This group project was incredibly difficult due to current circumstances involving COVID-19. By working in a group, we could not meet up to discuss plans or work together in a face to face environment. Due to this, we were unable to share the work load evenly and communication was difficult. We overcame the issue of communication by starting a WhatsApp chat, where we shared photos and videos of what each team mate was doing and working on. We used the chat as our only source of communication and, despite the circumstances, I feel we all did well to achieve the final outcome.

Due to communication being limited, I feel my blog post explaining the process of this project is of lower quality than the rest of my work. I have tried my best to ask teammates questions but it is difficult to grasp everything through messages rather than a conversation, especially since we had to work on different aspects of this brief individually.

Despite all the setbacks, this has been a fun project and I have gained knowledge and understanding of Arduino and coding. I feel that Sam, Millie and I worked effectively together and were able to produce our work to a high standard.

I have enjoyed this brief very much due to the amount I have learnt. I decided to do this brief on my own rather in a group to push myself and learn new skills.

I felt very out of my depth to begin with and working on something so challenging with a deadline panicked me a bit, however, I set myself a plan of what I was going to focus on and complete each week. This helped me plan my time wisely. Due to having no previous experience with the softwares sed in this Brief, the majority of my time was spent watching tutorials and reading articles on Adobe software. This was an incredibly long and draining process however I have learnt a lot from it.

I have experienced a few set backs during the process of creating my video such as struggling to use the software and doubting my abilities, however, I was able to overcome these problems by planning and managing my time. Although not perfect, I am very happy with my final outcomes and feel that I have completed the brief to a high standard. There are a few things I would like to change, such as the videos playing in sequence. I would like to revisit this brief in the future and make new micro stories that make sense on their own, not just when played in sequence.

New skills I have learnt include:

• Time Management
• Problem Solving
• Increased knowledge and skills using Adobe Animate, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe After Effects and Adobe Audition

Overall, I feel that the mugshot brief went well. Despite a few set backs, I think me and my team mate produced a good final outcome. I am happy with the work I have done in all aspects of the brief, including creating an icon, art direction and post production.

I feel that some aspects of the brief could be improved, for example, our Elvis model struggled to portray the iconic character and personality of Elvis. Given more time, to solve to this, I would have suggested finding another model and do a test photoshoot before hand to make sure the outcome of the photoshoot met the requirements. I also would have liked to use more props, however this is where me and my teammate struggled to compromise. This brief has taught me that communication with team mates is very vital in the process of creation and the next time I work in a team, I will express my opinions and thoughts mire clearly.

During this brief, I have learnt many new skills including Acid Etching, Metal work and the use of post production software. These new skills have made me more confident in experimenting outside my comfort zone and I look forward to trying more creative skills with future briefs.

For this brief, we will be working in groups of three and have been asked to create a proposal for an interactive installation to be displayed at the Winter Lights Festival 2021.

– Prototype of your installation (arduino)

– Case study video with the summary of the previous points.

– Technical description (sketches, electronic diagrams, and materials involved)

To sum up: how would you convince the organisers of Winter Lights Festival to invest money in your idea?

The Festival

Our award-winning Winter Lights returns for a sixth year when Canary Wharf will be transformed by over 25 spectacular installations, leaving the dark winter evenings aglow. The spectacle will showcase light art and interactive installations by some of the most innovative artists across the globe working in light art today.

Some favourites have returned alongside pieces never before seen in the UK and some newly commissioned artworks. The exhibition features pieces that can be both admired from afar as well as those which will allow people to get up close and interact with them.

Inspiration from last years festival

Our Views: We think this is good example of an interactive installation. It engages the audience and appeals to all ages. The sensory aspect of touching the foam is exciting and is a texture which the audience won’t be able to resist, almost like bubblewrap. For Children, this installation is particularly exciting as colourful light, and touch are involved.  

Our Views: We have looked at this design as we like the idea of using LED lights in our own installation. We also feel that using spherical shapes will be easy to achieve and to work with.

Our Views: We are fond of using a sensor to trigger movement in the lights, and feel that we would be able to accomplish this using Arduino. Using sound has also appealed to us, giving us the idea to use sensors to trigger both light and sound in our installation. 

Initial Ideas

For our initial ideas, we have decided to work separately to came up with our own individual designs. We will then present our plans to other team mates, making pros and cons about each design, the pull together ideas to create a final design, concept and plan for Arduino.

My Ideas:

From both ideas, I prefer the concept and Arduino of the second. It is more exciting and engaging, however the square shape doesn’t add any excitement. To fix this, I will go with the spherical shape from my first idea, as the curved edges create a feeling of comfort, relaxation and intrigue of what is at the other end. 

Millie’s Ideas:

Sam’s Ideas:

Review on ideas

From doing a pros and cons list, we have decided that spherical/ball shapes will be the best shape to use for our design due to being able to use many materials for our prototype. After talking through all our ideas together, Sam, Millie and I decided to use Sam’s Maestro Idea. We will use spherical shapes ranging in different sizes, around three or four. Each ball will change colour when touched. We also plan to add sound which is activated by a touch sensor.

Concept

For our interactive installation, we have decided to combine the ideas of using sound and colour changes using sensors. Our installation is a bit complex, but we feel it is achievable with he materials and time frame available to us. Sensors will be used to trigger light colour changes by movement. The installation will be a series of individual balls, each ranging in sizes. When the audience touches the balls, the touch sensors will trigger LED lights inside to change colour.

For example, purple would be the default colour and when touched the balls will change colour. The reaction is instant and there is not delay between touching the sensor and the light changing. We also wanted a deep bounce or bass sound to play as the sensor is touched but we were only able to add the MP3 File to the SD card but could not find any code for the Arduino. 

Our installation has been inspired by last years installation SHISH-KA-BUOY BY ANGUS MUIR DESIGN. As previously explained, this installation and design appealed to us due many different affordable material options being available to us, such as LED lights. The spherical shape is fun and easy to achieve and work with.

Arduino and Coding:

 FOR THE ARDUINO WE USED:

• MP3 Sheild
• Touch sensor
• RGB  LED Light
• Arduino Mega 2560
• Polythene spheres 

We couldn’t figure out how to use the MP3 Shield Kit, however we put an MP3 on the SD Card but were unable to add the code. 

ARDUINO CODE:

#define touchpin 25

int redPin= 29;

int greenPin = 31;

int bluePin = 33;     

void setup() {

;

  pinMode(redPin, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(greenPin, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(bluePin, OUTPUT);

  pinMode(touchpin, INPUT); //sets the touch sensor as input

}

void loop() {

  int touchValue = digitalRead(touchpin); //reads the touch sensor signal

  if (touchValue == HIGH){      //if sensor is HIGH

    digitalWrite(greenPin, HIGH);   //LED will turn ON

    digitalWrite(bluePin, HIGH);   //LED will turn ON

    digitalWrite(redPin, LOW);   //LED will turn OFF

    }

  else{       //otherwise

    digitalWrite(redPin,HIGH); //LED is turned ON

    digitalWrite(bluePin,HIGH); //LED is turned ON

    digitalWrite(greenPin,LOW); //LED is turned OFF

  } 

  delay(50);   //delay of 300milliseconds

}

Because it’s RGB, when the touch sensor is in “Low”, it’s doesn’t detect anything. The blue and red light turn on simultaneously to make a purple light. When the touch sensor is high and detects touch, the red light will turn off and the green and blue light will turn on simultaneously to create cyan. 

This shows an example of the colour we want our touch installation to be, for example, purples as the default colour and when touched the balls change colour. The reaction is instant and there is not delay between touching the sensor and the light changing. 

We also wanted a deep bounce or bass sound to play as the sensor is touched but we were only able to add the MP3 File to the SD card but could not find any code for the Arduino. 

ANIMATION OF PROTOTYPE INSTALLATION AND ANIMATED VIDEO OF AUDIENCE INTERACTION:

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VIDEO LINK: 

https://youtu.be/3oxNJwzIa6U

The third and final part of this project is Postproduction. We will improve and retouch our photograph in postproduction.

Contact sheets

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Me and Katie decided to try and create one photograph each and then review them. The purpose of this was to find what worked and what didn’t to then incorporate what the best ideas into the final image.

For my edit, I focused on two different photographs (shown below) and attempted to merge them to create a stronger image.

I chose the first photograph of Ben/FBI agent as it is a very strong image.  I plan on adding merging the two photos together, making Elvis smaller to achieve a clear higher achy in the photo. This layout will hopefully create a sense of belittling Elvis, with the agent looking down on him. I also plan on adding our symbol somewhere in the image and smoke coming from the cigarette. 

Overall, I don’t like the end product, however we purposely did this to see where to go next by highlighting what went wrong and what went right. 

I still feel that both images are strong, but me and Katie have decided that they are only strong photographs on their own, not together. The eye-line of the agent does not match with that of Elvis. To fix this, we would have to put Elvis directly under the agent which we tried, but didn’t like the composition. We also feel that the smoke is too distracting so will attempt to create lighter smoke in our final image. Elvis’ overall look isn’t flamboyant enough and his expression is a little uninteresting, to solve this, we are planning to merge the top lip on Photoshop into Elvis’ iconic curled lip. Now that we have identified what went well and what didn’t, we feel refreshed and have a better idea of our final photograph.

The Final Photograph

For our final image, we chose a different photo from our test image. We felt it was a stronger image due to better composition and our symbol being clearly in view. To begin with, we darkened the right side where the agents are stood, to create an eery feel and atmosphere. By having the agents in the dark, we have created a sense of dissatisfaction to Elvis and some mystery t what is being said between them. We put Elvis in the light as he is the main focus of the image. As planned, we lightened the smoke so it is not distracting. We have morphed and stretched Elvis’ lip to make his overall expression stronger and more iconic.

Overall, I have really enjoyed this brief. It has improved my digital skills and teamwork abilities. I have learn to compromise and put different ideas together while combing my own thoughts with the person I was working with. 

With our final image, I am happy with it, however given more time I would do another photoshoot as we realised when reviewing our photos that most of our compositions and ideas didn’t work as well as we had imagined. While editing, we also came up with some very strong ideas but were unable to apply them with the images we had. I also enjoyed using different skills such as the metal work and acid etching we did for our symbol, which I have never done before. 

The second part of this project is Art Direction. Our photograph will be taken in a studio (not outdoors). We will create an art direction for our photograph and will decide the aesthetics of the lighting, the clothing, the staging, the casting of models, their characterisation, the props. We will also design the composition of the scene, based on the story of arrest. Also, we have to include the icon we have designed somewhere in the scene.

Due to only having a two hour slot for our photoshoot, me and Katie decided it would be best to create a plan on how we want our photograph to look. We have made a list of the most important ideas and things we want to include and portray in our photograph.

• Iconography – Through our research, we have recognised the main iconography of Elvis Presley. These include his unmistakable fashion, more specifically, his glasses, belt, hair and stage costumes.
• The story – Our photograph needs to tell the story behind Elvis’ mugshot, after all, that is the name of our project. 
• Key characters – Elvis and FBI agents will be our only characters. We are looking at using two FBI agents as we feel this would create a better composition than using only one agent. 
• Character expressions and attitudes – Elvis’ character needs to be flamboyant, not only in his style, but his attitude and general demeanour. We want our Elvis to convey a similar expression and attitude as the real “King of Rock and Roll”. Expressions we are thinking of are his iconic dance moves and his well known and recognised curled lip. The FBI agents need to portray a general disgust and rejection to Elvis, perhaps whispering about him or looking down on him. The hierarchy in our photograph will be difficult but very important. We need to make the agents of higher authority while being careful to not over shadow Elvis. 
• Composition – As previously written, the hierarchy in our photograph is very important. To exhume authority we are planning on having our agents stood behind Elvis and perhaps having Elvis laid or sat on the ground and further in front. This layout will hopefully create a sense of belittling Elvis, with the agents looking down on him. By doing this, the photograph will be able to tell the story through imagery.  

Mood boards

Elvis:

Elvis’ character needs to be flamboyant, not only in his style, but his attitude and general demeanour, so we have asked our mutual friend Roland to play this part. We will be purchasing an iconic Elvis costume online to achieve the iconic clothing stye and, of course, Elvis’ iconic hair in the form of a wig.

FBI agents:

We created a mood board to help us envision how we want our agents to look. As previously explained, the FBI agents need to portray a general disgust and rejection to Elvis, perhaps whispering about him or looking down on him. The hierarchy in our photograph will be difficult but very important. We need to make the agents of higher authority while being careful to not over shadow Elvis. The overall look of our agents we be similar to the mood board below. Serious, stern facial expressions are important and they will need to be sharply dressed.

The FBI agents will need to be sharp looking, so will be dressed in suits. We have asked another member from the course, Ben, to play this part and have stuck up flyers around the University asking for volunteers to play the other agent. 

Lighting and composition:

This mood board is to give us an idea of lighting and composition. We aim to keep the agents in black and white, or very saturated to add an eery atmosphere. We want Elvis in colour and to be closer to the camera with the agents in the distance whispering.

Unfortunately, nobody has responded to our posters, so we have asked a friend to model as our second agent. 

Costume

Props:

In terms of props, we don’t feel that anything is necessary apart from our symbol badge. The costume will be the main point of focus within the photograph and due to our planned composition with Elvis close up and the agents in the distance, we feel that using any props will distract from Elvis.