This post relates to calendar Weeks 13 and 14. A return was made to reading, PHO705: Research – Phantasmagoria and the Weird and the Eerie in PHO705: Beyond the Unheimlich. This has meant going back to these earlier weeks posts to update them.

The way this blog is structured it keeps to an original plan of delivering posts to a given schedule. A number of blank posts are present that call for attention, for example, reviewing some optional FMP video materials that if reviewed give a wider experience. This brings attention to the activities and should help to get the work done. There is a natural balance developing.

At present activity has been prioritised towards making and this is timely given the Symposium attended and the access gained to relevant expertise and further related research. Meanwhile, sets of images will be needed as a growing matter of urgency, to build a broad portfolio for onward editing. Making also gained importance in avoiding any pitfall in interpreting science. An example that comes to mind is that of Phrenology from the earlier years of photography. The project assumption around IR filtering and processing becomes trace rather than direct as originally postulated. The theme of identification of Motherline ancestors remained true.

PHO705: Digital Darkroom Analysis for Motherline

An analysis of digital darkroom activity followed on from the posts on Art Science and Imaging Science Symposium and concerns the How. This has resulted on a return to making which until now had slowed while research ran on.

A change in method has occurred to an equivalent approach that produces equivalent results and was possible after a more detailed look into the techniques used as well as having been able to enter the discussion with scientific imaging experts. The new darkroom method is more direct and controllable and simpler to work with.

Greater insight has led to more flexible image manipulation and then onto a new approach able to generate image sets. Potentially the extended method could be used to generate wide landscapes or sets of images for moving stills. This is very much in tune with the Final Proposal to generate supporting materials during the seasonal break, to advance the materials available to use in an exhibition or book.

Further work into contextualising the project visuals has been progressed by capturing images from Great War video broadcast material. The capture and initial handling of the numerous images is an enabler to any next stage.

The themes derived have expanded choice and at some point in the next month say some decisions will have to be made. It would make sense to trial the themes where possible and even make them public to get a sense of what gains the best impact while maintaining the original project intent.

PHO705: Recombinant Rhymes and DNA Art

This blog was revisited and research extended from DNA to RNA and the 1100-word set for words containing the letters ACGT of the DNA bases has been extended for RNA bases ACGU with a 500-word set (lists partially overlap each other). It has been informative to learn of the RNA processes and how it connects to the overall picture of life.

The activity is more of a supporting task than the main task of the FMP but will add to the overall impact of the planned exhibition and possibly of a book.

Conclusion

First identified in PHO705: Research-Driven Practice effort has substantially moved to build research around Motherline project development. The natural cycle of research turning into making continues on from two earlier modules and informs the FMP module activity which is given a solid grounding in project-related research. The intent is to take work public and then enter a final stage of refinement and edit stage to ready for submission for assessment.