April fools

In questioning time, we must think of our perception of it. We crate calendars, and traditions around them, to help identify and celebrate differences in time. The old tradition of April fools is just another form to distinguish a day, and make it memorable. it is an initiative taken by each person to make it worth remembering.
An article "April Fools' Day Facts: Behind the Laughs" talks about the traditions, and believed origins of this day.

Calotypes

In the national gallery of art, the "Impressed by Light: British Photographs from Paper Negatives, 1840-1860" calotypes are shown. Calotypes, as explained in the exhibit, are photographs made from paper negatives. It is fascinating how the beginning of photography was conducted in such an experimental manner. Though the technique was an attempt to create a new form of producing photographs by chemistry different from the now commonly used silver printing, it was not as successful. Never the less it is interesting that a group of people was so intrigued and developed this to such an extent.

Galary 339

In the philadelphia masters, the comercial photography gallery shows great array of photographs.
the ones presented by Ray K. Metzer are peronaly the most outstanding. the use of positive and negative, as black and white is incredible in " philadelphia" (1962), 62c2-13. He places the main focus on the subject in the darck shadow. Though the figure is contrasted with the darck background, it is quite well light. This draws greeat attention to the figure. Then the eye moves to the figure behind it.This print is very succesfull in attracing the viewer's eye, and leading it throught.

Ansel Adams

The exhibit in the Philadelphia Museum of Art called "Transcending the Literal: Photographs by Ansel Adams from the Collectiont" shows some of the abstractions of the natural landscapes created by Adams. In the water and foam as well as the Surf series, numbers 1 through 5, show an incredible amount of texture and variety. The viewer is presented with a wave coming in and moving out, sand, both wet and dry, in front of it, as well as shadow. Yet it shows the water in a smooth manner and in light tones. . It is quite abstract. Because of the perspective, it is a bit confusing on what exactly is being presented. Nonetheless it is fascinating.

in progress

One of the major assignments of the class is to make an experimental film, around 3 minutes long. this is my film, in progress...

In this video it is interesting to see the randomness of the different things in the ball. Yet as a video it works together. The music goes along with the visual movement.
The setting is also interesting. it combines the familiar objects with a surreal space, and movement.
The ending is also strange, but is a choice of the musicians and video makers.

yellow submarine

In the Beatles' movie "Yellow Submarine" the song "when Im 64" shows the progression of a minute, through simple graphics of numbers, counting up. Though the subject is simple, it is effective, in keeping the viewer interested.

Cinema Paradiso is sort of an autobiographical story of filmmaker Giuseppe Tornatore. It is a classic Italian film. in the scenes of the movie theater, clips of early classics are shown. It is interesting to see the change in movies from that time. As the industry has grown, movies are not such a rarity, and thus society’s involvement has also expanded, and become more of a quotidian thing. It is also interesting to see the changes in what is allowed to be shown; as the movie is set in old past times, a preacher decided what was allowed an what was not permitted to be shown.