Journal Entry # 12

Project #4 in this course asked as to create something that shows a “before” and an “after”. There were several different options given, ranging from a set of photographs, to a GIF animation or video, etc. I decided to do a little bit of all of them in a compound media format. I decided to compiles sequences of animations taken by stop motion photos, and compiling them together to make a video. I had come across a term when searching about camera forums called “CHDK”. As it turns out, it is a hack someone has developed for all Canon brand software cameras (most models). You simply put the hack onto the memory card, and open your camera to advanced features that it is physically capable but was not originally programmed for. Some of these features include motion detection, extra-long exposures, ultra high shutter speeds and stop motion interval shooting. After some experimentation, I got a hang of stop motion shooting and began shooting people walking in the street downtown and compiling a couple of very short clips. Then my camera got stolen, but recently got a new one and decided to try it up again for this project and shot some footage but this time the viewpoint from my car driving. I named this short video “Speed Of Light”. What I am trying to convey in it is this aesthetic beauty of time passing us by. We tend to be afraid when we feel time passes us by very quickly, however we never stop to wonder about the phenomenon and realize some beauty in it. Since we feel we are the ones that are not changing, it is too easy to feel alone and purpose slipping away. I introduce in this video, Kloe, someone close to me, in hopes of changing the feeling a bit. She serves as a concept, to contrast the previous aesthetic of feeling alone as time flies by. She is a reminder in the video, that when you spend time with those who are closest to you, the speed of time can go as fast as light and you will still end up feeling at home (such as the ending of the video suggests).