Arabian Nights

One of my all time favourite animated films is Disney's Aladdin. I was recently inspired to do a cover of the opening theme tune called 'Arabian Nights'.

After completing the track I decided to remake the opening scene by using the visuals from the film but replacing the original audio with my own recording of the song.

The problem I had was that the original song is a little faster than my version so the footage was not long enough; it also was not in sync with my audio. To solve this problem I used Windows Movie Maker to slow the video to 0.831 times the original speed; as a result I managed to make the movement of the animation match the beat of the music. I used Kodak Media Impression to edit the video and create the credits.

Here is the video uploaded to YouTube:

The Rule Of Thirds

In image composition the 'rule of thirds' is a technique used to make the image or shot more energetic or interesting. When capturing an image we can think of the viewfinder being divided into three equal parts, both horizontally and vertically. Each section of this imaginary grid should contain some information relating to the subject. The four points where the lines intersect are areas of intensity within the composition. Here is a visual representation of the imaginary grid:

I have created a short video to demonstrate the rule of thirds; it contains three different shots which I believe make use of this technique. Here is the video which contains a piece of music called Clair De Lune by Claude Debussy:



In the first and third shots I have used the rule of thirds to highlight the shape of the houses; this makes the houses the focus of the shot rather than the surrounding landscape or sky. In the second shot I have used this technique to highlight the position of the clock and the edge of the plant within the composition.

I will experiment with this idea further when working on future animations and films.

My Animation (update)

Today I completed the third and final version of my animation. I added a few more images to make the first sequence flow a bit better. Here it is:

My First Animation Project

I was given a brief to create a 30 second animation using moving 2 dimensional figures.

I started by taking some digital photographs with classmates Wilson and Jing. When posing for the pictures we mostly lay on a white floor or stood in front a white wall; we did this so cutting the background would be easier. From the collection of around thirty photos I chose eleven which I felt were appropriate for my narrative - I will explain this in the next paragraph. I also included eight photographs taken by another group; these were the handshake images which I needed to complete my idea.

The story is very simple. It is basically about two very different people meeting and then becoming friends. At the start the male character is running around and fighting; then a female character is introduced who stands in a prayer/meditative stance.  The two characters somehow transform and finish giving each other a high five.

After I had my selected images I began cutting out the backgrounds in Photoshop. I cut the background by using the magic wand tool to select and delete the background; in some cases I had to use the eraser tool as the program was unable to differentiate the background colour from the colour of the figure. This was a lengthy and very tedious process; in future I will be more careful when taking photographs so the background colour doesn’t blend with the colour of the figures clothing.

Once my nineteen figures were free from a single spec of background, I imported the images into Adobe After Effects. Within after effects I was able to manipulate the images on a 30 second timeline. I used several effects including movement, scale, fading and blurring. Here is my first draft animation:

I was then given the music which a track called DC3000 by Thievery Corporation. I knew that I wanted the beat of the music to be in time with my figures cutting in and out so I mapped out the timing of every beat in the music; I then used this information to re-edit my animation so each movement is perfectly in time with the beat. I also made the cross dissolves quicker, changed the background colour and changed the way some of the figures moved in and out of frame. Here is the second draft:

Overall I am happy with my animation as this was my first time using After Effects and I had limited time. In future I will develop my ideas further and possible use drawn figures instead. Watch this space...

My Design Process

When we mention the word ‘design’ most people think of visual arts; be this 2D, 3D or interactive design.  I believe that music is also a valid art form and does involve a design process.

My latest piece of creative work is a piece of music I created for a friend called Adib Ma’ani –Hessari; Adib is a dance choreographer based in Belfast. He recently contacted me and asked for some music to go with his new dance piece which is based on the theme of war and the aftermath of war. This request came at the same time I was nearing the completion of my 7th solo album which coincidentally is based on a similar theme.

After completing and releasing my album, Adib contacted me and told me he was interested in using the ending of one of the tracks called ‘Lost’. Here is the original album version (completed on 25^th August 2011):

Lost by nimahedayati1

The song starts in the key of E minor and the lead melody also stays within E natural minor (Aeolian mode). The song changes drastically at the 2 minutes 25 seconds mark as the key of the backing instruments changes to A minor but the lead melody remains in E natural minor – this creates the ‘Dorian’ mode (see http://www.scalefinder.info/dorian-mode/).  

It was the ending of the song which Adib wanted to use as it had a mysterious and dark sound which captured the feeling of his dance. I was then asked to develop and extend the end of Lost; this is the result (completed on 5^th October 2011):

Lost (version 2) by nimahedayati1

Version 2 was well received but as it has changes in rhythm and dynamic it was a bit too complicated for the intended dance piece. I was then asked to create a simpler version which maintained the slow pace and dynamic for 3 minutes. Here is version 3 of Lost (completed on 6^th October 2011):

Lost (version 3) by nimahedayati1
 

I have received some positive feedback from Adib so hopefully this will be the version used to develop the dance piece.