MEDP150 Blog #4

I enjoyed taking this class because I learned array of producing techniques, such as filming, photography, and editing. Learning the rule of thirds gave me a clear perception of the art of photography. Prior to this class, I did not conceptualize photography as a complex profession. I enjoyed working on the in-class activities such as filming and shooting photos around the campus. It broadened my knowledge of filming and photography, especially after listening to the professor’s constructive criticism.

I always held interest for HTML, but believed that it was too obscure. During our portfolio assignments, I learned to use Text Wrangler, and finally understood the various forms of coding. Earlier on, I was clueless when it came to head and body with multiple symbols in the surrounding. I am glad that I took this course as a media studies major because it is helping me progress to the more difficult courses in media productions. I am a fan of filming and I hoped to work on more assignments pertaining to filming, but nonetheless I am content.

The readings and lectures covered a lot of material that was listed on the syllabus and were very helpful. The exams covered everything that was presented in the lectures and readings. I do feel that I am leaving this course with an expanded knowledge in film, media, and new media productions. One thing I will always remember from this course is the Photoshop concepts that I used for many years without knowing the meaning. I always saved my images as a JPEG without knowing what the acronym stood for. Now, my knowledge in Photoshop has finally met standard.

MEDP299 Good & Bad Sites Assignment

GOOD SITES

BAD SITES

MEDP 299 Logo Assignment

1) George W. Bush



2) Barack Obama

3) Michael Bloomberg



Media 150 Stamp Assignment

Media 150 Blog #3

On the cover of the DVD, “Eagle Eye,” there are a couple of events taking place. On the far right side, there is a plane flying in extremely low altitude adjacent to a train. This allows the observers to instantly perceive that the plot of this movie is some-what riveting and suspenseful. The colors of the cover are mostly a moderate saturation of blue and a small amount of yellow. The main characters: Shia LaBeouf and Michelle Monaghan, are pasted on the top and bottom of the cover to emphasize the importance of their roles. Scan lines are layered over the cover, which further identifies the title of this DVD. These lines could determine that the story consists of something related to computer technology. The scan lines, color, and the font has good functionality. The small proportion of yellow could mean that something dramatic is on the verge of occurring. The light of the train is beaming strongly and the yellow light on the bottom left of the cover seems to be some sort of explosion that is making Shia’s character evade the scene.
            The beauty of this design is the color that expresses a feel to the image. The shade of blue is not very vibrant, but it tells the viewers that supernatural things will happen at some point in the movie. There is an interaction between the two characters on the cover, as they both show a glance of fear and apprehension. This cover is giving the idea that hazardous actions are inevitable. Violence and hostility are involved as the audience will be at the edge of their seat. The image was photographically taken successfully as the characters have a fair amount of look space.

Media 150 - Blog #2

            The feature length documentary that I chose is “This Is It.” This documentary is mostly behind-the-scenes footage of Michael Jackson’s illustrious career. It showed a good amount of footage of his vigorous rehearsals in arenas and stadiums. Several camera movements were used, such as panning and zooming. The cameras panned left and right following Michael’s movements, especially his signature move: the moonwalk. When Michael sang his hit song “Thriller,” the cameras zoomed in on his face in an extreme close-up to capture his emotion, which was passionate. These cameras were supported by mostly tripods in a fair distance away from the subject. Some cameras were also handheld in scenes where Michael would perform complex choreography that a cameraman was needed in a closer distance in order to capture the stage in a normal angle. With a tripod, the stage was in a low angle, which allowed the viewers to have a perspective as if they were in the crowd during a live concert.

            The director’s objective was to compile an abundant amount of clips that will allow the viewers to get a clear perspective of the environment. Of course, he wanted to emphasize on Michael, himself, giving him the primary spotlight. The mise-en-scene consisted of many lights (hard and soft), background dancers, and decorations. Therefore, the look and feeling was very professional and hectic. Also, the director longed to portray the film in high definition so the audience can obtain a clearer and more apparent observation. Of course, due to HD, there were 1080 lines of resolution. The same look and feel of the film lingered throughout the entire film staying constant, and I believe the director succeeded.

MEDP 299 Midterm

 

Media 150 blog assignment 1

     It is amazing how much media is used day in and day out. We, a society, are so accustomed to using newly technological devices for our daily needs. The question is: can we survive without media? Can we channel information manually without the assistance of media outlets that are operated professionally? The answer is no, unless our preference is to live the lives that the Amish have.
   
    Media convergence gives us a variety of options like television, newspaper, and Internet. Every morning, I turn the television on and watch the news on local channels for a couple of minutes before reading the newspaper. The stories are all related as they lie in the same field. Thus, people have multiple options of obtaining news which is very convenient in the opinion of many.
    
    In the past couple of years, smart phones such as iPhones and Blackberry’s became trendy to young adults and white collar workers. I have a Blackberry and I use this industrial device to check my e-mail, scores for previous sports games, news, etc. It is very handy for college students like me, who needs to be updated on the latest news bulletins. The massive amount of sources on the Internet targets the society as a whole – to enlighten them with useful data that will enhance their awareness of current events.
    
     Sports and entertainment are my favorite mediums. I acquire information from television, magazines, newspapers, posters, and billboards. It is amazing how I see Kanye West’s face at least five times a day from representations all around New York. Media is a necessity for me as I cannot fully reach my longings without it. How else would I know who won the Yankee game, or when the next Kanye West concert is?

MEDP299 Typography Assignment

Bad Typography

Good Typography

MEDP299 Assignment

MEDP299 silhouettes