DV3440 - Mise en scene Paul Camilleri - u0950499 30/10/2012

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Journal Purpose: The objective for this project is to select a photograph created by a known (published?) photographer and then to use the chosen photograph as the bases for a short, 1 minute video. However, the photograph must not be a still from a film.

Research There are a number of possibilities which could include: 1. Action

This photograph was lifted from the August/September issue of 'Calumet Magazine'. If I want to use this I would have to get a couple of stock cars sent to Roydon, build a ramp have a great time. Photography gear is ready to go as is the caravan so the weather will not pose a threat. It turns out that there is a two week lead on the delivery of the stock cars and if this is anything to go by then I will not be able to rely on a delivery at all. Oh well, they would have been free but luck will not hold out. Looks like Mr Pinsky was right when he alluded to working within realistic capabilities and/or resources - too bad. Time to scale down.

DV3440 - Mise en scene Paul Camilleri - u0950499 30/10/2012

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2. Still life I hate still life so I will not bother with this. If I had to be honest about admitting to limitations, then I would have to say I cannot imagine basing a short movie on a collection of apples and oranges sitting in a bowl. But then again, what if I pushed myself...not today! 3. Local scenes

Local park man made features. I was drawn to these man made features created recently in my local park. It struck me that there might be a possibility of finding a similar feature but created by nature. Sand dunes spring to mind and to this effect I examined the following photograph:

DV3440 - Mise en scene Paul Camilleri - u0950499 30/10/2012

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Dunes1: Jack Brauer 15/12/2008.

DV3440 - Mise en scene Paul Camilleri - u0950499 30/10/2012

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Dunes2: Jack Brauer 18/03/2009.

DV3440 - Mise en scene Paul Camilleri - u0950499 30/10/2012

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Dunes3: Jack Brauer 18/03/2009. Again, realism bytes and seeing as there are no local features that approach these sand dune photographs I must forget this idea too. Having said that, there are plenty of huge sand dunes in Padstow, Cornwall where I used to play as a kid. Might not be such a bad idea after all, but I had better put together a plan 'B' just in case. 24/10/2012 OK, the sand dunes idea may not work, but there is something else. The following photograph was taken by Andre Kertesz, called 'Meudon' in 1929. This photograph is supposed to make the reader ask questions like, 'what is the man in the foreground carrying?', and 'where is the man in the foreground going?'. Personally, I like the cobbled stones. Yet again, Padstow in Cornwall is the only place I know that has those cobbled, old world, winding streets. Looks like a trip to Padstow is just begging to be made. I could ht two birds with one stone and research the sand dunes while I'm there!

DV3440 - Mise en scene Paul Camilleri - u0950499 30/10/2012

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Andrea Kertesz, Meudon, 1929

DV3440 - Mise en scene Paul Camilleri - u0950499 30/10/2012

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27/10/2012 Padstow turned up good and bad news. As far as the sand dunes are concerned, they are there still but the weather is not on my side. As far as the cobbled stones are concerned, they are still there too, BUT, the town has turned into a commercial centre for tourists. This has totally killed the atmosphere, with about a billion signs all over the place. So, another two ideas bite the dust. 28/10/2012 Time to trawl the UEL library and look for inspiration. Came across a photograph by Herbert List which I find interesting. My own travels in Europe have shown me that a lot of stuff Herbert List photographed is still relevant today in terms of architecture, the way people dress ( especially the old people...) and how people work. The following photograph was taken in Napoli in 1943. It show what is a typical, street level work place. I remember seeing loads of these in Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, the former Yugoslavia and others.

DV3440 - Mise en scene Paul Camilleri - u0950499 30/10/2012

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Herbet List, Napoli, Bycle and Pram Fixer, 1943.

DV3440 - Mise en scene Paul Camilleri - u0950499 30/10/2012

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In a strange way I can relate to the cramped working conditions and find this oddly inspirational. I will go with this and film around by own workshop - but first I will have to make a real mess of it in order the formulate as relevant a response as possible.

Analysis As mentioned, the photograph shows a man busy at work in a street level shop. The workplace is busy, crowded and literally spills onto the street. Such is the nature of such work places by virtue of their lack of physical depth. As seen, the photograph is black and white. However, I feel the fact that the man is wearing a white shirt in such a grimy work environment is far from coincidental. Yes it draws the eyes and yes it adds contrast, but the mid-tones of the photograph are also lifted. I feel the overall combination of a bright sunny day, the contrasts within the workplace and the enlivened mid-tones whilst still maintaining dark yet detailed shadow areas serve to make the photograph punchy and 'busy'.