Continuing on from Wildling Video Experimentation 1, Wildling Video Experimentation 2 and Wildling Video Experimentation 3 this post has some further experiments using the drone and the preliminary Wildling costume (in glove form). See The Wildling – Part 4.
Category: Studio Work
Wildling Video Experimentation 3
Further to the experimental videos produced in Wildling Video Experimentation 1 and Wildling Video Experimentation 2 the videos contained in this blog post are derived from a single piece of source video produced using the drone and the preliminary Wilding costume, at the stage where this was gloves instead of a whole costume.
Wildling Video Experimentation 2
Here are the second batch of preliminary experimental videos using the Wildling costume. See Wildling Video Experimentation 1. Focus for theses videos has been experimenting with video effects and the potential for future videos dealing more specifically with the narrative I have in mind.
No Sound. Videos below:
Wildling Video Experimentation 1
Having completed constructing the Wildling, I persuaded my daughter to wear the costume for me to take some preliminary photos and videos ready for me to begin editing. Below are some of the experimental video’s that I have produced so far. See Wildling Video Experimentation 2. Focus for theses videos has been experimenting with video effects and the potential for future videos dealing more specifically with the narrative I have in mind.
Latex and Resin
Thinking further about ways to preserve all the rusty objects and the idea that these had been encased in the mud at the base of the reservoirs for decades I began thinking about ways that we preserve sentimental items. Resin was an obvious choice to me for experimentation.
I began by making two moulds one from a house brick and the other from a cast iron water grid that I had acquired previously.
Once the moulds were made I missed the pouring resin and poured an initial layer into the brick mold before leaving to gellify. At this point I laid my sample rusty object in the Mold and poured the second layer before leaving for 24 hours to cure.
The water grid I simply cast in its own right as I feel this has conceptual meaning if it’s own and if replicated could infer the many households who continue to benefit from the reservoir waters.
Reflection
Some of the latex in the water grid stuck in the resin and has ripped the mold a little.
I could have done with using a wax releasing agent to ensure that the latex did not stick. Also if I’m thinking about replicating this many times a rubber mold would be a better option, possibly silicone.
Overall especially pleased with the effect and see potential with lighting from behind. Definitely would like to create repeated patterns with these.
Experimenting with Poloroids
Fascinated with my Poloroid camera I find the images an interesting way to present something historical that has a relationship with memory. Particularly when thinking about the fading of memories over time and how the Poloroid photographs easily become faded or overexposed depending on the environmental factors when they were taken. This is a method I’m considering to help me connect with archive footage in particular.
For this experiment I used some archive images from the internet and manipulated them using my iPhone. Once printed, I then photographed them with my poloroid camera.
Whilst not important to note for the digitally modified images, it is important that I say the poloroids were taken on a particularly hot day. The film had been in the fridge and the first two images (clearest) were taken straight away, so although the day was hot the film was cold. However I then decided to follow advice and leave the film adapt to room temperature before continuing. What resulted was the remaining images being overexposed, however I liked this effect anyway.
The SX-70 Poloroid camera was a significant influence in the way that photography and art interact. The SX-70 film allowed you to modify and distort the image by scratching into the emulsion. Lucas Samaras was know for his photo transformations created in this manner.
For all the poloroids I used a wooden stick to manipulate the Poloroid ink as the images developed which also gave me some interesting additional effect.
I also then photographed the poloroids with my iPhone and edited them.
Poloroid Emulsion Lift is where you transfer the emulsion from a Poloroid onto another surface, for example paper. These are also called Poloroid Transfers. Using original Poloroid pull apart films which are now discontinued, the only film available for this process now is available from the Impossible project.
Finally I decided to make a photo emulsion experiment with one of the Poloroid photographs.
Reflection
The edited images I photographed with the Poloroid were very dark and I think higher contrast images would be a better source. Getting the camera to focus on the digital images was a challenge in itself. I need more thought in this area. More research is required on how to manipulate Poloroid photographs.
Bibliography
En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Instant camera. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Instant_camera [Accessed 9 May 2019].
En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Lucas Samaras. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lucas_Samaras [Accessed 9 May 2019].
En.wikipedia.org. (2019). Polaroid transfer. [online] Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polaroid_transfer [Accessed 9 May 2019].
PetaPixel. (2019). How to Do an Emulsion Lift to Transfer an Image from Polaroid to Paper. [online] Available at: https://petapixel.com/2017/02/01/emulsion-lift-transfer-image-polaroid-paper/ [Accessed 9 May 2019].
Polaroid Originals UK. (2019). Polaroid Instant Cameras and Film. [online] Available at: https://uk.polaroidoriginals.com/ [Accessed 9 May 2019].
Shoot It With Film. (2019). How To Do Polaroid Transfers & Emulsion Lifts » Shoot It With Film. [online] Available at: https://shootitwithfilm.com/how-to-do-polaroid-transfers/ [Accessed 9 May 2019].
YouTube. (2019). Polaroid transfer / for Mediatos. [online] Available at: https://youtu.be/rEXSelhHHvw [Accessed 9 May 2019].
Sun Photography
Purely experimentation and play. While I was in London I found some Sun Photography paper at the Hayward. Anyway considering my experimentations to date and my considerations on distorting archive footage I decided to see how this might work as part of my project.
Today I experimented with objects and I also intend to experiment with imagery printed on acetate.
Reflection
The Wildling – Part 4
Taking the gloves made in The Wildling – Part 3 out for some experimentation with video and photography and I wanted to see how they hold up in practicality.
I also took the drone out for a spin with my lovely daughter who very kindly offered to be model the gloves for me.
The Wildling – Part 3
And so the making begins – armed with gaffa tape, Kitchen roll and cotton wool I begin by focussing on the gloves planned in The Wildling – Part 1
Wrapping the cotton wool in Kitchen roll and gaffa tape was a surprisingly quick and relaxing process.
Reflection
The Wildling – Part 2
Thinking about this idea of the Wildling and with time to kill on the train I spent my time using digital imagery to process my thoughts a bit and try and visualise more my intentions for the costume I’m about to make. Much excitement as that’s my next step forward.
