Today we have tried and tested our ideas in Hotspur House, applying
the projection to a person in white in the warehouse. We wanted to see
if our vision of virtual clothes could actually been made into a
reality.
We
met firstly in the studio to collate all our images and
drawings/samples. When our work was put together it works well within
the patchwork brief and shows the different identities of Manchester.
With these images we made a short video to use for the projection. With
this ready and loaded we took out projection to the warehouse.
With
the projection set up in two different locations, the light was a big
issue. Due to it being bright in a lot of the spaces, the projection
wasn't coming up on the top as well as it could have. The projection
also showed on the wall, it is a problem but it can be over come
relatively easily with the positioning of the camera.
This
short video shows our ideas coming along since our first attempt. We
used a dark corner and filmed from the side to show the projection. We're finding a better location for filming and going to use some models in all white to show our ideas better.
After experimenting with different cameras on my first visit to collect images, I found that I didn't have enough shots that came out well. I have used the same camera again but used a full film and experimented with what it can do. These are a few shots that I think have worked the best.
In my group we have started putting our images together. I find that each style of drawing shows the area they are looking at. Some have used bright colours and other more to tonal work. My drawings are based mainly in quick, charcoal and pencil.
I've focused on buildings and certain sections on them. In Norther Quarter there are many interesting areas on the buildings, as many are very dated and have a 70's feel to them. There are a lot of warehouses and rich brick buildings due to them being built in the industrial revolution and the cotton industry boom. Many of these have weathered well and create rich colours and textures to draw from.
Whilst going around Northern Quarter taking photos and drawing images, I used a rang of cameras. I have taken my first set of photos on a Fujifilm digital camera, these have been useful for drawing purposes. The second set have been taken on a Olympus film camera.
These have come out very different, some are in clear focus, some have been effected by the sun and others have been over laid. The last photo I took was on my Polaroid camera in silver tones. This was a bit over exposed but the outcome is fairly interesting and could make a good print.
My work for this project is based around the Northern Quarter in Manchester. I have been visiting there a lot and looking for inspirational things to inspire my work. A lot of the old architecture and street art has caught my eye. It is a very unique place with a lot of character. There are many small galleries hidden down back streets and tucked under cafes. I have been viewing a lot of Manchester based art and trying to collate a good understanding of what the artists are trying to convey from this place.
Doing research online has also benefited my understanding of this area. I know that the area was a strong point in the industrial revolution, which is clear when walking around all the warehouses and old buildings. These have been converted into studio spaces, vintage shope and record places. One of my favourite places is a little craft centre, which is an old fish market that has been converted. These spaces have been rented for independant artists, allowing them to sell their work and also allowing the public to observe how they create their pieces.
This video is a good visual back up for the information I have found, showing some of the places around Northen Quarter that I have been interested in. The first half focusses on the art and music side of the area. It shows the art and talks about the scene of this part of Manchester. The more research I do into this place, the more of an identity it is having. Its very cultural based and filled with hidden pockets of art and textiles.
