I have really enjoyed this unit. I will probably pursue it further in Semester Two and see what options are open to me in regards to something more extensive. Alas, I’ll probably have to do another blog, but I should continue this thing anyways. We’ll see how we go.

All assignments have been completed and shipped off which is good, very good. It is a big relief to be finished. I might try looking for work or work experience for this next month. So if anyone out there has a job for me, or is able to give me some work experience, I’d be very grateful. I’d be looking for it in the photography or design industry.

I just don’t want to waste the month I have off, I’d like to do something productive rather than staying at home playing Bioshock 24/7.

Anyways, that’s all for this week folks.

As always, stay classy, internets.

liketheashesofflags

I’ll probably learn it in another unit by the time I am finished anyway.

I just constructed my data visualization in Photoshop. I used the MTG symbols for all the different colours as they are very recognizable. The explanation above it is a demonstration of what I think the interface would look like in the finished version, albeit a bit more flashy and stylized. I wanted to use Magic as my source for the data as it is an interest of mine and was easy data to collect. Originally I had planned to do the geo-narrative but I was captivated by the shiny data visualizations Michael showed us in the lecture and the ones I found whilst searching the interspherewebnet.

I think my design is pretty simple, but it conveys the data in a nice concise way, and I do hope that when I can properly use Processing, I’ll recreate it in a more creative medium.

In regards to photography, I ended up going to a gig and taking some shots, but only ended up with like 2 good shots, but I guess one is all you need. I’ll continue trying to edit them today.

Also, my essay is coming along nicely and much more smoothly than first predicted. I will probably knock it down this weekend. (:

Stay classy, internets.

liketheashesofflags

That video was awesome. Thanks Michael.

On a related note, I am so not looking forward to trying to learn how to use processing. Not a fan. But I guess I’ll struggle through it. I have to craft very specific images in it which I expect will be very difficult, as they are weird shapes contained within circles.

But I have a lot of data to draw from. I still haven’t decided what elements of the data to compare. I am thinking colours vs. style.

I also am in the process of figuring out what I am going to shoot for my photography assignment. The theme is the colour of music, and I would really love to take some shots at a local gig, but am worried about asking permission etc etc.

I hope all goes well.

Stay classy, internets.

liketheashesofflags

Basically one person starts with a sentence like: “One day Robert walked to the shops.”

The next person responds with: “Unfortunately, Robert had a piano fall on him.”

The enxt person would respond with: “Fortunately, the piano was only a inch long and was made of jelly.”

And this continues on and on, with each person supplying the appropriate answer.

This game is fantastic for twitter because of the 140 character limit, as it restricts the person to a single sentence.

We discussed possibly names for the site, and decided on “Fortunately, there was Twitter. Unfortunately…”

I think this would be fun a game to play, and it is potentially infinite.

In other news, I am planing to collect data tonight for my data visualization assignment. I am surveying a vast array of magic players on their age, the colours they play, the style they play, how long they’ve been playing and their favourite set that has been released to date. I am unsure how I will represent this data, but I am planning to use magic-related imagery to display the data i collate.

Until next time.

Stay classy, internets.

liketheashesofflags

In my approach to this I was very apprehensive; I have not done any extensive coding before this and it was a daunting task. Originally I had planned to do one page, but I saw that this was not possible and thus my exhibition is spread out over 4 pages. The first page is the transcript of an interview with Fleur, the artist in question. I thought much about how I would format this, and in the end chose to use a drop box style, allowing the user to view the content on a question by question basis. I used a coding website to assist me with this, as is evident in the source. I also included links to the other pages on this page as it represents the homepage of my exhibition. Another feature I included was a header, with the appropriate sub-header underlined for each specific phase. I like this touch as it gives the user a sense of direction; they know where they are.

For page two I did extensive research on the Lightbox Javascript script, going to numerous troubleshooting forums in order to achieve the goal I wanted. I had a lot of issues with this script as I am not versed in js. I decided to exhibit one particular series that I liked of Fleur’s work, the Evolution series. Again I provided links to each other page on this page.

Page three contained Fleur’s writing. I think only including one story is a very limited view of how talented a writer Fleur is, but I think the current story is a wall of text as it is, and that putting another story there would be too full on for the user.

On page four is Fleur’s theatrical efforts. I had planned to embed or at least link to a video of some of her work, but it was not uploaded in time for me to code it in. Perhaps at a later date i will add this in. I used the Lightbox script again to present images of the rehearsal and presentation of Fleur’s piece iexist.com. I also, as in page two, provided instructions for the user to use the Lightbox script if they’re unfamiliar with it.

You can see much more of Fleur’s work on her deviantart page, which I have linked in the interview section.

My pages follow a very linear direction of content, but are also joined in a circular linking method, which each page supplying links to each other page. All the content is centered and in easy to read type. My CSS styling is very simple and modest as this is my first venture into coding, I didn’t want to try anything to complicated due to my lack of experience. The colour scheme is synonymous throughout all pages to give symmetry to my work.

In regards to how my project is different to others in the field, it is very very simple because of my lack of expertise. I have seen online galleries that seem to use over 9000 scripts that all interact with one another to create a Web 2.0 Flash filled experience that is a graphical smorgasbord of coding genius.

Thanks for your time.

I have also finished my Triptych! Which is fantastic. I took the photos today.

I am gradually continuing to code my website. I have finished two pages of it. Just a few finishing touches on her writing and theatre work and I am finished!

Hooray!

I got to take photographs of gummy bears today, and then eat them. That was fun. I even made it so the bears looked like they were driving cars. I may take this idea further by using a lego road setting. (:

My website is also forming, all I need to really do is insert all the pictures and writing. Perhaps even embed a video. Hmmm.

IMP is very difficult to comprehend though. D: This triptych thing is pissing me off. I don’t really know how to represent it. I may even use fucking gummy bears cause I damn well can. Oh well. I suppose I’ll figure it out.

Magic-wise I am currently playing a RWU Land Destruction deck that is very fun. I use Spreading Seas and Convincing Mirage to basically obliterate my opponents mana.

So all is well for the most part. Driving lesson tomorrow though. Dx

Stay classy, internets.

liketheashesofflags

This is ridiculous. I still need to edit my photo. FML. In other news, I get to go to Brand New in two weeks! Which is quite exciting. I still ahve all these deck ideas buzzing around in my head which is frustrating because I don’t have the time or cards/money to build them. rawr.

I am quite stressed. I hope this website will be okay. Hmmm. This is difficult. D:

Anyways…

Stay classy, internets.

liketheashesofflags

Another blog post, another piece of alliteration. Any who, last weekend was a fun one. My friend Erin came down from Sydney to visit, and I hung out with her and Kiah, which also caused me to leave my bag, along with over $1000 worth of magic cards on a bus. Cause I am smart. But I got it back so all is well. I ate delicious corn at the Canberra Show. It was tautologically delicious.

My lectures have been very informative and I am thoroughly enjoying university. My current Contemporary Photographic Design (which will be hereby referred to as CPD from now on) project is to take a portrait of someone, something that I need to accomplish soon. My Introduction to Media Production (also known as IMP) task this week to take a photo of “I am here where are you”. This should be interesting. I will need to borrow a camera again methinks. Ah well. Expect to see me strolling about searching for something cool.

I have started work on my Networked Media Production (NMP) assignment, and have elected to do an online exhibition of an artist I know through deviantart and her work. She is beautiful and exceedingly talented and dabbles in many forms of art. You can see her works at http://halohid.deviantart.com/

I do have to decide how I will present her work, whether through a blog or actually building a website. I am hesitant to do the latter because of my limited coding knowledge, but I want to talk to my lecturer about what is actually expected of us in this regard. I would prefer to do a standalone site if I could to be honest, as I think it would better display this amazing woman’s work.

I attended a guest lecture for my Introduction to Creative Writing (Yes, it’s acronym time again folks! ICW) today, with accomplished and published author Margo Lanagan. It was a very enjoyable lecture and she spoke about her creative process in regards to one of her novels, Tender Morsels, which I intend to procure a copy of from somewhere. It was very informative, and something she said actually inspired a fantastic idea for a novel, short story or script. I hope to eventually translate this idea into physical form. Perhaps after this university business is done. I expect it’ll take me a year or more. ICW is an interesting course, and one that I am approaching with a sense of dread and excitement. I hope I can break my usual routine of failing dismally at writing and submit something substantial and decent.

Well that’s all for this week folks. (:

Stay classy, internets.

liketheashesofflags

Firstly, I had a magic thing on Friday, which started at four and ended at about 4, which was is Lanyon, a long fucking way from where I live. So after the mammoth trek home, we had purchased a box between us and were ready to start our constructed tournament and draft. This all went down well with me winning the constructed with an aggressive mono black build starring 2x Vampire Lacerator as well as one Nighthawk and a Guul Draaz Specter. With a lot of lands.

The draft came down to a tie between Jacob and I as we only had four people to draft with. I was using an a strong mono white weenie build starring 3x Steppe Lynx, and even one Fetchland as well as four Kor Hookmasters. We broke the tie through a game of mental magic and ultimately Jacob came out victorious.

Luke and Chris then went to bed and Jacob and I stayed all fucking night building our decks for the $5k qualifier the next morning. On very little sleep (meaning like, a 20 minute nap) I managed to pull together a WUr control build with 3x Jace, the Mindsculptor. Our journey back to Lanyon was not uneventful as a drunk girl decided to talk mainly to me the whole trip. I didn’t get her name, but now she has my phone number and I am kind of worried. Ah well.

We arrived at Lanyon and had a pretty all right tournament, (I went 2-2). After arriving home I crashed completely, going to bed at about 9pm. I had to wake up very early the next morning as I was attending the 2010 Soundwave music festival.

That was amazing. I saw a lot of bands I really wanted to see. But it was the most poorly organised festival I’ve been too. They ran out of fucking water for god’s sake! And in the middle of the day! The traffic was horrible, i had to walk with my friend from the Great Western highway or some shit. It was ridiculous. Stage One and Two ended up being forty minutes late. The venue is an awful one. It may be big, but that does not make it better. I didn’t even make it past Stage Three all day because I just couldn’t be fucked going all the way to Stage Six only to have to trek back to Stage one. Fuck that.

I got to see Sunny Day Real Estate and they were AMAZING. So good. (: Taking Back Sunday were very good also, but the mosh was fair intense. Alexisonfire were fantastic, and we ended up having a double circle pit at one point which was freakin’ cool. the next band I saw was Placebo, although I did listen to Paramore a little. Placebo were good and although I’m not a massive fan, they did play a few songs I know and enjoyed. A.F.I. were next and they were fucking sweet. Davey Havok dances fucking weird, but also very cool. But the best band of the day had to be Jimmy eat World. Such a fuckign fan. Great set, great band, really good crowd. I finished the night by sitting next to burger joint listening to HIM play because I was so fucking wrecked.

BUT HERE IS A HOT TRIP FOR YOU GUYS:

NEVER, EVER, EVER, EVER GIVE YOUR WALLET TO YOUR FRIEND TO MIND WHILE YOU MOSH. EVER. SRSLY.

I made that mistake. It was shit. Although it saved me about eighty bucks, still not fucking worth it.

Anyway, all in all, it was a pretty fucking sick weekend. Music, magic and madness eh? Fuck yeah. But next year I’m going to Melbourne. Without a doubt. Fuck you Eastern Creek Raceway. Fuck you.

Stay classy, internets.

liketheashesofflags