Evaluation 6

The MacDuring my time spent on this coursework, I have experienced a lot of new technology that I have had to learn to use.

For example I had never been on a Mac before starting Media Studies and I now know how to use most programmes on it, such as Text edit, Safari, Final Cut Express and many more. I did this mainly through trial and error, clicking on random icons to see what they were for.

When using a Mac, you can’t simply copy and paste. So I have had to learn how to go to Edit then Copy, followed by Edit, Paste OR I had to command C and command V. This took a lot of time getting used to, instead of just right-clicking (so I got a bit frustrated but it now comes to me naturally)!

Another thing that I have learnt is how to screenshot, by using the keys ‘command’, ‘shift’ and ‘3’. And again like learning how to copy and paste, I grew a little frustrated but with the help of Google, learnt how to adapt quickly.

There were many programmes that I used during this period of coursework, such as:

• YouTube – this I was already knowledgeable about but I had never used it to upload videos, therefore I spent a short period familiarising myself with the procedure before uploading.• Blogger – I had never even heard of this before beginning our coursework, but once familiarised with it, the layout was quite simple to follow and designing it to our own interest (psycho-thriller) was relatively easy to follow.• Final Cut Express – to me was a completely new computer programme, I had never even heard of it before and when I began the syllabus it therefore took me along time to figure out and learn the different effects, filters and tools to use when editing a film. However I now know how to cut a scene, import music, pictures and movies, change the video filter (especially the colour corrector) and the opacity...• Garageband – this took a few attempts when editing our music for the film opening, as we just couldn’t quite find the right sound effects. Therefore a lot of trial and error took place both when searching for the sounds and editing their positions during the opening.

Canon EOS 600DWhen filming, the cameras available to my class were all Canon 600D.

When using the camera I had to learn which setting did what. For example did I need the portrait, video or landscape setting...?

When using the camera there was lots to consider, such as whether or not I would need a tripod. The tripod would make the scene shot by the camera a lot more steady, however if I wanted certain angles such as a low angle the tripod would be out of the question.

This camera has great image quality (at 90%) and is also beneficial without the tripod, as it is easy to pick up. Therefore I recommend this camera to other media students, as I have found it capable of filming the needed footage for my project at the same time as being fairly simple to operate.