Final

Click here for the video

http://www.cse.ohio-state.edu/~hollt/autumn2011/classes/ae252/

My big idea for this project was “infinity.” Before beginning the project, I decided that showing images of space or the universe would be a great way to show that, from my perspective, space is infinite. My first idea was to create a video rather than three images.

I gained experience with making videos back in high school, so it was fun to have a reason to go and make a video again. I put a decent amount of time into the project, but I wasn’t able to render it properly. The main problem was that part of the video had a rotating earth that I made from a flat image, but no matter what output settings I used, the video always had the flat image rather than the sphere that the earth was supposed to be.

Since the video seemed to be impossible, I decided to make static images instead. I made two pictures of different aspects of space; one is similar to our solar system, while the other is a little more abstract and theoretical.

I was also able to make a video of a rotating earth, but without the other things that I had originally wanted to include in the first project design.

Even after the initial trouble, I am pretty happy with how the final project turned out. I think all the images help to show my big idea:

- Rotating earth: a continuous rotation

- Solar system: Didn’t really represent infinity by itself, but it serves as a sample of the infinitely many images that I could have made

- Space shuttle: shows a space shuttle slowly moving through various objects in space (Also includes the “0.999…”)

Overall, one of the most fascinating parts of the project for me was that there were infinitely many images I could have made.

Final - Thought Process

For the final project, I'm thinking about using "Time" as my "big idea." I'm considering using space (and objects in space, e.g., planets, comets, stars, etc.) as a way to show time. I think the best way to do the project would be making a video as opposed to making three separate images. A video could also create a type of narrative, albeit not a traditional "story," since time will be passing as the video plays.

The denotations would simply be space and the objects that are there. The connotation could be that space is timeless and infinite.

A preliminary idea that I'm thinking of is a video that starts off as a black screen, with space (with some distant stars) fading in, and then the "camera" will begin moving and events will start happening (planets, stars, comets, etc. will start appearing). The video could end with the aforementioned events coming to an end, and then fading out to black - ending the same way it began.

MP5 - Identity at Play

Click here to see the image for MP5.

For MP5, my action words were "to chip" and "to rotate." I decided to use "to rotate," and I created an animated .gif image to shop my laptop rotating. As I've mentioned in previous blog posts, my laptop is really important to me for a variety of reasons, which is why I chose it for this project as well. Initially, I had no idea how I was going to use "chip" or "rotate," but eventually I got the idea of making an animation to make it look like the laptop was rotating around an axis.

Without a better camera and tripod (and with a lack of a green screen), I wasn't able to make each image perfectly line up with the others, so the animation doesn't rotate around a completely stationary axis.

MP4 - Identity and Objects

For MP4, I decided to make myself sort of "emerging" from Mirror Lake (in a semi-liquid form). I also decided to give myself the power of being able to "shoot water." I didn't really have any specific reasons for choosing this power or location. I wanted to be "shooting" something, and I was mainly between water and fire. I ended up choosing water, and Mirror Lake seemed like a good location because I wanted to be standing in the water (see the below paragraph for the explanation of this).

Overall, I'm pretty happy with how the final image turned out. The rain isn't quite as good as I wanted it, and it may have been a better idea to use a darker gradient on myself rather than the bright-ish blue. I think that I edited the sky really well (it used to be a blue sky, but I wanted to make it a stormy sky). When I took the picture, I didn't get my lower legs/feet, so I think I did a pretty good job making it convincing that I am standing in the water (the left leg looks more convincing to me though).

MP3 - Identity and Objects

I chose Mirror Lake as my location, and my laptop as the main object. The reason I chose Mirror Lake is that it was one of the first locations that I saw when I came to Ohio State on a tour several years ago. I've also attended the "Mirror Lake Jump" the past two years with friends (I haven't jumped in yet though; it looks too cold. Maybe this year I'll try it...). I chose the laptop because it's been a really important object in my life over the past few years, especially this quarter, because I'm taking several programming and computer science classes.

I didn't really have any "deep meaning" when I made the image of the laptop sinking into the water, so I would like viewers to form their own meaning when they look at the pictures.

I feel that the 10 objects that I selected and organized into one final image help to show my identity in several ways. The Java book, calculator, and bookbag show that I am a math and computer science student. The Rubik's cube and phone show that I enjoy talking and being around friends, while the bed and iPod represent me relaxing and just passing time on my own sometimes.

This image does not show my complete identity, however. Since OSU is pretty far from home, I had to choose objects that were available in my apartment, and some objects that I would have chosen are at home. So the image only shows my identity here at college, and doesn't include my "home identity."

Identity and Selections

Here is a list of 10 of my favorite/most important objects:

• Laptop - I chose my laptop for a couple reasons. One reason is that it is one of my most valuable possessions (monetary wise). Another reason is that my laptop is essential to getting school work done, especially since I'm a computer science student.


• Essential tool


• Java book - My Java book is a great reference tool for classes (pun intended!). One of my classes this quarter uses Java, so I've been using this book quite a bit lately to learn new techniques.


• Learning


• iPod touch - My iPod has a variety of uses. I really enjoy using it to listen to music, play games, and check email. It's also a decent way to watch movies on long car rides.


• Passing time


• Phone - Until I get an iPhone (which, hopefully, will be soon), I have to use this phone. Fortunately, It can also function as a camera which is definitely useful at times, e.g., AE252.


• Communication


• Calculator - I've had this calculator since high school, and I use it in the majority of my classes. It has been an invaluable tool in the past, and I'm sure it will continue to be so in the future.


• Math & Science


• Subway gift card - Subway is one of my favorite fast food places, and I eat there far too often. This month is "Anytober," which means that all the footlong subs are $5.


• Yummy!


• Bed - One of my favorite objects to see after a difficult day. It also reminds my of the clever maneuvering required to get it into my apartment, which is on the third floor of the building.


• Relaxing


• Bookbag - A useful tool to carry stuff around. I've had this bookbag for several years now, and it fits my needs perfectly.


• Convenient


• Rubik's cube - In my freshman year, my roommate taught me how to solve a Rubik's cube. We didn't know each other before college, so him teaching me was a great way to spend time together to get to know each other better.


• Friendship


• Shoes - I really enjoy running because it helps reduce stress and lets me forget about any problems I might be having at the time. Whenever I buy new running shoes, I have to choose the shoes very carefully. When running, I tend to over-pronate, so most shoes will cause my ankles to hurt after a while.


• Free