Final Image

So for my final image I have created this piece of work. Final hand in is tomorrow so I think it's about time it can be shared...

Hopefully it'll be good enough for a good grade. I've been back and forth on this brief so much but I've learnt a great deal about using Photoshop so it's obviously been worth while.

Research: Wafaa Bilal

Wafaa Bilal is an Iraqi born, New York university professor who had a camera implanted in the back of his head... For art.

The camera is set to take an image every single minute of every day for one year. The '3rd I' project was commissioned by Mathaf: Arab museum of modern art in Qatar. The camera will capture images, from him sleeping, walking, working and everything inbetween. The camera is connected to a computer what he carries around in a shoulder bag.

  

This is pretty extreme for something what is done in the name of art, and I for one won't be attempting any sort of imitation!

Development

Afternoon, so just a quick post to show where I'm upto so far, what's been discussed and where I shall be moving with my work in the next couple of weeks before the deadline.

After my last group discussion, I opted to move away from my Vitruvian man image and head more in the direction of the Olympics and more specifically the Paralympics. Having searched online I came across this image of a Canadian ice hockey Paralympic athlete...

After struggling a bit initially to think of where I could go with it, I finally ended up with the following image...

Having designed this image, I've been struggling to find a standpoint to base my work on, I've basically done my work back to front, having designed my image and then based my points around that, instead of basing my image on my points. 

From my latest feedback session, I've been pushed to aim more specifically at a certain part of the body instead of using an image what is just too complicated, less is more and all that. Having gone home and tried a few more images I feel a little more comfortable with the images I've tried, now I just need to work my standpoint and basis out and then craft my work to them standards so that's a post what will be up and coming. 

So until next time, Caio 

Research: Oscar Pistorius

So as I mentioned in my last post, my 'Cyborg' theme has shifted slightly, from the Vitruvian Man to looking into the Paralympics and how athletes might benefit from the technological advancements we see so often these days.

Having done some initial research, I can't say I've found much to show other than Oscar Pistorius.


Pistorius is a South African paralympian who was born without a Fibula bone in either leg. Having both his legs amputated at a very early age, he learnt to master his artificial legs from the off and as he grew up became a very keen sportsman, particularly enjoying rugby and waterpolo in secondary school. 


After shattering his knee in June 2003 whilst playing rugby, he was advised by doctors to take up track running to help with the recovery and rehabilitation and began training under coach Ampie Louw at the Sports Science Institute at the University of Pretoria. 


Over the next year Pistorius took part in various school races and track sessions and in one, went on to beat the Paralympian world record! 


2004 seen Pistorius fitted with a pair of Ossur manufactured Flex-Foot Cheetahs. Shortly after, he headed off to the Athens Paralympics, winning gold in the T44 200 metres, again breaking the world record.

Fact file:


Born: 22 November 1986
Place of Birth: Johannesburg, South Africa
Hometown: Pretoria, South Africa
Amputation Level: Bi-lateral, below the knee
Main Events: 100m, 200m, 400m
Competitive Class: T43/T44
T43: Double below knee amputees and other athletes with impairments that are equivalent to a double below knee amputation
T44: Single below knee amputees and other athletes with impairments that are equivalent to single below knee amputee
Personal Bests:
100m: 10.91 seconds (South Africa, April 2007)
200m: 21.41 seconds (South Africa, March 2010)
400m: 45.07 seconds (Italy, July 2011)
Sponsors: Nike, BT, Oakley, Thierry Mugler

Feedback Session...

Good evening and welcome back.

So Monday, our first group feedback session, and what a session it was! Had a really good chat with the group and my tutor, for me it was one of the best sessions I've had since starting university. Everybody was contributing and engaged, which was good.

My Vitruvian man, a few people had seen it already through posting it on Facebook but those that hadn't seemed to like it and I got some positive feedback. The only area where I ran into trouble with carrying my work on is finding an 'audience'. The work itself is all about a new path of evolution but to whom would I set it to? Then we started talking about the upcoming Olympics and how paralympians might be a good category to work with, perfect timing for this subject eh?

The 'work' I went away and started is coming on pretty well so far, just have to keep playing around with Photoshop and develop what skills I've been learning in my tutorial. At the minute I don't have the work on my computer therefore won't be uploading it so you'll just have to wait! =)

So until I do, be safe...

First attempt

Afternoon.. So when I was given this assignment last week, I got a couple of ideas in my head pretty much instantly. The first one was, being that I'm a photography student, to do like a camera cyborg, lenses for eyes and all that sort of thing but I thought it might a bit too cliche?

So yeah that idea got scrapped. Onto the next one, the Vitruvian man... Ahh now that's more interesting to me. So off to Google images I went and searched for a decent photograph, not drawing, of the Vitruvian man. To my surprise there was very little results, well one actually...

I had found my starting image at least. Next stop was my Photoshop tutorial, I have Photoshop on my computer at home but I have no idea how to use it, seems like an alien world to me! During this first tutorial I started to pick up the basic cut and paste tools and finding my way around. 

So my results, I think it's a pretty decent outcome for my first attempt, going to try a little more tidying up on it but don't want to spend too long on it as I don't feel it can be my final image, we shall see...

As I mentioned, I feel this image is quite strong, well it was my first attempt so I'm pleased with it. To further it I think I might consider going into the studio myself and shooting my very own Vitruvian man and working on it but from todays group discussion, I've got another idea what relates to this, just have to try hone my Photoshop skills and see what results I can come up with. 

Anyhow, that's my work so far, any developments will be up for all to see as soon as I have them! 

Until next time, be safe and don't have nightmares...

Research... Jerry Jalava: USB Finger.

Jerry Jalava is a software developer from Helsinki who had to have half of one his fingers amputated after a motorcycle accident who, after a joke remark from one of the doctors removing his finger, fitted a prosthetic finger with a USB stick embedded into it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acVc6H7wYbA

'When Jerry told doctors what he did for a living, they joked he should have a USB 'finger drive' but that was good enough for him, and he set about making one.

Using a traditional prosthetic finger Jerry has been able to embed a 'USB key'- like the ones used in traditional flash drives- giving hime the worlds only two gigabyte finger.' http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/5005118/Computer-programmer-from-Finland-has-lost-finger-replaced-with-USB-drive.html