Blog #1: Midpoint 🎯

Having the choice of taking MMS 172 (Audio in Multimedia) initially before MMS 173, I have deemed from my experience that having nice equipment you can carry with you will definitely change the entire game and experience—especially when you want to learn the technicalities to its full potential. I have said this because, for MMS 172, I was able to buy a condenser microphone that allowed me to gear myself better in pre-production and production, which yielded me an asset to only do minor revisions to the soundtracks in my DAW. To say minor is an understatement, but, really, I was thinking, in hindsight, that I could have fallen into the pitfall of doing so much more in post-production. For me, it felt like having a bad microphone would lead you to a perspective of trying to “save” and fix your audio from the tweakings in post-production instead of actually “improving” it, as compared to having a good microphone where your goal would be to make your audio sound in another level as you already have that good microphone and pre-production routine with you. I hope I made sense. Also, I know what I just said was a no-brainer, but this is the dilemma I currently face in MMS 173. 

As Unit II is already out there, this is where I actually feel pressured since I definitely do not want to use my phone for the succeeding activities since I also want to put my best foot forward for this course as well. However, I still want to be firm with my decision that I would not buy any more equipment since I did mention in my previous assignments that a camera would be too off-priced as compared to a microphone that have cheap yet professional and decent enough alternatives. However, to position me in a positive light, we do have old digicams my family still keeps that I honestly still have not scavenged for, but will do it sooner—hopefully, it still works.

During my self-introduction, I remember stating that I only do casual photography—which is still my upbringing until now. However, as far as Assignment 2 goes, I would just find myself assessing photos I catch by doomscrolling on social media. I have also mentioned before that I still still still am quite confused about to what extent the rule of third applies in taking a shot, basically like a broken tape asking myself if a photo confines with the rule or not since almost every photo I see loosely follows it or I keep pushing myself to believe that it does follow it for some apparent reason. From those pictures I found online, especially with my classmates’, I was able to have a more critical eye in observing shots. I was able to become objective on what I could see they could have done better if I were to take the shot again, which in turn enhances the storytelling of the photo—as what I have observed that my classmates give importance to (aside from the fact that the assignment was given before applying any course concepts, except for identifying photographic compositions.). So saying those things are what I guess are improvements with the lens I have in seeing photography.

As I have also said in the previous assignment, as much as I critique my classmates with their photo outputs, is how much I should also step up my execution in photography. Speaking of critiques, I have actually read some of my classmates’ Assignment 2 and found my shots to be included in their assessment. Upon reading, I felt happy that they also understood the vibe that I was going for with my shots, and fortunately, had positive feedback for the most part—maybe there were negative ones, but I genuinely admit that  I haven’t ran through more than 10 of my peers’ submissions. Be that as it may, I have already tried to convince myself that regardless if we had the opportunity to critique each other’s works, as much as Sir Al opened this opportunity for us, I will still challenge and improve my relationship with photography. Although the overall mastery, like what the professionals of this course has, can’t be learned in one sitting, I am still determined to make my shots not merely to look as good as them, but what I like to call having their mentality when they try to compose a shot. 

In line with being determined to challenge myself, I have also joined the game photography which I hope will offer me a new perspective in the virtual setting. I currently don’t have an envisioned plan for this activity yet since I am still on the lookout for PC games that are not too storage-extensive but cater to the purpose of the activity just enough—I have a couple of games but would not suffice for what is needed. Additionally, I am still thinking about joining the F2F classes, but hopefully, if I am not able to come, I get to have the opportunity to learn ample learnings that will be tackled from the onsite session.

Andiamo avanti, everyone!