincing graphic depth factors
            1. Parallel lines can merge in the distance
            2. b.       All lines converge and disappear at the vanishing point
            3. Horizon Line: straight forward, parallel to ground
         5. Aerial Perspective: see objects that are close to us, some more sharply than those farther away
            1. This difference in foreground and background is especially pronounced in fog
               1.                                                                                                                                        i.      Colors lose density and become less saturated
2. Depth Characteristics of Lenses
   1.                                                                i.      Optical characteristics of lenses can greatly enhance or hinder the illusion of a third dimension on the video or movie screen
   2.                                                              ii.      Lens choice is important in achieving the certain “feel” of a screen event
   3.                                                            iii.      Overlapping Planes
      1. Wide-Angle Lens
         1. Overlapping planes are reduced in prominence, but are not eliminated with the wide-angle lens
         2. Narrow-Angle Lens
            1. Overlapping planes are a major depth cue because the lens enlarges the background objects where things look crowded
            2. Foreground and background images look similar in size
   4.                                                            iv.      Relative Size
      1. Wide-Angle Lens
         1. Wide-angle lens greatly exaggerates relative size
         2. Objects that lie close to the camera appear relatively large, while objects on the z-axis that are only a short distance behind the close object appear dramatically smaller
         3. Narrow-Angle Lens
            1. Two objects seem much closer to each other because the narrow-angle lens enlarges the background
   5.                                                              v.      Linear Perspective
      1. Wide-Angle Lens
         1. Accelerates the convergence of parallel lines and the z-axis appears elongated
         2. Narrow-Angle Lens
            1. Inhibits the convergence of parallel lines and thus reduces the illusion of depth through linear perspective
            2. Squeezes space and makes objects appear narrower and closer together than they actually are
   6.                                                            vi.      Aerial Perspective
      1. Manipulating depth of field – the area along the z-axis that appears in focus – can achieve aerial perspective
      2. Using selective focus – focusing on a specific area along the z-axis – can achieve aerial perspective
      3. Wide-Angle Lens
         1. Wide-angle lens generates a great depth of field, de-emphasizing aerial perspective
         2. Most of the articulated z-axis appears in focus
         3. Narrow-Angle Lens
            1. Shallow depth of field, which emphasizes aerial perspective
            2. Once focused on an object in narrow-angle lens, the areas to the foreground and background of the object become out of focus
         4. Selective Focus
            1. Allows you to choose the precise portion of the z-axis that you want to be in focus
         5. Rack Focus
            1. Involves changing the focus from one location on the z-axis to another
            2. Focus on one object until another object comes into focus
            3. Need a relatively shallow depth of field to achieve a rack focus, so a narrow-angle lens is used
3. 3D Stereoscopic Projection
   1.                                                                i.      Stereoscopic projection is strictly illusory and exists only in our minds and is based on a dual-lens view
   2.                                                              ii.      In stereoscopic projection, the articulated z-axis extends through the screen space toward the viewer
   3.                                                            iii.      Achieved through a dual-lens recording system, whereby the lenses are set apart similar to our eyes
      1. To show the two different scenes viewed by the lenses on one screen, one is colored red and the other is cyan
      2. Optical system in the viewer’s brain melds the two images into a single three-dimensional projection
   4.                                                            iv.      Different from traditional, single-lens 3D depth cues, which are contained in the visual representation of a scene from the screen back to the horizon