Project 3 Description

For this project, we were split into groups of four. We each chose a word out of a hat, and then had to come up with collages that represented the meaning of that word. In these collages, we could only use our word once but repeating our letters was acceptable. The collages were put up on the wall to be analyzed by the class. The next step of the project was to make our word into three foot, 3D letters. We had to come up with ways of representing the meaning of our word through these letters. These letters were taken all across campus to spots that showcased the word. We then took pictures of these letters in these settings. The last step of the project was to place our pictures in a photo essay book. We had to create these books ourselves, and they had to incorporate elements within them that represented our word.

Word Construction Reflection

When we first started our construction on our word, we had a lot of ideas on how we were going to make it. Eventually, we narrowed it down to making our word out of cardboard. We used white paper to wrap the outside of our letters and then used duct tape on the X and the last E. This was to show the exchanging of the first E and the last E, which helped to show the meaning of our word within our letters. After constructing our word, we brainstormed a list of places that we could take it that would symbolize the meaning of the word. This made it a lot easier to plan out where we were going to take our word, and it also made it take less time. Since our letters were very simple, they meshed well with all of the places we took them. The places we went included: the round-about, the library, vending machines, mailboxes, a classroom, and the statue before Lippioncott as well as Lippioncott itself. All of these place represented our word, exchange, in one way or another.

Project 3 Reflection

At the beginning of the project, my group got together and planned out when we were going to do everything. Unfortunately, we never gave eachother our phone numbers so it was very hard to contact one another if we were unable to make it to the time we had planned or if we needed to tell whoever wasn’t there our next meeting time. We eventually got one another’s phone number, but I think we all learned from our mistake. We also went into the making of our letters thinking that paper would be the best way to cover them. Half way through doing this, we found that it was actually very difficult, and it was also very difficult to make the edges of the paper look good on the letters. We tried putting duct tape on these edges, but did not have enough material or money. Because we planned out where we were going to take pictures before we headed out, it went really smoothly. Our pictures turned out great, and we planned it so that the sun was up just long enough to take our outside pictures.

Photography Essay Reflection

It was really interesting at the beginning of the essay when the author was talking about the difference between regular photography or documentary and art-photography. I’ve done a lot with photography, and I think there is a real difference between just taking a picture and actually being aware of what you are doing and how it’s going to turn out looking. I also thought it was interesting on page 8 of the essay when the author says that, “Documentary is said to provide its viewers with direct access to truth.” The statement is correct, but to provide the truth must we sacrifice the artistic part of photography? I think the two should be intermingled. People should be able to receive direct access to truth through pictures in an artistic way.

Type

I thought this showed a lot of really good examples of text. There many ways the text is used in this image. Personally, I really like the central, red squares type as well as the central white squares. Both of these have very simple designs, and they work really well.

Parts of the Letter

I had never really thought much about letter before, but it was interesting to know that there are actual names for all of the parts of the letter. I think the most interesting thing I learned, though, was that two different fonts can be 12 point and they still may not be the same size. This information will be helpful when I'm designing because I'll know to look for this problem.

Two-point Perspective

I had never used two-point perspective until my BDS 103 class. I always just drew what I saw, and this usually caused the drawings to be unproportional. Using two-point perspective helps to cut down on this inaccuracy, and I've found that it's much easier drawing with this perspective. The only problem I had with two-point perspective was when the things I was drawing were too close, and I had to draw them really tiny so that I could fit my perspective points on my page.