FINAL Project Draft!!!

I completed my photograph book a little over a week ago. I ended up using a network called photoworks.com. It was a fun project because I got to design all elements of my book. I had a few set backs with shipping dates. I checked ahead of time to see how long orders take to be received upon submitting them to make sure that I would have my book by the due date. The information on the site revealed that orders are to arrive in five business days from submitting an order. When I submitted my order, a date was given for receipt of the book that was more than five business days. Whereas I was expecting the book to come in the mail on December 5th, the projected date for delivery was December 12th. It didn't really make sense. . .so I contacted the company and paid $20 extra to have it shipped as quickly as possible. It is now expected to be delivered on the due date, December 6th. This shouldn't be a problem, but I am nervous since the date projection of the company doesn't appear to be reliable.

I have also decided that the best way to give my presentation is to log into my account and show the class how I made the book on the overhead. This will be more effective than trying to have everyone see my little book while I speak about it.

Progress Report. . .project due date quickly approaching

I am not using the apple web site anymore to create my photo book because apparently you are required to purchase $80 software before you can begin. That was of course in tiny print that didn't stand out until I tried to actually create my book. So, I found an equivalent web site called photoworks.com. This is essentially the same thing. This site lets you create your book by downloading free software. I have been trying to get my book organized for submission this afternoon. It takes 4 to 5 business days to arrive, so I need to submit it by this afternoon in order to receive it by next Thursday. Everything is going as planned so far.

I originally intended to use Photo Shop to alter some of my photos for the project. So far I haven't and I don't think I am going to anymore. The photoworks site allows you to edit pictures, so there is no need for another editing tool.

It is hard to report what I have done because there is no way for me to upload what I have done. I am excited about the final product and I think it is going to be a very interesting book.

Video Games: ALL about communication

Video games have been the driving force behind the development of computer graphics. The more elaborate the graphics of the game, the more engrossed the players tend to become with it. They serve different purposes, from education to entertainment. Many times, video games are designed to parallel education with entertainment. The explosion of video games and development of computer graphics over the last decade has opened a whole new audience to this field. These types of games have become a popular educational outlet for small children (even toddlers).

The world's first networked video game is called Space War, which was popularized in the 1960s. So, video games are not a new phenomenon. They are just a new revolution. Our society has reached the point that some computers can outsmart humans. People are fallible by human error, but computers are programmed by people. The relationship between human intelligence and computers (artificial intelligence) is ironic.

Computer Graphics: What is animation?

Issues related to the technologies of the computer are the most rapidly changing of any media. Our society has moved into an age where any medium less sophisticated than the digital image is unacceptable. This idea of animated photo realism is the beginning of this new age.
I don't keep up with all of the "animated" movies that come out these days. I know more about the traditional animations that I grew up watching. I use quotation marks to leave open the definition for animation. To me, animation is found in the actual image that is viewed. The image of animation that is projected in my mind is of the traditional, hand-drawn cartoon movies (The Little Mermaid, The Lion King, etc.). It saddens me that it appears to be a dying art. Animation in this new age of photo realism lies within the fantasy of the story plot.
There are definitely pros and cons for each side of "animation." Photo realism allows us to create concrete images when appropriate and cartoons allow us to create more romantic images when necessary.

Project Draft. . .

In concluding my project draft, the pictures that I uploaded below to the blog are just a sample of the collection that I have put together. I think they are a good representation of the quality of pictures that will compose my final picture book.

My thoughts on that episode of CSI. . .

I am not one to watch a lot of television, so I might not be the most sophisticated critic in this class. When I do get the chance to see tv I usually opt for the more light-hearted sitcom. Therefore, I do not follow CSI, Law and Order, etc. I will say that I had fun watching the episode of CSI in class and perhaps next time I see it on the preview channel I will tune in to that station. I think one of the reasons that I usually just watch the sitcoms is because I have a child-like attention span. Even though I think the show is interesting, I find myself missing certain details that prove to be important in the conclusion of the show. So, I don't always get everything out of shows that I should.
I paid more attention to the elements of how the show was put together than I did to the actual story of the show (even though they obviously are related). I think that it is hard to develop round characters on a show like this one. The main focus is on the character as a way of finding out about the story as opposed to the development of the character in itself. I think maybe that accounts for all of the close-up camera shots. This close-up shot seems to compensate for the lack of personal investment the viewer has with that character. Another element that stood out was the shiftiness of the camera. It moved around constantly which indicated a sense of unknown. In this show there is a certain amount of mystery until the very end. This shifting compels the viewer to jump into the investigation and try to crack the case.

CSI Las Vegas Notes: The Accused as Entitled

-I don't watch CSI much, but apparently there are distinct differences between the characters on the different shows(New York, Miami, military-NCIS, etc.) as I would imagine
-a lot of close up camera shots-to get personal with the characters
-a lot of shifting in the camera angles
-the shifting seems to convey a sense of the unfamiliar. . .camera never stopped moving
-the camera angles seem to put the viewer into the shoes of the investifators
- we become so invested in the story of investigation that we never get to know the investigators as characters; perhaps the close up shots compensate for this lack of personal knowledge
-showed the character flaws well
-message that says nobody is above the law. . .even movie stars
-the tension was built around commercial breaks
-obstacles-each investigator met some sort of obstacle
-plot follows an N (not M) curve which is interesting for a television show