Task 4 (Reflective Statement)

Working through Assignment 02 forced me to move away from following a fixed step by step guide like in Assignment 01 and instead pushed me towards self directed problem solving. For Task 01, I built 5 2D compositions, layering a new variable onto the last each time, for example synchronising text to the audio, then applying different effects and presets, then finally adjusting keyframes. Comparing all 5 compositions side by side showed how small changes can add up, transform the timing and rhythm of the whole composition.

Task 02 then extended this knowledge to 3D, and this is where I felt I learnt the most. Adding virtual cameras and key-framing their positions in 3 dimensions around the extruded text gave the composition another level of depth. This also showed how virtual lights can easily over expose or flatten the text geometry if not positioned carefully. Adding the adjustment layer to unify the grading across the scene, made it easier to blend elements togethers serving as more of a technical lesson rather than a aesthetic one.

Task 03 refinement was the most important step in terms of how it made me evaluate my own work. Reviewing my before and after results in the task showed how my first attempts (both 2D and 3D) prioritised technical ability over the feel. While the effects/presets used were expressive, key frames were not accurate to the songs timing. Retiming these effects/presets tightened the synchronisation and created a sense of a more visually appealing composition.

My main on going challenge with Assignment 02 is trusting timing to have a greater effect to my composition. I still default to adding another effect/preset to my timeline rather than reframing the timing. This assignment has made me realise how much of an effect a videos timing can have to perceived result, which the rubric's emphasis on aesthetic judgment has made me more aware of.