"Final Images 2009 - 2010" (Special Version)

The blog accompanying the late arrival of this video,  created in part for readers of SaveImageAs, deals with (among other oddities), the constantly announced but never accurate reports from Spain of Franco's imminent death,  convincing arguments regarding the origins of the "Wall of Sound" (experienced on many LP albums made during the 60's and 70's  of overwhelmingly rich and layered sound quality. The listener could feel he was being "Walled In" or surrounded by a music that had depth as well as as volume and could be  re-mastered in the Recording Booth (even as it was being performed) to accentuate lesser heard instruments as well as building sonorous sounds around the  spotlighted soloists regardless of the musical genre.  Just the use of an echo chamber had an intensifying impact of the Wall Of  Sound when heard through an AM radio or on a jukebox. This concept and the skill set of technical adjustments made by sound engineers, studio musicians and producers  that could consistently recreate the"sound" are popularly attributed to Music Industry legend, Phil Spector.  As I stipulated though, a very plausible, documented set of musical events in Paris during the 1920's and 30's make Maurice Ravel the likely visionary of this Wall effect. The piece of music which accompanies this Special Version is orchestrated and arranged from a piano piece by Ravel. You will know what I mean when listening the last notes. Even without the more sophisticated recording and playback equipment that came much later, the performed versions of previously "smaller" sounding pieces resulted in  "shimmering, ever escalating" waves of sound that predate the appearance of the Wall of Sound by possibly 40 years. The blog concludes by extolling the likely beauty if not mores of Pablo Casal's mistress ...(if Pablo Casals had a mistress.)
Such tempting morsels of information,  these 3 well marinated in a rich sauce of re-telling and wish fulfillment, will be returned to this very blog spot. In the meantime, it seemed cavalier to continue to promise something as Final as"Final Images" and not, finally, get around to producing it. In truth, it has been available to see on YouTube since December. But it was for readers here and users of Picasa Web Albums that this piece was originally intended.
So without further ado,  Play on MacDuff.

You Are Invited?

Right above me is the "teaser" I was prompted to create for the exhibit of images I call "Transmutations 2010".  The company Gold Mail has a wonderful program that helps you create, edit and publish emails that contain an embedded player link. The recipient clicks on the link in your email and voila! a player appears that will, with the recipient's speakers turned ON, play your message--a combination of images and sound. The company has templates which you can simply fill in with your business information, or you can create one "From Scratch" as I did. If you use Wise Stamp, you can include the icon of the a gold circle with a blue G which, when clicked will taker the reader to the same video presentation.

The service is free although they have a Business Class category which allows for messages that run up to 10 minutes versus the free 3 minutes. I had the choice--which I took--to have a player embedded and Gold Mail had the Official Google Authorized Code all ready for me to just click and snap into place. A creative, consumer oriented company, I think. I have been pleased with every email I've created.



After waging all out war on those attempting to abscond with the name of and most of the better works by Lieutenis, you know I was just waiting for someone to start "sneaking off" with my images. I first put them on Windows Live "Sky Drive" so the two friends whose likenesses I use in the the piece were satisfied that my intent was positive in manipulating their photographs. Positive for the piece, not their vanity. Both are quite comfortable with their physical-ness and their age suited the type of faces I wanted. (see Blog: "Creating Nancy's Father" to learn how and why I used a 50 year old Hispanic's 2010 photograph to create  US Navy sailor probably in his early 20's, stationed in post-WWII Japan in the early 1950's).
Then, I raised (or lowered depending on how you cotton to Facebook), the bar on who could see the album. I allowed Friends and their Friends to view the images. I had, however, taken a page from all the so-called FREE Video Converters/Encoders that actually only let you convert video files for free when a LARGE watermark of the company is emblazoned over the upper right third of the video you are encoding. I had all the images except 7 watermarked. And in at least half the cases, the watermark is barely visible, if at all. Those, I figured, would the most likely to be downloaded.
Windows Live! is very clear on copyright, rights of use, downloading copyrighted material, etc. But then so is You Tube. At least it seems clear. Until it isn't.
Despite the gentle but stern remonstrances not to download material, I knew people did and I knew I'd be able to find 'em.
My trap was set. The bait? Some Primo Images that could be morphed into any number of photographs that could pass as "quasi-Primo", or "Primo Secondus" to the unknowing.
These clever, non-verbal "quotes" pointedly used manipulated images to create a "manipulated" feeling in the viewer" part admiration, part jealousy, part contempt.
Just like yours truly felt for the first 33 years of his life.
More--of course--shortly.
If you think the video "persona" matches the personality of this blogger, you really need to be given some alternative WordPress blogs to follow.

Coming Attraction (update only)

In a few hours a new posting and accompanying video will be here to read and view. The video is  "Final Images 2009 - 2010" (Special Version)  and as you'll see (and read) it's development and creation are due to two sets of internet Art viewers. This is a small token of thanks for all the feedback I've gotten, but now you need to access the blog directly and make those comments..not to me, but on this site, so others will know what to think of those who thought to write. Right?