Storytelling

Images and Interpretation. It is quite interesting how a single photograph can have several meanings depending on the person viewing it. The pictures belong to Raul Dienord whom I meet whilst on vacation in the Dominican Republic. This project gives you a glimpse into his life through several images.

http://www.yourbrandisyourimage.com/story/final/contact.php

The Responses from my Final Project.

Catherine: A family photograph at a celebratory meal

Ashley: A coca cola add from the 80’s

Marco: It seems this photo was a photo rescued from a disaster, perhaps an earthquake or a fire.

Chris: I love coca-cola. babies, not so much. they can get expensive, but then you can kinda see the world through their eyes, have a new perspective on things. it’s cool when you have a bunch all at once too, cuz then they got company, they got lil bros and sissies to play with. i’ve always liked film cameras, in fact my dude stephen gill does this stuff where he takes pictures of things, then puts flowers over the pictures, then takes pictures of them again. it sounds lame/complex, but it’s pretty awesome, you should check out his stuff.

Jason: Someone’s old family photo at a birthday or family event.  Some kind of water damage…

Duane: The photo is an image of a family gathering most likely a birthday party. It is extremely old and judging by it’s condition the image has been kept in an album for a number of years. This suggests that whoever possessed the album was related to someone in the photo and held on to it as a memento. It’s an old family picture, I think one of the kids owns this picture and he probably keeps it as a memory of the woman int he middle, his mother.

Marianne: It’s an old photograph and it looks like a photograph of a family party of some kind, or before some sort or big meal.  Typically photographs like that are taken before a celebration of some kind, but, in this case everyone looks so serious. They are all staring straight into the camera but without the hint of a smile on their face.  I wonder why they all seem so stern. It doesn’t seem celebratory at all — if it were someone’s birthday or a holiday, someone would be smiling.  I wonder if it is a serious event.  I wonder who is behind the camera that they are staring at.

Oscar: Whos is the only one who looks happy in the picture. The only person that looks happy is the woman in the middle, so even though at first I thought that this was a happy moment like a birthday party, on second thought it might be something entirely different.

Jelani
I am SO happy.
My brother is here.
And my sister.
And my other sister.
And even though I had to hurt them
it was only a little.
And all that matters is
they’re here now.
And if they’re a little frightened, that’s ok too.
Because we all remember what they did to me.
And why I had to spend 25 years in prison.
And why, now I’m 35 and look like i’m 50 and they’re all alive and well and have 3 offspring of their own and they’re all so fucking healthy and have well adjusted jobs and families that LOVE THEM and CARS and MONEY and all the things that I CAN NEVER HAVE BECAUSE THEY LET ME GO TO PRISON AND LIED ABOUT WHAT THEY DID AND PUT IT ON ME AND NOW I CAN NEVER GET A GOOD JOB OR LIVE NEAR SMALL CHILDREN OR OWN A PET OR GET A GOOD WIFE OR EVEN LOOK IN A FUCKING MIRROR WITHOUT WANTING TO SHOOT MYSELF!
But they’re here now.
And that’s what matters.
It’s my birthday.
Happy birthday to me…

EJ: A moment of our family party… it was my mom’s 42th birthday.. this is the last picture we took with whole family members..and this is the only family photo I have.. it’s been a long time I haven’t met them….miss them a lot..

Jonathan: This photo means a lot to its owner, since it looks really old, like something out of a family album. Since it is yellowed and frayed at the edges, its been through a lot, which makes the image of the whole family together more important to the owner.

Vic: Family portrait at some family event

Jacqueline: Family at a celebration, maybe a birthday party. Interesting that no one is smiling, but each person’s eye tells a story. Even though they stand stoic, they seem like a loving family, simple, clean.

Jorge: Seems like a family gathering.  there’s at least two pies.  of course, there’s not a single smile to be seen. and the kid in the pink shirt is being held onto like he’s a flight risk.  so maybe not.

Fiona: This photo looks like some sort of family event (birthday, etc) since there seems to be alot of food and drink. The family is gathered together for a picture.

Chris: The dude posing for the picture has like zero appreciation for jesus. he has the best style out of all the kids tho.

Ashley: A wedding image of the brides family and friends

Catherine: A funeral, in a church

Marco: It means a souvenir from a wedding or first communion.

Bernard: Seems like a random photo taken at Church.

Jason: Church or graduation ceremony… or school assembly

Jonathan: This photo is all about bringing multiple families together as a community, as opposed to the other with a single family.

Jelani: Yes boy, dat is your mummy. A jus manage to catch she. She…
Him? Maaaan. Watch me an’ him! Ah tell yuh,
ah gun give he wan jumbee lash crass he neck. Ah gun mek he feel it.
Dis convasashun done.

Vic: Sunday church. somewhere.

Duane: This is a photo of what appears to be a church service or graduation ceremony.

Oscar: Funeral or a very serious church gathering

Jacqueline: Funeral.

Jorge: The guy who’s got his hand over his heart has forgotten his necktie and is very embarrassed about it, so he’s trying to cover up as best he can.

Fiona: Looks likea funeral or church service of some kind

Chris: whoa i wish i had a monkey. my elementary school was up in the mountains, and there were neighbors with pet monkeys and iguanas and animals like that. i like the fact that dude rocks his pet monkey to school, like what, i cant bring a capuchin in here? that’s big.

if i had a monkey on my back during college i would definitely have gotten more play. i think.

Ashley: A high schooler’s first day of “coolness”

Catherine: En route to school

Jason: Post card of a Dominican kid with a monkey on his shoulder… sorry Im literal
Marianne: He’s dressed with a white shirt and slacks and notebooks. It almost looks like a collegial or school uniform, except he has a name tag clipped to his collar. He also appears to have some kind of dog tags around his neck.  Did he serve in the military? There is a monkey on his shoulder.    This is odd.  Why a monkey? Who is the monkey? Is it his pet? did it hop on his shoulder? Is he a tourist posing for a photo with a monkey?Vic: is that you Dan? U look cute! Is that pipi longstocking’ s monkey??

EJ Lee: high school graduation day?

Bernard: First day of school or work for someone formally in the military. Probably somewhere out of the country.

Duane: The image appears to be a postcard or souvenir from a trip.

Jonathan: This photo is a placemarker in time for a young man; he looks to be going to school, and working. Someone must have been proud for taking the photo

Jelani:
Yea.
Look at me.
I’m daaamn sexy. I am.
Look at this smile.
You don’t. E-ven. Know.
Mmm.
I’m so delicious.
Tasty even.
LOOK AT THIS HAIRCUT.
You could butter bread with it.
Mm.
I think me and well toned arms are going to go round back for some… quality ME time.

Marianne: A young man sits before a fountain.  It is unclera if it is a contemporary fountain — like the kind found in a modern hotel, or an historic fountain — like the kind found in a town square or plaza.

Jacqueline: Photo at school or college campus.

Jorge: hmmm.  not sure.  but he’s wearing dogtags which makes it seems like he’s in the military, but he’s also wearing a white polo, khakis and a name tag that makes it seem like he’s a tour guide or something.  so maybe the dogtags belong to someone else.  i’m guessing the monkey does, too.

Fiona: This person is going to work or school. Maybe works at a zoo or a park

Here is what the images actually mean.

Final Project Idea Round 3 : )

Final Project Idea Round 2 : )

After meeting with my professor I decided to used a single image with a single message box for feed back.

http://www.yourbrandisyourimage.com/story/final/contact.php

After finishing my second round there are several problems with it.

1. There are to many pictures 5 in total, so I decided to narrow it down to three.

Final Project Idea Round 1 : )

I did decided to slightly change my final idea, It is based on Images and Perceptions.

http://www.yourbrandisyourimage.com/story/chat/login.php

After finishing my first round there are several problems with it.

1. By being able to view all 3 images at once, each picture changes your perception the other.

Final Project Idea

Final Project Proposals

Jonathan Harris collects stories video on TED inspired me to tell a story using the similar guidelines to tap into people lives for my final.

1. Ask a number of set questions, What would they change in there life ? (Maybe there responses will be limited to six words)

2. Take a series of portraits.

3. Interview them with audio and video.

4. Provide some sort of reward for there contribution to my project.

All 4 steps will take place in NYC and one other location (this is provided that I book a ticket to a tropical destination). The purpose of this project is to get a glimpse into someones life

It’s Hard for me to review Stephen Fry’s work based on a 1 minute and 7 seconds trailer.

Stephen Fry’s “The Dongle of Donald Trefusis” at http://www.stephenfry.com/dongle/

Considering that his audio pieces are on itunes for $1.99 and his general reviews range form brilliant and funny to genus. I can only assume that his work is worth downloading and listening to.

Jonathan Harris collects stories video on TED

Jonathan’s process for investigating a story is quite interesting. He states that there are several parts to a story

1. Stories have characthers

2.Concepts

3.Context and Location

4.Color, Time and Date

5.Excitement level

Based on these notions I plan on tailoring my final project around them.

Midterm

Here is my Digital Story this piece was also used for frame by frame.

Audio Story in Three Parts.

Three reasons why I need to find a new apartment in NYC.

Here is the first of a three part story

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

The Tree Museum A public art project by Katie Holten.

100 trees give voice to 100 perspectives.Irish artist Katie Holten created this project to celebrate the communities and ecosystems along the 100-year-old Grand Concourse. You can listen to the audio guide to hear the boulevard’s stories and the intimate lives of trees as told by current and former residents; from beekeepers to rappers, historians to gardeners, school kids to politicians.

My Visit

It was the first time in 3 years since I have trekked to Bronx’s. There were several Yankee’s and Red Sox’s fans in the area since they were playing at the Yankee’s stadium several blocks away. My experience at the tree museum wasn’t what I expected it to be. Locating the trees proved to be a daunting task, since there were no visible markings on the trees. Secondly at the site there weren’t any tree museum maps in the holder luckily I had my digital camera with me to view the locations of the trees.

The Tree Museum

The Tree Museum Map

http://treemuseum.org/

you can download the Information guide here

Writing a piece of fan fiction about X-Files.

Tonight was the first night I have ever felt ill.  I’ve been doing this for eight years and never have I felt like my stomach was going to explode onto the floor.  This case was the most complicated yet.  Normally the cadaver is an identifiable human dying of natural causes or a typical murder; knife, gun shot, head wound.  Never has a body come to the office in the condition this one did.  Having not been at the crime scene, I am not sure about all the details of the case, but I knew this was not going to be an easy assignment.

I started the autopsy like any other, by first examining the exterior of the body. An overview of the peripheral skin was anything but typical. A significant amount of skin was missing or seemed to have simply decayed. Multiple, deep wounds were visible in what was left of the flesh.  The body seemed to have decomposed drastically, but the time of death suggested that the amount of decomposition was not logically possible.  Most of the skin had putrefied, but the interior organs appeared to still be in working order. This amount of decay might have occurred due to the unexplainable residue found all over the deceased.

Odorless and colorless, the residue was very high in pH and extremely acidic. On no account have I come across this substance before. The consistency reminds me of jelly. I performed multiple tests of the material but none concluded as to the make up of the matter. I handed a sample of the substance to the labs technical chemist to see what their assessment would reveal.After many hours of research, I found other documented cases with a similar residue at the crime scene.  Further investigation must be reviewed before any analysis can be made, but perhaps some of these cases are linked or this is a cult killing.  Most of the crimes have taken place within twenty miles of the crime scene within the last six years.The cause of death appeared at first glance to be from a massive blow to the left side of the cranium, fracturing the skull. The lungs were also filled with the jelly-like substance causing the individual to suffocate.  It was unclear at that time as to which was the cause of death.  The only thing that was clear, that it was a homicide and the killer would kill again unless caught.

The interior of the corpse revealed several ribs were fractured, but later test indicated this occurred after death.  The spinal column was splintered in the lower regions.  Vital organs were ruptured and almost unrecognizable.No information had been collected as to the identity of the John Doe.  The crime was carefully planned, no DNA or finger prints were found at the crime scene.  The only thing with any identification found was a business card inside the chest cavity reading, “Todd Adult: Videos and Novelties”. With no apparent suspect and no leads as to the identity of the victim, this case was added to the pile of unexplainable occurrences.  If any further progress is developed, the department will be notified.  Until then this case remains open and unsolved.

Here is my process to writing a piece of fan fiction.

1)Create characters

2)Using the X-files language.

3) Creating the plot

4) Trying to mimic the tone of X-files.

Your food inspires me to cook.

Throughout my life I have been viewed as “different” in the eyes of my family. I was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago with three other siblings. Trinidad and Tobago is a cluster of islands located off the coast of Venezuela and a third world country of only 1.5 million people. My parents strove to have all of their children be successful, determined and ambitious, allowing us to each explore our own areas of interest upon entering college. As a child I have always been interested in the arts, but my first true exposure to visual art was a summer program I attended at Parson’s summer session 2003. This was a major turning point in my life because the program guided me to understand, interpret and explore the foundations of being an artist. This summer program seemed like a mountain then, but I was able to prove to myself that this was the career path for me. From this strong foundation, I was able to move onto other challenges, and I began my undergraduate studies at Pratt Institute in the fall of 2003.

Being the only artist of my family, it forces me to have to work even harder, to prove to my family that I am just as driven as my successful siblings. I have made the best of all opportunities that have come my way. During my Undergraduate career, I began working for large design firms while still carrying a fulltime load of classes proving that I wanted to get the most out of my educational experience as possible. With these internships and freelance positions, I was given a broader knowledge of the design world. During my senior year, I was selectively chosen out of hundreds of students to display my thesis projects at the Pratt Show. The Pratt Show is an exhibition of work from Pratt students where currently working professionals in the design field are able to view students work upon graduation.

Through graduate school at New York University, I continue to learn, grow and explore as an artist. Having a general knowledge of great design through my undergraduate degree, I continue to learn the new applications and ideas that the Interactive Telecommunication program has to offer. Prior to starting graduate school, I was working full-time at Grey Health Care Group as an art director. Grey Health Care Group is a global pharmaceutical advertising company with 400 plus employees in New York. So far I have been working on new business pitches, advertising campaigns, brochures and flash intro animations. I consider myself to be very fortunate to be working at such an amazing company since there are endless possibilities for me to learn from my co-workers and climb the corporate ladder. Prior to working at Grey Health Care Group I was freelancing at Nautica Enterpirses. Nautica is highly recognizable fashion label where I contributed to the creative in house team and primarily focused on their look books and new business pitches. Through Nautica, I gained more knowledge of the fashion design business. I attempt to learn as much as I can in all aspects of the design world whether it is fashion, heath care, print ads or web design. While these jobs and experiences have allowed me many opportunities, I wish to further my education so I can learn the latest techniques and technologies.

In groups of 4 we had to take a picture in chronological order

to show the fore ground, middle ground and back ground.