Geometric Portraits

When using a automatic Low Poly Art Generator.

Hi everyone, this couple weeks in GT we are doing Low Poly Art, also known as Geometric Portraits. I believe that facial expressions are universal. For example, everyone in the world cries with tears when something sad happens to them, such as the loss of a family member. Another example is that everyone in the world blushes when embarrassed by someone. Even though facial expressions do differ a little from your culture and features, they all have a noticeable link that represents a emotion. Such as someone crunching up their face when eating something sour, or someone opening their extremely wide when eating a spicy meal.

Poly - 3, Custom

Poly - 2, Custom

To create low poly art (geometric portraits) first you must get a picture of your subject. For example, everyone in my GT class is using a picture of themselves taken from a Mac Computer Camera. It would be preferable for it to be symmetric, so you could trace one side and simply copy it and rotate it. So it would complete the full subject. Then, you would use a editing app such as Photoshop to trace your subject. Once that last step is complete, you should add triangles ranging from big to small (depending on the facial features) on top of your subject. Now this is the tricky part, use the average blur option in your editor while selecting every triangle (Polygonal Lasso Tool) to give the subject a plastic look, with different shades that represents you. Then, optionally you can add a gradient overlay to the subject to increase the quality of your low poly portrait.

Poly - 1, Custom

The difference between the easy Low Poly and the Poly's I did manually was the quality. For example, the Easy poly was taken with a low quality computer camera, while the others were either taken with better lighting or a advanced camera. Plus, the over all Poly aspect to it is more advanced when doing the custom route. By that I mean that the triangles fit more pleasingly, (It looks better). You can also make parts of your face stand out more than others in the custom way. Such as your eyes, lips, nose, etc. While the Low Poly Generator sorta blends it all together, which loses quality. For example, if you look at the Generator's Poly, the nose looks broken, and the lip is a bit stretched. Plus the eyes... aren't human.

Verbal Landscapes

Hi everyone! This is the 2nd project of my 2nd GT Year! This time in GT, we are doing time lapsed nature videos! Nature impacts my life in many ways. For example, nature really helped me when I was younger, I constantly used to climb trees in my backyard, go on hikes, run around in the field. If it wasn't for nature, I would have been inside my house all day, only playing video games (Specifically the PVP ones.) To sum it all up, nature kept me physically active (although not even close to being athletic) when I was younger, specifically ages 6 - 9. Plus, doing activities like exploring caves and hiking got me to spend time with my family, which is way more preferable then spending days playing virtual games.

Time lapses is when you take a large amount of video, lets say 15 minutes. Then you will compact the video together, which can optionally turn a 15 minute video into something as short as 5 minutes, or if you want, a 1 minute video! Slow-mos are literally the exact opposite of a Time lapse. Slow-mos is slowing down the video to make it longer, while a time lapse speeds up the video. Plus, slow-mos makes the video longer, such as turning a 15 minute video to 30 minutes, etc. However, time lapses require bigger film, if you were to speed a time lapse up, you will most likely need a good amount of film to still have a normal amount. Since if you speed up a time lapse fast enough, a 15 minute time lapse can being a 1 minute film.

The hardest part of this project was most likely finding a good area to take your time lapse or slow-mo. For example, I had to go to the beach at a "odd" hour to avoid anyone swimming or walking in front of the camera. Another hard part of taking time lapses and slow mo-s is getting the right time of day. Such as a sunset, a sunrise, or even a normal afternoon. Plus, you would need to watch out for clouds, since it would be really dreadful for it to start raining right in the middle of a 15 minute time lapse. My favorite part of taking time lapses and slow-mo's was waiting while the camera was filming. This really gave me time to get familiar with a different type of camera, especially some of the controls I didn't know about. Such as the record button.

In my critique, I was voted to receive a 3 out of 4, which would be a B. I believe this was a fair grade, since my project really wasn't exceptional to the standards of the rubric. For example, I didn't really read my poem with expression in my voice over, and some of my horizon lines were tilted. Plus,  I could have waited for better times to take the time lapses, such as when the sun is high over the camera, or when the sun is rising or setting. However, it really did help getting rated one of the best videos.

Poetic Personal Statement

Hi everyone! Summer just ended and I am back in the Gifted and Talented program! Our first project for 2016 - 2017 GT is a Poetic Personal Statement. I think poetry is a very interesting and mysterious art. Poets tend to precisely tell a story or/and express feelings through a fluent, well thought paragraphs. Famous people, such as William Shakespeare did poetry to express their feelings or write about past experiences. Poetry also has a appealing fluency to it, (it rhymes). To sum it all up, Poetry is a way for someone to express their feelings in writing form.

The ocean breeze around me, shooting from the north sea.
I walk around my house, carefree.
Ocean waves pounding across the sand from the bay.
Ideas around me, bright as the day.
My imagination taking flight, despite the fights.
My soul peaceful, blocking out all types of evil. 

In my poetic statement (above), I used rhyme by rhyming the last word of every sentence. For example, I would say something like "I live by the bay. The time is day.". To help me with that I used a website called Rhyme Zone where you can give it a word and it will generate words that rhyme with that certain word. If I were to put in the word rhyme, words like slime would come up.

Music Video Finale

Summer vacation is so close, which means that this will be the last GT project and blog post of the year! I can't wait for summer to start. This week in GT we are doing a music video based off a song that we were allowed to pick. My team consists of James, Josiah and Treysen, we picked the song Happy by Pharrel Williams. I believe that our story line does relate to our lyrics. In our story line, Josiah and Treysen parade around the town, spreading joy and happiness.

My favorite fast edit montage sequence will have to be when Josiah appears out of no-where, and makes Treysen go from depressed to happy. This fast edit montage sequence is my personal favorite because it is one of the most well-planned scenes in the entire music video. As well one of the most easiest to edit and shoot correctly. Plus, it is (in my opinion) very funny. Josiah walks in there, rips up a math test and forces Treysen to be joyful. What's better then that?

This music video showcases my best work by expressing what I have learned throughout my year in GT. Such as different shot types, strict organization, team work, and mostly humor. Through out the music video, my team and I implemented many shot types, mostly ranging from Wide, Medium, and Close. We also made a schedule on what we wanted completed, as well where and when we will meet to film. We also worked together by spending couple of nights working on our plan, and cooperating majority of the times. Finally, my most favorite, Humor. We implemented humor in our story by really exaggerating what our story was about, Happiness. Josiah rips up failed math tests, referrals, etc, Treysen also acts very funny-like, dancing and jumping out of no where.

Well, I should probably warn you I'll be just fine, yeah,

No offense to you, don't waste your time

Here's why

Because I’m Happy

Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like that's what you wanna

Hey

Go Uh

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

My level's too high

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

I said (let me tell you now)

Bring me down
Can't nothing

Bring me down

My level's too high

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

I said

Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof

Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof
Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth
Because I'm happy

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Because I'm happy

Because I'm happy
Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Because I'm happy

Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Because I'm happy Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Because I'm happy
Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Because I'm happy Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

My level's too high

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

I said (let me tell you now)

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

My level's too high

Bring me down

Can't nothing

Bring me down

I said

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like happiness is the truth

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you know what happiness is to you

Because I'm happy

Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof

Because I'm happy

Animated Life Lessons

Hi everyone, this week in GT we are doing a animation story with our teams.My teammates for this assignment are James and Denae. James is a quiet shy boy, he is quite smart and enjoys running around a lot, he is the opposite of outgoing. Denae is a very open and happy person, she enjoys smiling and helping James smile from time to time. In our animation, like their character traits, James is a shy boy who likes to run, there is a race at the school in which James wishes to enter. Denae the kind friend, encourages him and builds up his confidence. While I break down James's confidence.




My team uses humor in our animation by exaggerating James and Denae's character traits more then usual. It makes the story funny because it shows James really pressuring himself out, and Denae putting extra care into James. Our team's life lesson is to always believe in yourself and your abilities. It relates to our audience because everyone has to have a "downtime" in their life, whether its about school, sports etc. In which you didn't feel that confident about yourself.

I believe my team's level of productivity was about a averge. For example, James's photoshop started malfunctioning when we were close to the deadline, and I only got the "fast animating" process towards the end. I believe that my team's biggest challenge was photoshop. The puppet warp tool was really difficult to understand, such as making new frames and copies, while creating little by little movements. In my opinion, the best moment during team production was viewing each other's sketches for the 6 different scenes. James drew little block figures, Denae drew people and I drew multiple stick figures.

Tiny Spherical Worlds

Hi everyone! This week in GT we are focusing on both Polar and Spherical images. These type of images are a bunch of pictures all combined together to make a spherical outlook, its sorta like a tiny world. Composite images are a few or more images combined together, the reason why people create these composite images are to give the picture a very unique and interesting touch to it, instead of a normal and bland picture. Composite photos are also made to go beyond and push the normal limitations of a camera. Some composite images are photo montages or polar and spherical panoramas.

The difference between a polar and a spherical panorama is that a polar pano, is sort of a tiny world. The polar has a circle in the middle, following with either black or white in the background. With a 180 image rotation, just to give it a more worldly effect. For a spherical panorama, it looks more like a sphere. Plus, a spherical panorama does not have the 180 image rotation as the polar panorama will have. The Spherical Panorama looks more like a drop of water instead of a world. However, both Polar and Spherical Panos have a horizon line in them, this is so it is easier and a bit more nicer when it is turned into a sphere or a world.

I believe that the smudge and clone tool makes my tiny worlds convincing because it is able to blur and color over the problems and the more sketchy parts of my panoramas, and replace them with something else in the photo. Such as clouds,the sky, even the ground. Plus, I also added a little rotation to my panoramas, it is normal that there is a line straight down through a panorama. The rotation helps hide the line better, since it is usually found straight through the middle. The line is a empty area in the panorama, since it ends with a different photo, not the photo it started with. (Its not a full circle)

Character Development

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a fun Easter! This week in GT we are creating an animation of ourselves. I believe that I am a clumsy procrastinator, I constantly push all my work back to the last hour or so. I once spilled my chili all over my homework assignment. My imperfection is that I always will hold my breath every time I breath, no matter if I am in the water or out in the air, it lasts for around 3 - 10 seconds, then
I breath again and repeat my odd habit.

The character traits that I plan to exaggerate is my anxiety. I always get really nervous on something minor and major alike. Such as presenting in front of my classmates or going on a off-island trip. I plan to show this in my animation by showing myself freak out often, as well doing the very distracting habits, such as consistently. saying "um" or show my hands fiddle.

The step by step process of making a animated .GIF, in my opinion is very difficult. You start out by taking a picture of your subject, (in which case is myself) then you would cut it out using Photoshop's quick selection tool. After that, you will take the cut out picture of yourself and use Photoshop's Puppet Warp, placing "pins" on all your limbs so you can move your character with each frame. I sorta do not enjoy this process, just because of how one little mistake can ruin the final product, Such as not having your arms spread apart enough when taking your picture, even doing a poor cut on Photoshop.

.MOV Film Festival

P3T3 Trey Learns Responsibility from Kapaa Middle School MEDIA on Vimeo.

Hi everyone! This week in GT we are creating a movie for the .MOV Film Festival, my teammates are Elijah and Treysen, we are making a sitcom. I believe that my keywords connect with my audience because it shows that everyone has made a mistake in their life, such as leaving the sink running, or forgetting to lock the door as you walk out of the house. But with these mistakes we all eventually learn our lesson, such as responsibillity or commitment. Our keywords are Responsibillity, laziness, tricky, irresponsible, immature.

Our sitcom is about a foolish cop who makes a lot of careless and foolish mistakes, such as hitting his boss or letting a robber escape. However he is eventually caught on video by his boss. This taught the cop (Treysen) to always stay on task and make work his first priority when he is on duty. He then catches the robber and lives "happily ever after." I believe that the overall message of our sitcom is to always be responsible, even when you are sure nobody is watching. In the end, the cop learned his lesson and eventually caught the robber.

I believe that my team's biggest challenge was to create a defined time and location on where and when we would meet. This was especially hard due to sports and personal family activities, such as vacations, wrestling, swimming, etc. Luckily, Elijah's activities were able to be pushed back and my activities were canceled. We were able to meet after school at a Building/Electric Company's office. Allowing us to get a isolated and quiet area, with a numerous amounts of office-type furniture and rooms. Then, we got a ride to a Park close to the ocean. However, the park was a problem due to the groups of parents and kids socializing and running around. Plus, it came to known that some of our noise props were becoming a nuisance to the parents.

Hockney Style Joiners

Paint Trolley, LA, 1985. Find the photo HERE

Hey everyone! This week in GT were are doing a photo montage similar to David Hockney's. The difference between my photo montage's and David Hockney is that his photo montages are more professional and creative, he can create roads with stop signs in the middle, cut up pictures of flowers, its amazing! Plus, he has the ability to turn something slightly boring, into something more exotic, such as people playing Scrabble or a plain bit apple.

My School Photomontage

Images have the ability to send both positive and negative messages, for example, a picture of a war will cause sadness. However, something like a family reunion is bound to create happiness somewhere. This is usually created with your recognition of what the photo contains. War is known as something dreadful and sad, this usually causes recognition when seeing it in a photo. Or something like kids playing, it can be remembered as a happy memory, in some terms, making you happy. Or, the photo can have phrases or sentences inside that can cause a emotion. Basically, its all in the creator's point of view, which can include messages such as "Wow! Look at my clothes, am I not rich?" Or it can send more detailed messages such as "This is how we can make the world better".

For my final photomontage, I really wish to show what I really enjoy doing in life, what wakes me up in the morning, (Other then being dragged out of bed.) My photomontage is a swim cap from Mokihana Aquatics. I really like swimming, it really pushes me to be the best I  can ever hope to be. In this photomontage, I placed the cap on the ground, then took several photos of it and of its surroundings, in which include the floor tiles, the fan, etc.

2016 Aspirations

Merry Late-Christmas everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful Winter Break! This week in GT, we are doing a "photo a day" challenge! For this yea a few goals I want to achieve, is to get taller, improve my handwriting, get As in Science and Art, while maintaining my other As in my other classes, stay more organized, and to stay on task. I want to achieve these goals because I tend to do the exact opposite of all of these, plus, completing these goals will help me better my education.

The goal that is most important to me is probably to get As in Art and Science because its the only two classes that do not have a A. Plus, to get a A in those two classes, I would need to be more organized, which will help with improving my bad habit of procrastinating work till the last minute. It will also help improve my art, and my knowledge of science. Finally, my last reason is that I am generally known by my friends and family that my art really isn't above standards, getting a A will help me prove them wrong.

To reach this goal, I will make sure to not procrastinate my work. As well, taking class work and test more cautiously. Most of my old failed test range in the area of more "didn't read the question" types of questions. Especially when they tell me to show the equation, not the answer...I will also study more aggressively and ask my teacher for help when I need it. Finally, I will try my best not to fool around in class and use my free time more wisely, such as paying attention.