Sequences

This project is a bridge between stills and video. I would like you to explore the idea putting things in a specific order or sequences. Many things are put in sequences: a comic strip, a recipe, assembly instructions, a video. The next question is how do you know what specific order to arrange your photos? In other words, what comes first, second, third, etc. To my knowledge there is no magic formula to help you. Try different arranging your steps in a different order to see which order is best suited to the story you are trying to tell.

Photography is full of images depicted as a sequence. They chose to tell stories by using their photo skills. Two photographers that are on the opposite ends of the sequence spectrum are Eadweard James Muybridge and Duane Michals. Muybridge, who lived during the 19th century used sequences as a means to record factual information. His most famous sequence shows that when a horse ran, it lifted all four feet off the ground at once.

More recently, Michals who was prolific during the 1970s created fictional sequences to explore relationships and sometimes the supernatural.

C/A – level – knowledge and thinking

C1 Write a bio for both Michals and Muybridge based on the criteria below. Answer all 10 questions. Point form is best. Follow this example. a) nationality is American.

a) nationality; b) year born ; c) year died; d) where they studied; e) one major influence; f) web sites or galleries that feature their work; g) how long they have been or were a photographer or artist; h) another career before becoming an artist; I) a piece of information that you find interesting; j) a second piece of information you find interesting.

C2 Study 2 of Duane Michals’ sequences and 2 of Muybridge for inspiration. Copy and paste them as a thumbnail in a word document along with its URL. For each sequence, write

i) a brief factual description

ii) the open message

iii) the hidden message

iv) why you selected it

B -level – production/application

B1 Create 2 sequences. One should be fictional -- like the ones Michals produced , the second should be factual -- like those of Muybridge. For each sequences you create, answer the following:

a. describe the image you intend to produce

b. what is the open message you want to convey

c. what is the hidden message you want to send

B2. For each sequence, create a story board of how you think it will look. Stick people are fine. You can use an electronic story board app for this assignment.

B3 To create your sequences, photograph a minimum of six – 6 images. You may use more if you wish. Your last image must give the sequence an unexpected twist to create an unusual ending. Refer to the video links on Darth Vader or below..

For further inspiration, study the bear and Darth Vader links below:

Bear commercial

Beer commercial –

VW commercial featuring a young Darth Vader

For each sequence use your phone or your camera to photograph your sequences.

Import the images into Photoshop or your favourite editing app and complete any editing.

Hand In

Written part: a) the biographies of each photographer; b) a description of each sequence; c) a story board; d) the open message for each sequence; e) the hidden message for each sequence;

Presentation

Assemble you sequence in a program like PowerPoint or the Google equivalent, that will not allow me to see the next photo until I click on it. In other words, I should not see the next photo, until I click on it or it plays in a video editing program. This would be ideal.

If you don't have any of these programs, just put your photos in a Google Docs or whatever program you normally use for school.