The Site: Forte Lane
First Impressions of Site:
My Experience:
I have walked along forte lane a fair few times. From what I can remember, experiencing it during the day compared with at night time is starkly different. during the day you take notice of the architecture of the opposing building, the brickwork etc. Many of the bars and restaurants are closed till mid afternoon. During the day, Fort Lane is an avenue for transport, with many business men and women cutting through to get to and from work, often with a coffee in hand. However when the sun sets and business open, Forte Lane becomes a hub for social activity. On late Friday and Saturday nights it becomes a hectic environment of stumbling teenagers walking to the popular night club Roxy and Sapphire. The artificial lights are a prominent feature of this site. The Red Lighting strips and light up, flashing Roxy sign create an ambient, modern environment where chaos erupts from.
Some prominent features which strike me on Forte Lane include the iconic heart painting titled ‘Sun burst’ by Sara Hughes and the unkempt plant life growing on the rooftops of some of the buildings framing the laneway. I also notice how the laneway ground dips down almost like a valley- I’m curious to know why that is. I notice many reflections of city buildings through the windows featured in the laneway. The brick works and the paint textures are another prominent feature- the surface textures in forte lane could be ones to play with and research into. The laneway can transform into very different spaces depending on the light conditions. In the morning when the sun is still low in the sky- the laneway look dark and mysterious- and in winter its very cold from the shade of the buildings. On a sunny Mid-day the laneway looks warm and inviting- and the colours spotted through the lane is bright and vibrant like the warm red bricks and the artworks.
I am interested to research into the history of Forte Lane and how it used to look like and what its purpose was in relation to Auckland city.
Observation: The Projection
One feature from the first site visit which really peaked my interest was the projection the sun created from the modern reflective buildings onto some of the older ones on the opposite side. I am quite o=interested in the concept of projection in the cinematic world hence to see this in real time on the site was very amazing to me. I had never noticed such projections before in Auckland City.
The Device and Image Sequence
Device One: Recreating a camera obscura
Testing the device at night time in a bedroom
The camera obscura was a successful device but only in an interior environment and works best to observe detail closely. This was because the lens I used could only pic up detail quite closely and wouldn’t work for further away distances. The lighting conditions and light direction also had to be quite specific. Both times when I went to the site to capture a sequence of images, the frames I wanted to capture wouldn’t appear on the device.
Device Two: Holographic Tube
Sequence Images
My interpretation/reflection:
This device allows me to experience and view the site quite a different perspective. The line of site is limited and the inner foil of the holographic tube reflects and distorts the things viewed through it. There’s a sense of mystery and wonder when capturing the site through this device. Almost like a collider scope, it catches car lights and the vibrant colours painted throughout the laneway.
Device Three: Reflective Surface (Acrylic)
Sequence Images
- Brown paper backing gives photographs and old distressed look which may reflect the past of when fort lane was established and how it has changes considerably to this day.
- Portal into a new world
- Strips of blue sky peaking through like cracks in the brick floor
Fort Lane at Night:
Device Four: Pink Cellophane
Image Sequence
- Pink Cellophane filters and alters the colour creating a hyper light world
- Blade Runner style images with colour filters and light features captured in the images
- Crinkles of cellophane reflect strips of light much like the red LED strip running through the lane up above
- The movement of people- how do people use this space? How are they observed by cameras?
- Blur and shift in camera angles to create paranoia or change in reality
Device Five: Round Mirror
Sequence Images
- Parallel world (inception)
- Mirror or gateway into an altered reality
- What is seen and what is unseen?
- Changing the laneway as we know it
- Flip and manipulate
- Fantasy land
- Cameras: Go unnoticed by day to day civilians- need to look closely and through a different perspective to notice one is being watched.
- Distorting worlds
Favourite Image Sequences: Night time sequences with device four and five (pink cellophane and round mirror)
Direction/reflection:
From experimenting with various cinematic devices I think im most interested in colour filter and mirroring. I am most drawn to the site through the image sequences shot at night time as it captures a totally different feel and experience. I would like my project to reflect lighting, projection, mirroring, and colour which may be inspired by certain films im interested in such as Blade Runner.
Urban Itinerary: Cinematic Space 