1. How did you use media technologies in the
construction and research, planning and
evaluation stages?

2. 

The use of media technology was essential throughout this
process. Technological determinism means technology has
control over the extent of our creativity. Arguably meaning
what we create is determined by the technology available to
us thus limiting our creativity.
On the other hand technology can be controlled to do what
we want meaning that creativity is in control. It can be said
that as a person’s creativity grows as their technological skills
grow.

3. I used YouTube to research into different music videos within the Indie
pop genre. YouTube allows a degree of choice which was not once there
as YouTube allows you to search for a specific genre
of music video whereas if I
had to rely on MTV for my
research I would not have
this freedom of choice as
they pick and choose what
genres of music videos
they play. By conducting
my research on YouTube it
allowed be to analyse Indie
pop music videos shot by
shot and by print screening
these shots it allowed me
to compare different
shots from different music videos.

4. By using Adobe Photoshop CS3 I experimented with
different effects I could use to manipulate my images to
make them fit into the genre of Indie pop. I
experimented by testing out the effect: ‘colourising an
image with multiple colours.’ This was an effect I used
later on in the construction of my Digipak.
I learnt how to colourise an image by using the website:
http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photoeffects/colorize/
Below is a video showing how I created and used this
effect later on for my Digipak:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-Y7nYkVqpA
Experimental image

5. After experimenting I used the
social media site Facebook to
gain some feedback on which
effect looked best and which one
suited my genre more. The
development of Media 2.0 has
enabled audiences to become
more active and has allowed me
to communicate with my target
audience easily thus helping me
to create a product suitable for
them.

6. Due to the process of technological convergence I was able
to communicate with the rest of my group easily as we
could set up a group chat which was a lot quicker than
having to message each other individually.
I could also use my mobile to make notes on the move via
the blogger app. This was useful as it allowed me note
down any inspirations or thoughts I had whilst out and
about and allowed me to keep all my ideas in one place.

7. To take photographs for my print production work I used my own
Nikon D50 digital camera. Before taking my photos I changed a few
settings on the camera to get a more professional and better quality
image. By using a DSLR (digital single lens reflex) camera it enabled
me to avoid parallax.
Portrait mode
I turned the flash off in order to diffuse the harshness of the default
burst of light in order to maintain ambience in the environment in
which I was shooting in. For my mid close up shots of the performer I
changed the setting on the mode dial to the portrait mode as it sets a
narrow depth of field – ensuring the subject is the only thing in focus
and is therefore the centre of attention in the shot.
For our music video we managed to borrow a Panasonic HD 1080i
video camera from the media department allowing us to capture
footage in a high quality standard, therefore creating a more
professional product.

8. Adobe Premiere Pro CS5 was essential throughout the
editing process . It allowed us to manipulate footage that
would not necessarily be available to us on other editing
software's such as Windows Movie Maker.
One effect used was the speeding up of
certain clips (fast motion). By manipulating
the duration and speed of footage this
enabled us to get the clips to match with
the pace of the music. Here technology
was in control as all we could do was
speed up the whole clip.
Another effect we made use of was cross
dissolves. We used cross dissolves in the
chorus as they can be used to indicate that
a period of time has passed between two
scenes thus showing another day and more
time has been wasted which is what the
song represents.

9. The Magnetic lasso tool
allowed me to just select a
specific part of the image so
that I could remove it from
its background easily. By
‘feathering’ the selection
whilst removing it from its
background it softens the
edges of the selected image
thus making the edge of the
image less obvious and
sharp.
Also by using the magnetic
lasso tool it allowed me to
just change the colour or put
a filter over the performer to
match the colour scheme.

10. To help me show evidence of my Audience Feedback I used Windows
Movie Maker to edit and create a ‘polished’ video of my target
audience answering some questions about my work.

11. I also used a website called PowToon to present my work whereby I selected
what images and text I wanted to appear when and for how long thus creating
a video presentation.