PeiMing Chien@Photo115

Poster and CD label for Final Project

2005-12-16T06:20:00.000-08:00

Poster 8x11 inches

CD Label 12cm in Diameter

14th Picture

2005-12-13T14:50:00.000-08:00

An Icy Coreopsis
by Steven Perng
Canon EOS 10D

The author tears off the petal of a coreopsis when it is frozen
so, the remaining ice has the shape and texture of the coreopsis
(I get this picture from a friend's email)

[Scenes & Music]

2005-12-07T23:28:00.000-08:00

An Interview of
An Ordinary Mannequin

"Tissue Box Attack"

The scenes
Though it come out different than what I planed,
it still covered pretty much all the patterns.

1. the opening of interview - overview of the subject.
2. no microphone - first action that interact with other object.
(I don't have a place or tripod for the mic- the real reason
Mr. Mannequin don't like microphone in his interview)
3. the barbie - what he thought about barbies. well, of course, he loves barbies.
(I was going to buy a female mannequin,
but the condition of this male mannequin seemed better.)
4. the face - he needs a face to show how his head is moving.
(I was going to draw different face for different scenes,
but I just don't have time for it)
5. the home - the package of him, where he came from..Made in China
(I tried to play the quick camera moving scene.
the result is not as good as I wanted it to be.)
6. favorite food - since a mannequin is made for drawing, I tried to "feed" him
with other object that are also object for drawing
(the corn, garlic, and lemon are for my Art26 class)
7. the past experience - I was thinking about to do this with "art student,"
but it somehow turn out differently.
8. the worst thing in the world - I was going to put "pain(pin) in the ass" here,
but I put the art student pattern here after all
(the tissue box attack is a way to make the mannequin
interact with other object, so it looks more real)
9. any secret? - this was not exist when I was shooting the pictures.
I just added this part for the "pain(pin) in the ass"
10. tricks - I try to play the Matrix's multi-angle shot, but I guess I need more shots
and since I don't have enough time, I changed the script.
a superman flying scene was deleted and I let Mr. Mannequin attack camera
(for that he found out the "art student" was me. this is not planed pattern)
11. the revange of art student - I just use "THE END?" instead of this title.
for this pattern, mannequin was doing some kind of yoga
(well, I have a yoga mat bag for my tripod and...
the pronounce of Yukka make me think of yoga, too...
sorry Yukka... Q_Q)

The musics
I planed to use was 4 songs,
but it ends up using 2 only because I just run out of time.

1. The main song -- "Magic Waltz" from the movie "The Legend of 1900" again.
(Highly recommend for anyone who like piano, musics and movies)
though I didn't re-watch it this time, I had watched it 4 times.

2. The electronic guitar song -- in the dance and the yoga part was a Japanese song.
I don't even know it's name. maybe I should have asked Yukka..
(I think of Yukka and yoga because I'm using a Japanese song and Yukka is Japanese)

[The Making of the film]

2005-12-07T21:59:00.000-08:00

An Interview of
An Ordinary Mannequin

"It is not easy to stand on the stage" -Mr. Mannequin

For this crazy film, I spent more than 40hrs.
It may sounds scary to everyone; however, the 40hours includes:
preparation works, idea developing, the real filming works and post production.

First, the preparation works
include doing research on digital cameras
a Canon EOS Rebel XT, its lens, filters, high speed CF card,
a stable tripod are things that I get for both this project and further digital photo fun.
all the camera technical research(includes on line and try them in stores, about 4hrs),
price field research(includes went to Fry's every weekday afternoon,4days total, about 10hr),
Ads research(0.5hr), read 3 digital camera magazines
while waiting on lines for thanksgiving next day sale at CompUSA(6hrs)
brought mannequin and thick color paper(Blue and Neon-Green),
and a polyester board for the stage.(about 0.2hr)

Then, for idea research, I re-watched 7 movies
(about more than 16hours in total)
1."Madagascar"2."Cyote Ugly"3."She Creature"
4."Pitch Black"5."The Chronicles of Riddick"
6."Doom" 7"Finding Neverland"
I get alot from the first 2 movies though the others are helpful too.
I even think of combine things into the scenes
(that's why I bought the Blue and Neon-Green color paper)
I discarded may ideas because of technical difficulty

Finally , when equipments and ideas are ready.
(I didn't have a clear story script by the time)
I fund my premiere pro tryout version has expired!
I download several other "tryouts," and finaly I got one which is working..
I can barely read it because it is simplified-Chinese version.
(I read traditional-Chinese and my windows can't
display simplified-Chinese properly.)
So I spent some time on figuring out which button is what function.
pregram ready(find and try) time about 2 waked hour
(and unknow sleeping hour for download)

On the "open-camera day",
I shot and photoshoping the "worst thing in the world"
that mannequin was blinded by the light and attack by tissue box
(or attack by an art student who was I/me)
it took me about more than 3 hours.
since I had not enough sleep, my brain works in a low speed.
so I did the rest of other shots later.

I played the mannequin during the two days
(from open camera to final shot day)
to find "all possible poses" on this mannequin.
so that I can filter out some impossible patterns.
(about 2 hours of total playing time with the mannequin,
I also thought of the "pain in the ass" pattern while play with it)

the final shots took me about 5hours.
I'm so lucky(or well prepared?) that I don't have any need of re-shoot
(I spent 3 nights(about 12hours) for shoot and re-shoot on last video project)
after all the photo were taken, I start photoshop works.
(and finding barbie's picture for the barbie part)

Then, I spent 2 nights (about 9hours)
for editing the 655 still images and 54 subtitles(includes title)
in the simplified-Chinese version of premiere pro 1.5

After all, it is a 80% finished film(to me)
and I think it really needs more works on refining the subtitle and film speed.
Since I check dictionary a lot during writing the subtitles,
I guess I may have less typos or spelling problems
It may takes 4 to 18 hours to refine this film
for a quality eligible for a short film competition.

well, I guess I'll have tons of time this winter.
maybe I can do something fun on this project or other film.

p.s: I was thinking about to record all conversation,
but, consider my accent may ruin the film in some way,
I didn't record any voice after all.

OMG

2005-12-05T03:18:00.000-08:00

Although I shot some photos for my still image motion picture,
my Premiere Pro Tryout has expired last week.
I don't think I'll buy it or do all the film works in lab
(I spent more than 24hrs on the one minute project,
and I will not stay in the lab for 24hrs or more)

So, may be..
I should do photos with Photoshop instead of still image movie.
If I can get any software which do the same work as premiere,
I would reather do the project in video form.

13rd Picture

2005-12-05T03:08:00.000-08:00

Me (and Rebel XT)

I like the angle and the composition of this photo

Final Project Proposal

2005-12-01T04:00:00.000-08:00

To be honest, I haven't yet have a clear thought for it
The first thing come up to me is finding some interest ideas
and after all, those ideas all cost too much time for me.

The most recent thought is
using small mannequin to change pose and do some mini action...
thought it must be fun, I'll limit this part and mix with my actions
due to time efficiency.

I'm still thinking about the story..and scene dividing..
maybe I'll come up with something later...
and better come up with something anyway.. >

It Matters to ME - Explanation

2005-12-01T03:42:00.000-08:00

The "It Matters to ME" project of mine
is about my living experience in Campus Village, the new dorm
Loud music and singing are not allowed in the tiny space.
Although I don't do like the video shown,
it is fun to play around the idea.

p.s: I was going to post this explanation on Tuesday night,
but my internet connection was off that time.
It just resumed earlier tonight(Wednesday)

12nd Pictures

2005-11-28T14:48:00.000-08:00

6:30AM on Highway 680

1:10AM on Highway I-5

11st Picture

2005-11-19T12:05:00.000-08:00

The Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph

(a view from the 7th floor of King's Library)

10th Picture

2005-11-11T21:28:00.000-08:00

The World in A Light Bulb

(My first try to shoot toward sun light)

The Video Project

2005-11-10T00:49:00.000-08:00

(Still Image Animation)

My first thought for the video project
was to match my mouth with a song.
However, as Julia says:"No music video,"
I want to make a twist on it.

After I saw Eric's blog,
the "Electronica" caught my thought.

Yeah, everything is wired for its energy.

So, here is my plan!

Since it is still a short movie which must tell a story,
I will have a short script.
Also, I'll still do the mouth matching part
which will no longer than 30 sec.
And, I'll play with the electronic cord.

For person who want to keep the story secret,
you can stop by here.

If you want to see what I'll play,
please select the text to inverse text color

====From This Line========================

So you decide to see the screen note now

well, are you sure you want to see it now?
Ok, let's start it.
Here is my plan in detail:
(if you can't see the following text, just copy and paste to a text file)
I can't see it myself :P

the scene will starts at a hand which is pulging a plug in a wall
and camera follows the cord, the screen will fade off and the title comes
I'll put a sound effect[clean throat+vocal:test 123]after sound finished
the title fades off,and I'll wear my earphone on and press a play button
the song start and I'll play the match mouth part here for 20 to 30sec in the scene
then the screen show a door and come with sound effect[knock door+vocal:hey stop it]
the music won't stop and I'll match mouth for 3sec after the door scene
then thescene becomes the bottom of door, and the door opens
sound effect[cracky door open sound] someone's feet come in
the feet walk and trip off the plug while[vocal:hey, I told you don't...]
the music will off in the moment the plug is off the wall
and comes sound effect[power off] then sound effect[power off]again
I'll play a out of power robot motion(freeze and then wilt)here
then the person will come close, to check, a cord will add on my skin by photoshop
and this is the last scene--a skin with a plug set on it--refers to Eric's idea.
then the screen fades and comes the credits and The End.
I'll play both the intruder and the singing robot by myself.

=======================================

9th Picture

2005-11-05T14:42:00.002-08:00

Rain of Monterey Bay

(from inside of Monterey Bay Aquarium)

the rain is real rain, not a photoshop filter effect.

8th Picture

2005-10-29T19:20:00.000-07:00

Side Portrait

From the same party last week
One guy pass by the scence became a brown shadow on the right,
but the girls are remain clear!

This photo contains no filter effect except sharpen by a highpass layer.

7th Picture

2005-10-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

Gift
[Annie's Birthday Party]

My favorite photo recently!

The fantastic lighting and motion
make this photo outstands from all my works.

Although the light was very low,
I prefer not to use flesh lighting.
As a result, the slow shoter speed makes
things blur when they were moving.

Then, I caught the most fabulous scene I ever had!

Date: Oct. 17 2005 / Camera: Olympus E-20N
This photo is not modified, but resized by Photoshop CS.

6th Picture

2005-10-17T17:57:00.000-07:00

Glance
It was a 3.5mm film photo.
I enlarged it to 8inx10in and scaned to jpeg file
the camera is a very old one
minolta SR-7
(at least 40 years old by now)

5th Picture

2005-10-09T17:23:00.000-07:00

One of the best shot from the wedding pictures.

Happyness can be as simple as doing something with your loved one.

Mammoth /Miniscule Project

2005-10-03T18:00:00.000-07:00

For real, I have no specific idea by now.
Though there are so many possibilities out there,
I try not to take any idea of others' work as hard as I can.
Then, the more I see the less I could think.
Sometimes I come up an idea,
and soon I will doubt about "What's the point of this idea"
or "It maybe offense someone who I took their pictures"
After all, I guess I may do this project with my image, or animal,
or things that will make my project as appropriate as possible.

Idea for LARGE scale:
Using camera to take views in horizontal and connect them to a single long scroll
then, put things or people or animals into the view.

Idea for Mini scale:
Take a photo of a paper box, and paste different images in side the box
to make them looks like living in it..

The Moment

2005-10-03T02:47:00.000-07:00

"Wedding photography is one of the hardest projects for a photographer," said my Begining Photography instructor John,
"if you missed the moment, you missed all."

Now, I understood what he said :)

4nd Picture

2005-10-03T02:25:00.000-07:00

A Friends' Wedding
at Sacramento

Oct. 02. 2005

3rd Picture

2005-09-24T16:38:00.000-07:00

The Coolest thing in Summer.

2nd Picture

2005-09-19T04:48:00.000-07:00

Emerald Bay
Lake Tahoe, California

Date:12/19/2004 2:42PM

"A little cloudy afternoon after a snowy moring"

This castle (faces to Emerald Bay, Lake Tahoe) was donated to the State of California by Mr. Harvey West. It is now a State Park.

There are some 19th century style design inside and fabulous view in front of the castle.

First Assignment

2005-09-18T02:16:00.000-07:00

After my Photoshop CS2 "self-destruction" several times,
me and my images become this look.

The procedure of self destruction:
1. Photoshop CS2 eats up all free Memory spaces(900MB in my case).
2. It releases extra ram and starts ScratchDisk.(a type of VirtualMemory paging file tech)
3. The ScratchDisk conflicts with Windows' VirtualRam
4. Bang!!

The first action of CS2 (occupies all memory space as in-use by programs)is a norm to WidowsXP, so there is a peace time between CS2 and XP. After the ram is released, CS2 trys to create the "ScratchDisk." However, to WindowsXP, the phyical ram is still occupied by CS and the action of creating ScratchDisk still requires physical Ram! So, this action triggers WinodwsXP to increase its VirtualRam. And these two type of VirtualRam compet and conflict inside of a tiny harddrive with limited space. Then, CS2 always commits self destruction in the end of procedure.

All the four images has to be done before the crash;

otherwise, I have to reboot and do it again.

p.s: After all, I uninstall CS2 and install CS1 which is crash free on my laptop.

My 1st Picture

2005-09-07T20:44:00.000-07:00

Mr. Muledeer

This picture is taken at the shore of American River in Sacramento
It's original for Nature History class(a Biology class)

Date/Time: 11.06.2003 / 3:52PM

Original Size:2592x1944

Resized: 1503x1038

Camera: SONY P-10