Why DSLR?

From day one I knew that I was going to go with a DSLR for my scene assignment. Although I did not get the DSLR of my choice ( Canon 7D being the one I was most interested in) I believe that the Canon 5D will be just as great for my assignment, plus it gives me the opportunity to also work with this camera.

For months I have made numerous plans to finally give in make the big purchase and by my DSLR camera, but I knew that I did not only want to base my decision off of research but also off of getting to actually use the camera. About two weeks ago I checked out the Canon 7D to play around with and instantly fell in love. The next day while working on our group DSLR assignment, I got to test out the Zeiss lens and once again I FELL IN LOVE.  The way that the 7D captured rich color and detail with the Zeiss lens caught my interest immediately, but don't get me wrong the lens is not what made my decision for my love of the DSLR.

These camera's have their pros and their cons also. They ability to create shallow depth of field is something that I enjoy with this camera, I enjoy how this camera has the ability to create a shallow depth of field this is also a plus since photography is also an interest of mine. SIZE the size of the camera compared to other camera's in class is very important, it is very convenient and not as bulky as other cameras that I could have chosen like EX3, JVU HMU 100, SONY HD, etc. I find this to be a wonderful aspect of the camera, the lighter the equipment the easier to carry, move around on set, and makes the production workload easier. The way that the camera has the ability to capture light very well, not all locations (exterior) are able to do this perfectly, but I enjoy the very clear smooth and detailed imagery that camera produces.

At first I was a little upset that I did not get the 7D for my scene assignment, but after much thought I was actually glad that I am using the 5D instead. Although the 7D is much newer, the 5D actually happens to be the better camera (also the more expensive camera also CON). This also helps me get a feel for how I enjoy the 5D compared to the 7D. I can research and research and research on which camera I would rather make my big purchase on, but getting that extra hands on experience and usage of each camera will make the decision A LOT easier for me when I finally make this purchase.

Midterm Reflections-What I've Learned So Far

One of the biggest things that I've gained so far from this class is figuring out what I am more interested in career wise. From the beginning I knew that I wanted to major in something in the TCF Department, but I was never 100% what it was that I exactly wanted to do. 

Taking this classes has opened up my eyes a lot to many aspects of film making. All the little things like pre-production, production, and post-production. There are so many different details, from cameras, lighting, editing, and camera movements, that I have learned from this class. Honestly to be I believe that taking TCF 201 prepares you for this class, but it does not prepare you for all the time and dedication that you have to put into this class. I was worried about taking this class in the summer term, because I was unsure if I would miss something that I could possibly learn in the Fall since there would be more time, but I was wrong. I have learned so much more than I expected from this course and I have enjoyed it.

Going from only using the JVC HMU100 and basic lighting kit to Sony EX3, DSLRs, Kino Lighing and Arri lighting was a big plus for me. Unlike others I never enjoyed working with the JVC, even when I did my first assignments in 201 with the JVC I knew that I wanted to work with something better. Minus a couple of post production problems (which also help me realize that I need to take Intro to Post) I enjoyed doing my portrait assignment with the Sony HDV. I wanted to use something different, the workflow in post was not a big issue for me, and I love the way it captured the natural light compared to the JVC when we did our filter assignments. I also got out of this class that there is so much more to editing than I ever expected, taking the time to transcode video files correctly, to exporting differently.

Another thing is time. This class requires a lot of time and work (minus the recent personal events from these past two weeks that have made me fall behind) I realized that a lot of work and time has to be devoted this class. If you aren't willing to put in at least 95% percent of your time then it isn't the class for. We are expected to do so much and learn so much in a short amount of time that there is no way that anyone could be able to have a full time job, more classes than this, and second part time job.

I  know that there are still parts that I am struggle with especially directing. I am able to picture, create, and know what I want, but unable to communicate that into what I want on screen. I find myself asking for conformation that what I have looks okay or explain what it is that I exactly want. I know that directing will take me time, but I find myself having more interest in the DP side. Lighting scenes correctly and filming is them is what I enjoy the most. I am very confident in my scene lighting skills, I have taught myself what work and what doesn't.

So far I have enjoyed this class, I have learned so much and I feel comfortable with being able to use these skills and hopefully perfect them soon. This class has helped me prepared myself for shooting outside of school. I hope to start working on my own projects in the fall, getting to know other TCF students outside of our class, and having the opportunity to possibly work with them/feel comfotable working with them in the near future.

Lighting

To me natural light is the best light. Being a fan of black and white photography I decided to go with these to two black and white photos that captured nice lighting. I was drawn to the picture above because I like how the harsh light from the window shows little details, like the dust that is being blown from the girls hand. The photo below uses a softer light setting to capture a more meaningful photo. The way that the light forms a silhouette around the girl softly is very pretty.  

 The light in these two natural sunset photos also show a difference with the harsh and soft lighting. Personally I like the casting and harshness of the photo below, it feels more natural, caught in the moment instead of planned like the picture of above.  The sun is the best lighting resource in my opinion, sometimes it can ruin a perfect shot, but if the time is right you are able to capture very beautiful imagery.

TCF 312 Portrait Assignment - Ashley Wise from UA, Telecommunication and Film on Vimeo.

Director: Ashley Wise

DP: Shane Fair 

Portrait Assignment - Clark Hall/Dancers 

Camera Movement.

"The Dolly Shot."
I thought this video showed pretty cool examples of the dolly shot. It is a collection of unique dolly shot techniques that Spike Lee has used in his films. There is one at the 2 minute marker that is actually really cool and "trippy". I like the way that Spike Lee uses the dolly for movement in his films. Watching this made me feel as if I was moving also with the characters in each clip. 

"Jib Shot (The Movie)"

This next example is of a jib shot, it comes from "Jib Shot (The Movie)" which was featured in Campus Movie Fest. Directed by Georgia State Students, I thought that using a jib shot to open their movie was pretty neat.

Tracking Shot

Clip is from Kill Bill. This tracking shot is almost 2 minutes long and captures the shot from all different angles. 

Crane Shot

This crane shot comes from the opening scene in  Orson Welles' 1958 film "A Touch of Evil'. It is recognize as one of the most notable scenes in film history. 

The camera movement in each example was pretty smooth. I liked how the Jib Shot example and crane shot examples are both used to open both films. The Dolly shot video is also neat, the use of different clips from Spike Lee films connect together in a strange way to create a narrative of it's own. 

I decided to do my scene analysis on one of my recent favorite films Crazy Stupid Love starring Steve Carell, Juliane Moore, Ryan Gosling, and Emma Stone.

The first scene I used was the opening scene for the entire film for my first example. This is where character Cal Weaver (Steve Carell) is stunned by his wife Emily's (Juliane Moore) unexpected wish of wanting a divorce

The establishing shot in the film is very different from most movies. It begins with a close up shot of what will happen to be a key item in a couple of scenes. SHOES, FEET. The film begins in a dim lit setting, jumping second by second to different shots of what is happening "underneath the table". The scene image above shows a sense of intimacy romance love.

This next clip then introduces the two main characters of the film. Lighting is still dimly set, but the space in the new shot is not a close up as the first establishing shot. It is now father becoming more of a medium close up shot. Unlike the image above the emotions of what is "underneath the table" is now awkward, stiff, and uncomfortable. 

The camera then pans upward from underneath the table to a medium two shot of Cal and Emily Weaver sitting at dinner table. Still no intimacy, romance, or emotional contact. 

The camera then moves to an over the shoulder close up shot of Cal. The surroundings are slightly blurry focusing more on the subject. The expression on his face seems very bored, but his body language is more relaxed with the way him hand is placed on his face. He makes himself comfortable at the table unlike Emily. 

Using the 180 degree rule the camera then moves to an over the should close up shot of Emily. Her face is framed in the scene, the surroundings are still blurry focusing only on the subject. Different from Cal's relaxed manner Emily is shown unsure, still, and uncomfortable. 

Which then jumps to the next three scenes which are very similar to the three clips above, yet different emotionally. 

The scene then jumps back to the medium two shot of Cal and Emily. Contrary to the very first medium  two shot the two subjects now make contact. Emily states to Cal that she would like a divorce. Causing the camera to go back to an Over the Shoulder Close Up of Cal. His face now appears stunned, his relaxed body is now uptight, stiff, and attentive. 

 The camera then goes to Emily still an Over the Shoulder Shot her face now has very strong emotion. Bother characters are still framed within one another in the Over the Shoulder Shot, the surrounding is still blurred so that the focus pays attention to the faces of each character.

From the two Over the Should shots the camera goes back to the Medium Two Shot of Both Cal and Emily. The title of our film is now framed within the two characters. Cal's hand is no longer propt on his face as it was in the last two Medium Two Shots. He has now given Emily his full attention. 

This entry scene now establishes what to possibly expect from the film.

The second scene I went with connects to introductory scene as it shows Cal moving, leaving his wife and family after Emily asked for a divorce. His emotions are not as stunned as before, he is more stiff, nonchalant, and uncaring. While Emily unlike the first clip has more hurt and emotion in her appearance. 

The tone in this next scene is very mute,cool and "colorless" compared to the warmth introductory scene.

The setting is exterior, there are three emblematic shots. 


The first being the rain drops, there is little lighting cast on the area. 

The next two emblematic sights, then show us the backyard. Which plays as a key location for context/important scenes in the film. The setting is very gloomy compared to the warmth of the introductory scene.

The shot then opens with medium long shot of Cal. This somewhat plays to the rules of third since he is not placed exactly centered in the frame.

The clip then transitions from a medium long shot to a close up shot. His body is still placed to apply to the rule of thirds, since he is shifted more to the right of the frame.

His emotions seem to be empty hurt, eyes shifted more left of the frame.

The scene then goes to a two shot. There is still a close up on Cal, but Emily is now placed in more of a medium long shot.

There is racking of focus in these frames. When the camera shifts from the close up of Cal to the two shot of both Emily and Cal. He goes out of focus with Emily then going in focus in the back. Which then transitions to Cal being back in focus and Emily not being in focus, also creating a more shallow depth.

In the next frame we get more of a close up over the shoulder two shot. There is still a shallow depth with all surroundings and even the half of Cal's face being blurred, while Emily is still scene in focus. Which appears harsher, more rough, compared to the introductory scene.

The camera soon zooms out to medium two shot of both Cal and Emily.

Her profile is more angled (3/4). Although the lighting of the scene is more darker mute, there is still a little beam of light cast on the face of Emily and the shoulder of Cal. 

The scene then cuts back the two profile medium close up. The body language is much different of the two compared to intro scene. Cal and the surroundings are still not strongly in focus due to shallow depth, but his body is more stiff. Shifting farther from Emily, his face nonchalant, compared to the heavy emotion and hurt in Emily's eye. 

 Soon after the scene goes back to a medium two shot of both Emily and Cal. His body position farther, not paying attention to Emily. He stares afar into the distance. 

Both subjects are centered at an angle in the frame. Cal being more center while Emily is more to the right. 

The camera then zooms in closer to Cal's face, the surroundings become out of focus only giving attention to Cal. Who stares downward at the ground. 

In the next frame the camera goes back to two shot, with the focus only on Emily, as she pleads her case to Cal. The emotion is still very strong in both of their eyes, Cal looking more hurt while Emily is more miserable.

The camera then pans out to a medium two shot of both Cal and Emily, her body is now positioned to the side while Cal is full frontal in the frame. Soon after the camera jumps back to the close up two shot with Cal still being out of focus which gives all attention to Emily. 

The camera then reverses to Cal's point of view. He is now exiting himself away from Emily the focus is suddenly fading off of her and being placed only on Cal. This is now an over the shoulder medium close up of both subjects. 

As Cal walks out of the frame the camera then cuts to Emily. She is placed to the right of the the frame, the shot is now a medium close up, there is shallow depth. Soon after the camera brings Cal back in the frame, this is now an over the shoulder medium shot. He is framed between the truck and Emily.

The camera then goes back to Emily still to the right of the frame still a medium close up, the depth is still shallow. Similar and alike to the first medium close up of Emily. The camera then cuts back to Cal, this now a closer medium close up shot. More of his body is cut off, his body is angled more with him shifting right. Still placed in frame with Emily and truck. 

Cal is now framed within a frame in the truck. (With the window being the frame) The shot cuts to a medium long shot. 

The closing of the scene then comes with Cal backing the truck out of the driveway. Emily is placed to the left of the frame in a medium shot. The details of the truck aren't as in focus compared to Emily.

With each still the truck slowly covering Emily.Which is her exit from the scene/frame.

The shot gets tighter and tighter and finally in the closing scene the truck is the only subject that is being shown. With all details being out of focus.  As Cal is moving on to what is possibly the next chapter of his life. 

What I Hope to Achieve. 


From an early age I knew I wanted to make a name for myself. I always dreamed of Hollywood, New York, bright lights, busy streets, the fame. Being an actress only seemed right for me, until I finally got some common sense. You can't have a career of being an actress if you HATE and I mean HATE being in front of the camera. So why not do the next best thing, film making.

I came to Alabama with no intentions of being a film maker. Being in the medical field was the original plan. It only seemed right, I was an athletic trainer in high school, did nursing clinical classes, and had already planned out my future in medicine, then I realized that this career was not for me. 

My interest in film making has always been that, an interest. It always seemed impossible, there was no way that little ole' me could become an award winning director. This was always a hobby for me, something fun, I remember taking my daddy's old JVC camera and creating different movies. God, they were awful, but at the time I was too young to care. Wanting to be a film maker has always been something I've kept to myself. After you see the work of so many young, gifted, and talented students from the University, preteens, and people that do this just for personal enjoyment made this dream seem so ridiculous. I could never be as talented as them is what I told myself, but how could I determine that without trying. This past Spring I finally decided that this major was right for me. My fear of disappointing others with my decision was gone, realizing that I needed to do what felt right for me. 

My hope for taking this class is to learn a lot of different techniques, cameras aspects,  and visual styles. To learn how to express my stories visually, feel comfortable working outside of the class room, all the baby steps to creating a strong DP reel in the future, that could grasp the attentions of others. I plan to take classes to learn every aspect of the film making world, pre-production, production, post production, lighting, sound, and script writing. I want to leave UA knowing that I made a difference through my work.

As for my long term goals I hope to attend film school post graduation to mold hopefully my future talent more. I don't plan to attend a big film school like AFI, NYU, USC, UCLA, or Columbia. I plan to take a different route, hoping to attend Florida State University for graduate school instead. The program has so much to offer that interests me. I will be able learn not only mold my future talent into something amazing, but I would also be able to learn the logistics/business factor of film making which is very important to me. I look more towards doing  independent work, creating my own production business, and maybe even teaching in the future. Once I believe in something I succeed in it,  The possibilities are inevitable.

I'm still VERY NEW to film making. It might even take years until I am able to be proud of what I create. 

The art of visual storytelling has always been very interesting to me. My style of famous Hollywood is gone, I now lean interest towards more independent film styles, short films, festivals and documentaries. I want to be able to use film making to move people emotionally, create stories fiction/non fiction that inspire, produce pieces that I can be proud of. Taking TCF 201 this past term me realize that film making comes so natural to me. I don't even look to this for financial wealth and fame anymore. Now I view it through the eyes of being a role model. The film making industry is still dominated mainly by males. Making me want to be a successful, inspiring, empowering woman in this industry.

Kathyrn Bigelow became the FIRST woman to ever win an Academy Award for Best Director for her 2008 film The Hurt Locker.  She was the fourth woman in history to be nominated for this honor, and only the second American woman to be nominated. Although it should not have taken about 81 years for a woman to win this award I look at it as a major stepping stone for what I can possibly achieve in the future. 

Artistic Expressions: What Visually Inspires Me

Here are a couple of items that inspire me. Although I spent hours searching, I am unable to find the original source for these photos, which I hate. Majority of these come from my Tumblr account. 

My love for photography developed at a very young age. If I wasn't taking photos, then I was studying them, getting ideas, creating stories from hundreds of meaningless stills, staring for hours until my eyes got heavy at different color schemes, lighting, and visual styles. To me photography is all about having a purpose. Being able to move your viewers emotionally, to have meaning, and give life to a single still frame. 

 Black and white is my favorite style of photography.  It is so simple, yet so beautiful. The interpretation of a piece now has much more meaning, emotion, and imagination due to the depletion of color. Which leaves the lighting to play a key role in covering the subtlety of the photo. Causing the light broadcast a more dark feel with the black, absorb the white to create a brighter feel, or focus one the subject.  

With the photo to left there is more light on the subject. The background is much lighter, which makes it easier to cast a soft feel on the dancer. She appears more graceful, elegant, beautiful.

 Unlike the photo above, the light on the dancer to the right displays a darker feel. The background becomes dimmer, casting a shadow below the subject. Opposite of the gracefulness above, subject number two appears stronger. She balances on the tips of both feet, creates a deep arch in her back, and controls every aspect of the photo. She expresses power, strength, and captivates more attention. 

Photo number three is a combination of both empowerment from photo two and the grace of photo one. The background is now lighter, casting light around the subject. Although the lighting is not dim as the photo on the left, the look that is given is dark. Black becomes the main focal point of the photo, the dancer is surrounded by the material of her leotard. Her feet are planted firm to the ground. Although she embraces a sense of grace and strength, she lacks the control of the other two photos.  

The fabric has more power over the subject, she is engulfed by the darkness of the material, which makes the dancer appear weaker. She has no power over the surrounding, which then turns the attention away from the original emotion being expressed in the photo.

  Not only do I find the imagery of ballet stills beautiful, but I also have a strong appreciation for the art of dance. 

I find ballet to be very moving, beautiful, and unique. This is reason why I love dance photography so much. There is such a grace and elegance that can be captured .  

 "A picture is worth a thousand words"

Giving a photograph "life" has always been important to me. The frame should be able to tell a story, whether it is through expressions, depth of field, or colors. 

The photo above caught my attention as soon as I found it. Instantly my eyes became focused on the model in front. This is more of a two shot angle, a shallow depth of field has been created to focus the viewers eye on the model. Her eyes appear chilling, as if she is up to no good. Maybe she is leaving from a conflict from subject number two. He is placed in the back, not to be a key reference, but to symbolize more meaning to the photo. 

The colors are more mute, earthy, which creates more of a cold feeling.

  

I found the warmth of of the earth tones in this photo to be more aesthetically appealing. This shot appears to be at a very wide angle, but it still focuses on the subject. To me I feel as if it is expressing this "small girl" ready to conquer what life has to bring to offer in this big world. 

Photography is not my only source of inspiration. I also enjoy viewing paintings, since I am a painter. Abstract is what I mainly do because it pulls out more of my creativity. I hate that I found this painting on my Tumblr because I would really love to figure out who the artist is behind this. 

I love the abstract portrait that has created a figure of a woman. It is done with lots of texture, bold colors, and heavy painting. 

  

Little Dragon-Twice

This is one of my favorite songs and music video concepts. I'm pretty positive that story has no relation to the actual lyrics, but the use of shadow puppets was very neat. Although the pallet for the background is very light, the story seems darker, chilling. The concept of the video can be interpreted in many different ways.

 

Ten VERY Random Facts About Myself.

1. I have a slight obsession with Spider-Man. 

2. I'm a painter. (Peep the Spider-Man cup, wasn't lying.)

3. I love E-Cards. 

4. I'm a Harry Potter Nerd. 

5. I'm a photographer without a camera at the moment. 

6. I love Dance Photography 

7. I Love Bulldogs 

8. I've always wanted to be a stand up comedian. 

9.I've also dreamed of Tina Fey'ing my way on to SNL. (I've always wanted to write and be a cast member of the show.)

10. I'm a superhero geek.