Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Production Strategy
For my trek 03 I will pursue the aviary at the zoo. It is an area of the zoo located completely indoors and the area is man-made. There are real trees and plants with animals located here as well as a few waterfalls. This site seems promising because there are a wide variety of possible sounds in this area. Also, since it is indoors there is a good chance there will not be much possibility for wind and other normal "hums" from the city, while still getting sounds from nature.
I will limit my image capturing activities to only things that are vibrating or things that are moving kinetically.
As for audio, I will limit my recording activities to only things that recorded up close and for things that are located in "fake" nature.
I will limit my image capturing activities to only things that are vibrating or things that are moving kinetically.
As for audio, I will limit my recording activities to only things that recorded up close and for things that are located in "fake" nature.
Ten Questions
Ten questions that I would like to propose for further trek pursuing are...
1. Would going to the zoo at night when it is fully dark out create a different audio and visual experience?
2. What things could I capture in this location that are unique to only this place?
3. Is going to the zoo when it is empty or crowded a more interesting experience?
4. What differences can you find when comparing real nature with fake scenery created?
5. What is the one single point you can find at the zoo that offers the widest range of sounds?
6. Can you find a sight at the zoo that seems to be odd or a juxtaposition?
7. Does going at different times of the year with different weather (summer/winter or spring/fall) create a whole different audio and visual experience?
8. If you stood in one single spot one moment and then come back to it an hour later would you encounter similar or completely different sounds?
9. Can you find anything off of the zoo paths (within reason) that offers for an interesting and different experience?
10. Are there any audio or video recordings you can capture while you are being physically engaged (example: playground, train, etc.)?
1. Would going to the zoo at night when it is fully dark out create a different audio and visual experience?
2. What things could I capture in this location that are unique to only this place?
3. Is going to the zoo when it is empty or crowded a more interesting experience?
4. What differences can you find when comparing real nature with fake scenery created?
5. What is the one single point you can find at the zoo that offers the widest range of sounds?
6. Can you find a sight at the zoo that seems to be odd or a juxtaposition?
7. Does going at different times of the year with different weather (summer/winter or spring/fall) create a whole different audio and visual experience?
8. If you stood in one single spot one moment and then come back to it an hour later would you encounter similar or completely different sounds?
9. Can you find anything off of the zoo paths (within reason) that offers for an interesting and different experience?
10. Are there any audio or video recordings you can capture while you are being physically engaged (example: playground, train, etc.)?
Trek Assessment #4
My favorite experience from both of the treks was...
During my second trek the weather kept going from good to bad and bad to good but at this moment it took a turn for the worst. I was right by what they call "monkey island" which is outdoors and it started to rain with harsh winds blowing all over. Even though the weather became so bad it was really calming to observe how the monkeys were interacting, it was as if everything was normal for them. In my experience of being at the zoo and watching television I have never seen monkeys in conditions like that, 30 degree weather with swirling winds sending leaves every direction. It was just really interesting because it felt like it was a juxtaposition. It was like a photo of the monkeys in Africa was cut out from a magazine and placed in a photo of Milwaukee with our weather. I'm sure they get comparable rain and wind where they are from but I like to think that the midwest has its own distant characteristics when it comes to autumn weather.
During my second trek the weather kept going from good to bad and bad to good but at this moment it took a turn for the worst. I was right by what they call "monkey island" which is outdoors and it started to rain with harsh winds blowing all over. Even though the weather became so bad it was really calming to observe how the monkeys were interacting, it was as if everything was normal for them. In my experience of being at the zoo and watching television I have never seen monkeys in conditions like that, 30 degree weather with swirling winds sending leaves every direction. It was just really interesting because it felt like it was a juxtaposition. It was like a photo of the monkeys in Africa was cut out from a magazine and placed in a photo of Milwaukee with our weather. I'm sure they get comparable rain and wind where they are from but I like to think that the midwest has its own distant characteristics when it comes to autumn weather.
Trek Assessment #3
In the following days after my first two treks the three surprises that occurred to me were...
When I got done with my first trek I was really surprised at how freely I walked around with my equipment recording everything I heard. I never once felt self conscious or nervous about what the others around me might be thinking since it's not a typical experience to see someone with headphones holding big fuzzy balls connected to wires (my mics) walking around the zoo. Normally it's just a camera or camcorder that people have with them, but it didn't make me feel embarrassed or nervous at all and it didn't seem that anyone cared either.
On my second trek when I returned to the aviary I was surprised to be accompanied by some ducks this time. They had a few ducks that waddled freely throughout the space and seemed very friendly. Their friendliness allowed me to capture some nice images and ideas that I otherwise was not expecting to experience.
Lastly, while on my second trek I experienced something unexpected and interesting by the polar bears. Because I was on my second trek all I had with me was my digital camera, but I wish I had my audio recording equipment with me as well because there was an interesting sound being created by the polar bear. He was holding onto what looked to be a large, white, plastic floating cube that fully supported his weight allowing him to float and he was continually licking it as if he was cleaning it or trying to clean off his tongue. He did this for a good half hour because I kept coming back to check up on him. The noise of his tongue rubbing up against the surface of the cube sounded very interesting. I'm sure this is a somewhat regular experience, but it felt like a once in a lifetime thing.
When I got done with my first trek I was really surprised at how freely I walked around with my equipment recording everything I heard. I never once felt self conscious or nervous about what the others around me might be thinking since it's not a typical experience to see someone with headphones holding big fuzzy balls connected to wires (my mics) walking around the zoo. Normally it's just a camera or camcorder that people have with them, but it didn't make me feel embarrassed or nervous at all and it didn't seem that anyone cared either.
On my second trek when I returned to the aviary I was surprised to be accompanied by some ducks this time. They had a few ducks that waddled freely throughout the space and seemed very friendly. Their friendliness allowed me to capture some nice images and ideas that I otherwise was not expecting to experience.
Lastly, while on my second trek I experienced something unexpected and interesting by the polar bears. Because I was on my second trek all I had with me was my digital camera, but I wish I had my audio recording equipment with me as well because there was an interesting sound being created by the polar bear. He was holding onto what looked to be a large, white, plastic floating cube that fully supported his weight allowing him to float and he was continually licking it as if he was cleaning it or trying to clean off his tongue. He did this for a good half hour because I kept coming back to check up on him. The noise of his tongue rubbing up against the surface of the cube sounded very interesting. I'm sure this is a somewhat regular experience, but it felt like a once in a lifetime thing.
Trek Assessment #2
While going on my first two treks the two moments that made me feel completely at peace and calm were...
On my first trek when I was making a recording of a playground found at the zoo I really enjoyed just standing there for five minutes with my headphones on completely calm listening to the many layers of sound entering my ears. There were children laughing and yelling, squeaking from a see-saw, random conversations from "zoo-goers" behind me, as well as birds chirping in a nearby tree. It was really interesting to hear all of these aspects blend into one.
Secondly, while on my second trek the whole experience was peaceful because I chose to go to the zoo on a Monday this time. It was a day where the weather was on and off dry and wet, sunny with constant wind blowing. When I got there I realized I was only one of probably twenty people at the zoo. I've never been to the zoo when it was that empty and it was a very interesting and peaceful experience having the entire place to myself it seemed. The animals seemed more calm and friendly as well as I walked around since they didn't have hundreds of people constantly gawking at them. There was even one moment where I stood in front of the orangutan window and we stared at each other for a few minutes until I walked away and even then I noticed his eyes continued to follow me.
On my first trek when I was making a recording of a playground found at the zoo I really enjoyed just standing there for five minutes with my headphones on completely calm listening to the many layers of sound entering my ears. There were children laughing and yelling, squeaking from a see-saw, random conversations from "zoo-goers" behind me, as well as birds chirping in a nearby tree. It was really interesting to hear all of these aspects blend into one.
Secondly, while on my second trek the whole experience was peaceful because I chose to go to the zoo on a Monday this time. It was a day where the weather was on and off dry and wet, sunny with constant wind blowing. When I got there I realized I was only one of probably twenty people at the zoo. I've never been to the zoo when it was that empty and it was a very interesting and peaceful experience having the entire place to myself it seemed. The animals seemed more calm and friendly as well as I walked around since they didn't have hundreds of people constantly gawking at them. There was even one moment where I stood in front of the orangutan window and we stared at each other for a few minutes until I walked away and even then I noticed his eyes continued to follow me.
Trek Assessment #1
When going on my first two treks the things that seemed to bother me and otherwise just be aggravating were...
The fact that on my first trek the zoo ended up being rather crowded since I chose to go on a Saturday. It was the last beautiful weekend before the fall cold weather was arriving so when I was recording most of what I captured had echoes of people talking in the background. This didn't ruin my recordings at all, but I definitely would've desired complete silence in the background for a few of them.
Secondly, while on my first trek doing my recording of the train ride it was aggravating because it was difficult to balance out the volume of the recording. I had the mic sensitivity on high so that I could capture the sound of the train car rattling as it went over the tracks but then when the train whistle blew it caused cracks in my recording. So then when I turned it down to stop any more possible cracks from the whistle, I seemed to have lost the intensity of those rattling train tracks. Maybe if I sat in the last train car furthest away from the steam engine it would've created a better balance.
The fact that on my first trek the zoo ended up being rather crowded since I chose to go on a Saturday. It was the last beautiful weekend before the fall cold weather was arriving so when I was recording most of what I captured had echoes of people talking in the background. This didn't ruin my recordings at all, but I definitely would've desired complete silence in the background for a few of them.
Secondly, while on my first trek doing my recording of the train ride it was aggravating because it was difficult to balance out the volume of the recording. I had the mic sensitivity on high so that I could capture the sound of the train car rattling as it went over the tracks but then when the train whistle blew it caused cracks in my recording. So then when I turned it down to stop any more possible cracks from the whistle, I seemed to have lost the intensity of those rattling train tracks. Maybe if I sat in the last train car furthest away from the steam engine it would've created a better balance.
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