Rating Instructions – How to make a camera lucida

The handwritten and hand-drawn instructions on “How to make a camera lucida” are not very helpful. By looking at these instructions you feel disoriented and confused. They are hard to understand, especially for children, that are likely to be the main target group. There are several reasons for this. The first major point is that the instructions are not properly structured. There is no numbering which makes it easy to accidentally miss a step. The same applies to the pictures, where there is no chronological order. The drawings are arranged randomly on the page, which might cause confusion. Additionally, there is no list of components. The only way to find out which parts and measurements are needed is by looking at the drawings. These, in turn, can only be understood in connection with the text. Another important point concerns the macro and micro structure of the instructions. First of all, many separate points are written together in one paragraph, which again can confuse the reader. Furthermore, the text never mentions what the camera is used for. Another crucial point is that essential instructions are left out (for example how to glue the piece of plastic into the box). In addition, there are several articles missing in front of nouns and the “and”s in the text are replaced by ampersands. In conclusion can be said that the instructions can be misleading and complicated for people who are ungifted in handcrafting and/or who do not know what a camera lucida is. 

(250)

Lik to Ines's blog:
http://ines-mitterhuemer-suk4.blogspot.co.at/

Migrant Mother

www.uiowa.edu

This picture shows a miserable-looking woman with two children, one on each side of her. Her seated body is slightly slumped forward clothed in old garments, frayed at the seams. The woman‘s gaze is directed into the distance and she seems to be lost in thought. She wears an expression of worry on her face, emphasized by the deep wrinkles on her forehead and around her eyes. Her frowning mouth and tightly closed lips also reflect her concern, pulling the corners of her mouth downwards. She is touching her cheek with her right hand, as if her head needs support, while she herself needs to lend strength to the children at her sides. The children‘s faces are turned away and buried in the woman‘s shoulders. The child to her right has short dark hair and seems to seek shelter behind her. The one on her left has short, light hair and has the arms crossed on her shoulder, leaning on her.

(162) 

Link to blogs:

Ella Fedorchuk: http://ukrainerin.blogspot.co.at/
Ines Mitterhuemer: http://ines-mitterhuemer-suk4.blogspot.co.at/

Little History of Photography: Narrative

aceoflifewellbeingblog.com

First version: 

Image Keeper 

You might not know me, or maybe you do. All depends on when you were born. I am not that common any more nowadays. I don‘t know exactly how old I am, I only know that I have seen many pictures come and go during my lifetime. The most important ones stayed, others had to leave their place after some time. I know every single picture that has ever been glued onto my pages. One of the first pictures I can remember was the one of a young woman. Her beauty was tremendous, but the look on her face made it appear as if she was sad. So serious, but yet so young. Her skin appeared to glow in contrast to the dark background, making it seem like as if she was surrounded by a halo. 

Time passed by and the pictures changed. Suddenly the halo was gone and the photographs became more glamorous. They were staffed with props that seemed to fulfill just one purpose: providing the people with something they could lean on as they were forced to stand still for hours, because of the exposure time, that is to say the time needed for the chemical reaction to take place that creates the picture, was very long. 

With industrial revolution setting in and photography becoming more affordable, many people longed for older photographic styles that they connected with nobility, making the halo reappear. But as time went on and more innovative techniques of reproducing a picture came into being, new trends were created, making photography change. Now we are in the year 2014 and my services are no longer needed. Pictures have lost their status. They are now longer the luxury items they once used to be, but I am lucky. My family loves traditions and keeps filling me with pictures. 

[304]  

                                                                                                                                                                                            

Summary: 

On first glance my story had all the elements that were needed for a narrative. The initiating event needed more stressing, and the text as a whole had to be formulated in more detail. 

                                                                                                                                                                                           

Final version:

Image Keeper 

You might not know me, or maybe you do. All depends on when you were born. I am not that common any more nowadays. I don‘t know exactly how old I am, I only know that I have seen many pictures come and go during my lifetime. The most important ones stayed, others had to leave their place after some time. I know every single picture that has ever been glued onto my pages. I will never forget one of the first pictures I had the pleasure and honor to show. It was the picture of a young woman. She was stunningly beautiful, but the look on her face made it appear as if she was sad. So serious, but yet so young. Her skin appeared to glow in contrast to the dark background, making it seem like as if she was surrounded by a halo. 

Time passed by and the pictures changed. Suddenly the halo was gone and the photographs became more glamorous. They were staffed with props that seemed to fulfill the purpose of providing the people with something they could lean on and distracting viewers from the morose expression on their faces when they were forced to stand still for hours as the exposure time, that is to say the time needed for the chemical reaction to take place that creates the picture, was very long. 

With industrial revolution setting in and photography becoming more affordable, many people longed for older photographic styles that they connected with nobility, making the halo reappear. But as time went on and more innovative techniques of reproducing a picture came into being, new trends were created, making photography change even more. Now we are in the year 2014 and my services are no longer needed. Pictures have lost their status. They are no longer the luxury items they once used to be, but I am lucky. My family loves traditions and keeps filling me with pictures. 

[325]

A day in the life of...

It is a foggy winter day in Graz, Thursday to put it more precisely, when Susan gets up at 7:30 am. Like every other day she takes a shower, gets herself dressed and has breakfast, before heading off to university. As she tends to forget her phone at home, she usually runs late for class. At least 15 minutes. At university she always meets up with her friend Ingrid. They know each other for three years now. You could argue that they are really close. Today however something is wrong. They don‘t seem to get along quite well. They keep teasing and snapping at each other. They tend to do that a lot, but this time it is really bad. But today is not like every other day. “Has Ingrid really forgotten my birthday?“, Susan thinks. Tired and disappointed she walks home. It‘s already 8 o‘ clock when she arrives there, because on Thursdays she has class all day. At around eleven o‘clock – noises. Somebody is in her garden. It becomes louder and louder, suddenly knocking, laughters. Susan tensley walks towards the balcony. She steps out, but there is nothing. Suddenly the lights go on. All her friends are there, singing “Happy Birthday“. 

foggy Graz 

at university 

birthday party