Digital Experimental

Small course on how to accept error as a constitutive element of human nature and its infinite expressive possibility. In this case, the ambiguity of digital data will be exploited to create alternative visions disconnected from reality. we will corrupt the images by directly entering the code via text or hex software, We will use audio software to post-produce photos, We will see the results produced with different file types and the expressive opportunities.

Outline

1. Introduction to the Concept of Error in Digital Art

   • Explanation of error as a constitutive element of human nature and its potential in artistic expression.

   • Introduction to the idea of exploiting digital data ambiguity to create alternative, abstract visions.

   • Brief overview of the history of error in art (e.g., glitch art, datamoshing).

2. Manipulating Digital Data: Text and Hex Code

   • Introduction to file structures and how digital images store data.

   • Participants will learn to access and alter image files by editing their code directly using text or hex software.

   • Practical activity: Participants will corrupt images by altering the code and observe the visual changes.

3. Post-Producing Photos Using Audio Software

   • Overview of how audio software can be used in unconventional ways to manipulate images.

   • Demonstration of how to convert photo files into audio files and how to manipulate these audio files to affect the image.

   • Practical activity: Participants will post-produce their corrupted photos using audio software to create unique effects.

4. Exploring Different File Types and Their Expressive Opportunities

   • Discussion of different digital file types (JPEG, PNG, TIFF, etc.) and how each reacts differently to data corruption.

   • Participants will experiment with various file types to create diverse artistic results.

   • Group discussion on how each file type influences the final image and the expressive potential of each.

5. Closing Discussion and Sharing

   • Reflection on the results created throughout the workshop.

   • Group sharing of final works, with participants explaining their methods and experiences.

6. Discussion on the value of error in digital art and its potential for future exploration.

In the four-hour class on slit-scan photography, participants will learn the intricacies of capturing a slice of time in a still image. Beginning with an exploration of the technique's history and theoretical underpinnings, they delved into the technicalities of the camera settings and composition. Outdoor hands on sessions, experimentation, capturing the fluidity of motion in static frames. Culminating in a reflective discussion on time slice photography, participants will gain an appreciation for this technique.

Outline

1. Introduction to Slitscan Photography: Introduce participants and their background in photography. Overview of Slitscan Photography. Define slitscan photography and its history. Discuss the concept of time and movement in photography. Technical Aspects of Slitscan Photography. Discuss camera settings.

2. Hands-On Activity Getting Started: Participants will practice basic slitscan techniques indoors then in the courtyard. Examples of Simplified Post Processing.

3. Post-Processing Techniques: Tools & editing.

4. Outdoor Practical Session: Location Scouting, discuss suitable outdoor locations. Encourage experimentation with different subjects and movements. Sharing and Feedback. A discussion on what worked well and areas for improvement. Group Critique and Discussion.

5. Advanced Techniques and Conclusion: Advanced Slitscan Techniques including rotations about various Axis. Q&A, Conclusion and Recap.

Participants should bring: laptop with image viewing/ editing program & a tripod. The Artist will bring 8 slitscan cameras to be used.

During the eight-hour class, participants will learn about Still & Video slit-scan photography. We will discuss some of the historical techniques and then continue to more advanced techniques. Outside, we will practice creating videos of moving objects to be able to capture time to distill to a single image.

Outline

1. Introduction to Slitscan Photography: Introduce participants and their background in photography. Overview of Slitscan Photography. Define slitscan photography and its history. Discuss the concept of time and movement in photography. Technical Aspects of Slitscan Photography. Issues with Colour Slitscan. Discuss camera settings.

2. Hands-On Activity Getting Started: Participants will practice basic slitscan techniques indoors. Examples of Simplified Post Processing and challenges with video to stills. Review of Indoor Session.

3. Outdoor Practical Session: Location Scouting, discuss suitable outdoor locations. Encourage experimentation with different subjects and movements. Sharing and Feedback. A discussion on what worked well and areas for improvement.

4. Post-Processing Techniques: Tools & editing and various concepts of video to still processing. Rinse & Repeat further Hands-on with alternate tools. Group Critique and Discussion

5. Advanced Techniques and Philosophy/Reflection of Time: Advanced Slitscan Techniques including rotations about various Axis. Philosophy of Time and Photography. Q&A, Conclusion and Recap.

No prior knowledge needed but participants must bring a laptop, and bring a either a phone or camera able to create video (The Artist will bring a couple Gopros in case anyone wants use those).

Building a Virtual Gallery in Unity – Mobile Phone Application. Using participant’s images (selected in advance), we will create a virtual gallery that will live as an app on our own phones. Easy to share your work and present to friends, coworkers, clients. Walk through your own personal gallery virtually on your mobile device. Instructions will be on Apple computer for iOS App, using Unity and X Code to build the app. No experience necessary, but very helpful to play around in Unity ahead of time and be somewhat familiar with navigation. Watch an introductory tutorial. Experience in another game engine or 3D software is also helpful but not necessary.

Outline

1. Brief technology overview and use

2. Creating a Visitor (in UI), Point Of View camera (in UI), and Visitor actions (in C# code)

3. Creating a gallery (in UI), or importing existing asset (from Asset Store) and picture frames (UI or Asset Store)

4. Linking images to frames, lighting the gallery

5. Exporting to an iphone app and testing

   
   

The workshop will be conducted on apple system, so all the software needed are for a mac. If there will be PC users, the Artist can help as much as possible, but instructions will be on a mac and there will not be enough time to do both. It is very similar to this process on a PC, maybe even easier, but it will not be demonstrated in the workshop step by step.

What is needed to be done before the workshop: Bring your own laptop, 3 button mouse (left click, right click, and wheel click). Download latest version of Unity (Unity 6 is latest to the date). Download Visual Studio Code. Download latest version of X Code (16.0 is latest at this time). Upgrade your iphone to the latest iOS (17 or 18 is latest at this time). All the software should be downloaded ahead of time, there will not be time to wait for downloading during the workshop. Downloads take a long time, so it’s very important to do it before class! Participants need to check all the hardware requirements ahead of time too. Choose your own images for the gallery. For convenience they should be the same dimensions. Resizing and cropping to the same size and dimension ahead of time will help to make framing easier.