Figuring Flixel

It all begins with America's Next Top Model. Watching it every year, seeing who won each cycle became quite a routine for Jamie, mum and I. The routine stopped as soon as Jamie left home. I decided to watch it this year as it was the first cycle to include both genders. While they were getting their photo's taken I noticed the photographer bringing the picture alive via iPad. I was very intrigued at how he produced the photos. When it came the time to exhibit their photoshoots in front of the judges I was amazed by the minimum movements within a still photograph. 

"I want to do that" I instantly said. 

While watching a couple more episodes I noticed a sticker on the back of the iPad, a brand sticker perhaps? 

I typed into google "moving images on America's Next Top Model" which came up with 'Flixel'. I decided to click on the official website of Flixel and within a minute I was exposed to a new way of photography. You can observe the contestants photo's here https://flixel.com/showcase/antm/

While on the website I clicked on 'products' and looked at the price for this application. I first saw Flixel Cinemagraph Pro at the price of £64.33 and thought 'there's no way I could part with that much for an app that I might not even be able to work' on the other hand I thought 'I may as well since it might benefit me with my assessments such as photography'. Just before giving up hope I noticed another version that was one step lower than Cinemagraph Pro called Cinemagraph + at £32.16 which made me a tad bit happier. I downloaded both versions on trial and I honestly couldn't see any difference at all between spending £32.17 more or less. I now had my heart set on buying the Cinemagraph +. Just before pressing 'Buy Now' I noticed below an 'Academic Discount Available'. Of course I clicked it! After clicking on the link it told me it would be 50% off. I was so happy! Only spending £19.00 in total literally made my day. The only thing now was to somehow create these flixels. 

One thing I've learnt about the process of creating art. If it's on your mind, just do it. Don't save it for later because it might never happen.

It was a Friday night around 10:30. I was sat down on my laptop when the idea hut me. I got the ironing board out, went up stairs to collect a white sheet and I started ironing out the creases. I found a tripod in the hall and attached a camera to the base. I then went upstairs with the ironed sheet and pinned it up on the wall of Jamie's unoccupied room. Since it was dark outside and the main light didn't benefit, I placed a lamp in my direction behind the camera to illuminate what was going on within the camera's shoot. I started creating short videos that consisted of myself blinking, moving my hands, using hairdryers/fans to create movement in my hair. By the end of it all it came to 3:30 am. The next day I did the same thing, turned on the camera and made more short videos. I did feel quite limited with what I could achieve at the time but there's a whole world outside I could 'flixel'.

After looking through all the footage of the night before, I decided to create a small video combining the footage to show the preparation of a flixel. 

Flixel Shoot Preparation Video

Out of these small footages of me trying my best to stay still while the camera recorded me I created these flixels. I still have a lot to do and learn but it's a start.

Final Flixels

Chance At Video Editing

On Wednesday after traveling on the bus home I decided to document my journey from the bus to my house via video. In my spare time I love to sit down, relax and watch/catch up on some of my subscriptions on YouTube. One of my favourite things to watch is people's daily vlogs. I love the fact that you're able to have an insight into someone else's life, someone who you've probably never met and lives miles away. It does give me comfort seeing how other people live their life, as weird as it may sound but it makes me think "Oh, I can achieve/do that too if I try!" or "Oh! I can relate to that!".

One of my favourites is The Sacconejolys. I discovered them back in early 2012 and have been hooked ever since. At the time I started watching them they were just married, had two dogs, were living in Cork and were waiting on the arrival of their baby girl Emilia. I have just finished watching their vlog for today and they now live outside London, with their six dogs, six month old baby boy Eduardo and two year old girl Emilia. Through those two years they've never failed to upload a video of their day which amazes me! I love the idea of recording everyday of your life, seeing the subtle changes. It's been amazing seeing the whole of Emilia and Euduardo's life so far, seeing their firsts and just seeing them grow up day by day. Also how their making a living from documenting their life amazes me! 

I remember back in 2012 I commented on one of their videos saying something along the lines of "Your life looks amazing, I wish mine was like yours" (looking back I totally disagree with what I wrote! There's no point wishing for someone else's life!). He then replied with something like "Don't worry, everything is better in the future!" which did give me some sort of hope. I can understand why some people get annoyed at people who expose their life on social media,  when people start thinking 'who cares what they do'. I can say I do agree on that.

I'm starting to go off the topic of this post but it's one of the small reasons why I actually decided to create this video. I've got to admit that in the past I've tried to create videos but I just ended up never uploaded them due to being too scared, so I decided to give it another go. Last night I uploaded the footage and started editing it on Youtube. It was around 3:50 minutes long but since the music was at a specific length I tried to cut it down as much as I could so no parts of the video were hanging off at the end. I love the idea of vlogging but the fact that it attracts attention holding a camera to your face constantly does frighten me a bit, especially when I'm surrounded by people I recognize from places etc. After writing that sentence I've started to think about what Niall told me in the one-to-one meeting yesterday. Him telling me to just do it, whatever you've started doing, you've started it for a reason and obviously because you want to so why dilute it to fit in to be accepted by other people. I just need to have belief in myself with the things I create so without further ado here it is.

Early Thursday Discussions

Art. It's one of the most hardest professions out there, yet I'm still eager to follow the path. Why? not just because of the job's sake but because it's something I truly have a passion for.

Throughout school teachers have planted in my head that "to be successful in art you have to be amazing at drawing, painting, anything art related. The better it replicates the subject, the better it is".

Is this the case? I think not.

 Since starting this course Niall and Siobhan have opened my mind to what I thought impossible possible.

Art confuses me. I'm still unsure how pieces of art can be separated into groups of bad and good. People may look at Picasso's portraits and think "Why is he famous? What's so good about him?" or Matisse's paper cutouts, saying "My kid could do that"..well he didn't. 

I guess a part of it is about the attention it gives the public. If one person talks positive about a certain person or piece it spreads and people like to join in with gossip. The same goes with someone talking bad.

Who decides what category artists are placed into? I scares me that you can't choose. Does it matter what you're labelled as, as long as you stick to what you love doing? 

Jack Vettriano was the subject of the conversation. Most famous for his painting "The Singing Butler". He may be famous for his art but his work isn't accepted into the "art world". Tea towels, coasters, jigsaws and more. He's a part of the art of merchandise. The only place you're able to witness his original paintings is in Glasgow at the Kelvingrove gallery. Vettriano once said

 'The art world is not a lot to do with art; it's to do with money and power and position."

In some cases sadly this is true. Out in the creative world  of music and art, you're able get amazing pieces of work by amazing artists. You're also able to get shit pieces of work by shit artists and somehow both shit and amazing artists are on the same level of income and population! Why is that? Even some amazing artists with amazing pieces of work don't get the recognition they deserve and I find that quite sad. 

Starting my first year of studying art, my tutors told me to keep and open mind and never stop asking questions. I have learnt that anything can be art, even the most pointless pieces can be. They can be that bad that they're good! Which does still utterly confuses me! Who decides who gets pushed out into the open of the public?

Niall said it can be connected to who knows who and I guess that can be the case! if someone who's in the eye of the public has good connections to someone who's involve in displaying art, that could help. Also if you're an artist in the shadows and you've got good connections to artist who's known nationally or internationally, who's got good connections to people who own galleries or buy art, you could have a good chance at making it big. I guess it's all down to chance and who you're 'destined to meet'. I do believe that things work out for the best as long as you try your hardest and since this profession is so unpredictable I try and stick in that frame of mind.

Overall this post is just the small beginning of my curiosity of the art world, this post in no way can sum it all up but I'm deciding to write from my mind.

Thinking about the future of my education and career does frighten me! In high school I only enjoyed doing art as a course but I can honestly say now that I love studying it! I don't feel like I'm at college to do work but to enjoy learning and finding my path way in this never ending subject. I know it won't be easy but as Rosie said "as long as you have fire in your belly". I strongly believe that if you love what you're doing, you never have to work another day in your life and hopefully when I'm older I'll be able to proudly say that!