Parker’s Digital Storytelling

Author: admin

  • Reflection on The Vignelli Canon

    Image of Massimo Vignelli retrieved from Wikipedia:
    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massimo_Vignelli

    One thing that stood out to me while reading The Vignelli Canon by Massimo Vignelli was how strongly he believed that design should be simple, organized, and meaningful. Instead of making things overly complicated or trendy, Vignelli focused on clarity and structure. I thought it was interesting when he said good design should be clear and not have extra distractions. His ideas about grids, fonts, and spacing helped me realize that even simple designs take a lot of planning. I also liked when he said “design is one” because it showed that the same design ideas can be used for many different kinds of projects.

    The part I found most useful was Vignelli’s focus on timelessness and discipline in design. He argued that designers should avoid creating work that only follows temporary trends because trends quickly become outdated. Instead, he believed good design should last for a long time and still work well years later. This made me think about logos and advertisements that still look professional even after many years. I also liked his ideas about consistency. He explained how grids, alignment, and typography help keep a project organized and balanced. Reading this made me realize that cluttered designs can be confusing, while simple designs are much easier to understand.

    Some of the principles from The Vignelli Canon that I would apply in my own design work are simplicity, balance, and organization. When making projects for class or creating social media posts, I sometimes add too many different colors, fonts, and effects because I think it makes the design look better, even though it usually does not. After reading this booklet, I realized that keeping a design simple can actually make it look stronger and more professional. I also want to pay more attention to spacing and alignment because those small details help make designs cleaner and easier to read. Overall, The Vignelli Canon helped me better understand how design choices affect communication and why good design is more than just making something look flashy.

    Knoll International poster designed by Massimo Vignelli. https://www.cooperhewitt.org/2018/05/04/a-colorful-identity-2/

    Statue of Liberty poster designed by Massimo Vignelli.

    https://artsandculture.google.com/asset/liberty-liberté-vignelli-massimo/rwG3OPRS7BVJDA

  • Visual Storytelling Summary

    Learning Visual Story Telling: https://pmccausland.com/assignments/learning-visual-storytelling-through-photography/

    Safari Challenge:

    https://pmccausland.com/assignments/15-minute-photo-safari-challenge/

    Draw it assignment:

    https://pmccausland.com/assignments/draw-it-assignment/

    Forced Perspective:

    https://pmccausland.com/assignments/forced-perspective-assignment/

    Visualize Sound:

    https://pmccausland.com/uncategorized/visualize-sound-assignment-3/

    Motion Blur:

    https://pmccausland.com/assignments/motion-blur-assignment/

    Written Summary

    Throughout this visual storytelling unit, I learned that photography and digital media can be used for a lot more than just taking pictures. Before this project, I mostly thought photography was just about capturing an image, but these assignments helped me realize how things like editing, lighting, and movement can completley change the mood and meaning of a photo. I also learned how multimedia elements like SoundCloud audio, outside articles, and edited images can work together to improve digital storytelling and make projects even more creative.

    One thing that was harder than I expected was making images look creative while still also looking realistic. Some assignments, especially the motion blur and forced perspective projects, took multiple tries before I got the result I wanted. It was sometimes difficult finding the right angle, lighting, or camera moement to create the effect I imagined.

    One thing that was easier than I expected was learning how to use WordPress. After I figured out how to upload images, add my links and use tags, posting the assignments became a lot easier. As the project continued, I also became more comfortable experimenting with editing tools and visual effects.

    The most frustrating part of the project was dealing with technical issues while also trying to upload or embed certain media. Sometimes the videos would not embed correctly or the visual effects looked too edited and unrealistic, which just meant I had to keep trying different ideas.Even though it was pretty frustrating at times, it did help me learn more about digital editing.

    The part I enjoyed the most was being creative with the photos and experimenting with different visual styles (most I haven’t heard of). I especially liked the motion blue and forced perspective assignments because they allowed me to turn normal objects and spaces into better looking images. Overall, this project helped me become more confident using digital storytelling tools and being creative through photography and multimedia.

  • Motion Blur Assignment

    (This is a motion blur pic I took in my sisters room where I turned her LED lights on and moved my camera fast)

    Supporting link:

    This article helped me better understand motion blur photography and how camera movement affects images.

    https://support.swann.com/hc/en-us/articles/42176756760089-Understanding-Motion-Blur-and-How-to-Manage-It

    Reflection:

    For this assignment, I experimented with motion blur photography by purposefully moving the camera while taking the picture. Instead of tyring to capture a perfectly clear image, I wanted the movement and blue to become part of the final effect. The result created a more energetic and artistic image that looked very different from a normal photo.

    The purpose of this project was to show how movement can completley change the mood and feeling of a photo. Motion blur can make images feel fast paced, emotional or even dreamlike depending on how the movement is captured. I wanted the final image to feel visually interesting while also showing how photography can represent movement and energy.

    One thing I enjoyed about this assignment was experimenting with different camera movements. Some attempts looked too a little bit too blurry, where others created interesting streaks or light and motion. The assignment helped me better understand how photography can use movement creatively instead of always tryong to make images perfectly clear.

    Overall, this project showed me that photographs don’t always have to be perfectly clear to be effective. Someties blur and movement can create more emotion and make the image more visually interesting. The final result felt more creative than a normal photo.

  • Visualize Sound Assignment

    (I took this photo on a rainy day which was perfect, and I edited the photo in the camera app lowering the brightness of the picture to give it a more gloomy look)

    Supporting link

    (I also added a SoudCloud clip of relaxing flute music to match the mood and atmosphere of the image above)

    Reflection

    For this assignment, I wanted to visually represent the sound and feeling of rain using photography. Since it was raining outside during the assignment, I used the gloomy lighting and reflections near my window to create a calm but emotional atmosphere. Instead of focusing on a specific subject, I wanted the image to capture the overall mood and feeling that rain creates.

    The purpose of this project was to show how photography can communicate sound and emotion without using actual audio. Even without hearing anything, viewers can often imagine sounds like rain, thunder, or silence just by looking at certain visual details. I wanted the image to feel peaceful but slightly dramatic at the same time.

    One thing I enjoyed about this assignment was experimenting with lighting and reflections created by the rainy weather. The darker environment helped create stronger contrast and atmosphere throughout the image. I also realized that weather can completely change the mood of photographs and make ordinary spaces appear more cinematic and emotional.

    Overall, this assignment helped me better understand how photography can represent emotions and sensory experiences beyond what is physically visible. The final image focused more on mood and storytelling than simply documenting reality.

  • Forced Perspective Assignment

    (Heres an old run down shoe I tried to make it look larger than it actually is)

    Supporting article

    https://www.gq.com/story/how-vans-got-everyone-wearing-vans-again?utm_source=chatgpt.com

    Reflection/Writing

    For this assignment, I experimented with forced perspective photography by changing the angle and distance of the camera to change the appearance of an object. I positioned the camera close to a shoe while placing another farther away so the image created an illusion. The final result made a normal scene look more creative and interesting.

    The purpose of this project was to show how perspective can completely change the way viewers understand an image. Photography is not always about showing things exactly how they look. Photographers can use different angles and camera positions to make normal scenes look more creative and artistic.

    One challenge during this assignment was finding the right angle to make the picture look realistic. Even small movements changed the photo a lot, so I had to take several attempts before getting the best result. This project helped me realize how much photographers can change the way viewers see an image by using different camera angles and perspectives.

    Overall, this assignment was one of the most creative projects I think I have ever done because it let me experiment with perspective and visual tricks. It showed me that photography can make simple everyday objects look more interesting and imaginative.

  • Draw It Assignment

    (This is a picture of my team during the NCAA tournament back in November, first time in a really long time)

    Supporting link

    https://girlssoccernetwork.com/team-building-off-the-field-strengthening-bonds-among-girls-soccer-squads

    Reflection

    For this assignment, I transformed one of my personal soccer photos into a sketch-style image to create a more artistic and emotional effect. The original photo captured my team huddled together at halftime during our NCAA Tournament game when we made it to the Elite 8. The game was tied at halftime, and it was also a cold and rainy day. By turning the image into a drawing, the scene felt much more dramatic and meaningful while still representing teamwork and unity.

    The image represents the bond and connection between teammates before competition. Even though the weather conditions were rough, everyone remained focused and supportive of each other. The sketch effect helped emphasize the emotions and atmosphere of the moment instead of focusing only on the details of the original photo. I wanted the final image to feel more like a memory or emotional moment rather than just a normal sports picture of athletes standing in a circle together.

    One thing I enjoyed about this assignment was experimenting with transforming photography into another artistic style. It showed me how editing and visual effects can completely change the mood of an image. The process also helped me better understand how visual storytelling can communicate emotion and teamwork through simple editing choices.

    Overall, this assignment helped me become more creative with photography and editing. Instead of simply posting the original image, I was able to reinterpret the photo in a more artistic way. The final result combined sports, emotion, and visual storytelling into a single image.

  • 15 Minute Photo Safari Challenge

    This is the begining time of when I started the challenge

    A photo dominated by one color

    (An interesting shadow)

    Something futuristic

    An unusual angle

    Bright

    Someone elses shoe or foot

    An inanimate object made to look alive (tried to make the shoes look like they were kissing)

    Converging lines

    Two things that don’t belong together

    A repeating pattern

    A motion‑blur photo

    A frame or opening leading to something else

    A photo representing joy

    An abstract photo that sparks “Is that a photograph?”

    A metaphor for complexity

    The time that I finished the challenge

    Reflection:

    Because it was a rainy day outside today, I decided to complete my 15 minute photo safari entirely inside of my house. Even though I was limited to indoor spaces, I was still able to find creative ways to complete all of the prompts by using different rooms, onjects, lighting and camera angles. I chose to stay inside because obviously the weather wasn’t great outside, but it also challenged me to become more creative with everyday objects and spaces around me.

    The 15 minute challenge felt a lot more difficult than I expected because I really had to think quickly and creatively while moving all over my house.Some prompts were easier to complete, like repeating patterns and bright light, I already was sitting on the couch with the pillow I took the picture of and I already had a candle lit. Some of the others required a lot more imagination and experimentation. The time limit made the challenge feel fast paced, but it also forced me to pay closer attention to details I normally wouldn’t notice inside of my house.

    Some of my strongest photos were the unsucual angle photographs and the shadow image because I feel like they created insteresting depth. I also thought the motion blue and abstract photographs turned out well because they looked more artistict and visually unique. I would say the most inventive photos were probably the ones where I made ordinary household objects appear unusual or alive by just changing the perspective and the lighting. Overall, This challenge helped me better understand how creativity, and perspectives can turn simple everyday scenes into some strong visual stories.

  • Learning Visual Storytelling Through Photography

    After reviewing the photography readings and visual storytelling resources, I realized that photography involves a lot more than simply taking pictures. One of the most important ideas I learned from David duChemin’s photography tips was to “get pickier” with photographs. Instead of quickly snapping random images, photographers should think carefully about composition, lighting, and perspective before taking the picture. I also learned how contrast can improve storytelling by using differences in color, shadows, and subjects to create stronger visual impact. Changing perspective by crouching low, shooting from above, or using unusual angles can completely change how viewers experience a photograph.

    (Heres on of my personal photos I took on a trip in Key West, FL)

    Another important lesson from the readings was the importance of depth, balance, and lighting in photography. Using foreground objects, strong lines, and background contrast helps create dimension and makes photographs feel more realistic. I also found the information about lighting especially interesting because I never realized how much shadows and natural light affect the mood of a picture. The readings explained how photographers use aperture, shutter speed, and ISO settings to shape the appearance of an image. Even though there are many photography “rules,” I learned that experienced photographers sometimes intentionally break those rules in order to create more artistic and meaningful photographs.

    (Heres another personal photo I took while in Costa Rica)

    The visual literacy readings and the story behind Migrant Mother helped me understand how photographs can tell emotional stories without using words. A single image can communicate struggle, emotion, and history through facial expressions, composition, and small visual details. The photograph became powerful because it captured a real human moment that people could emotionally connect to. I learned that visual storytelling is effective because viewers often respond emotionally to images faster than they do to written text. Overall, these readings helped me better understand how photographers combine creativity, emotion, and technical skill to create meaningful visual stories.

  • Welcome to My Digital Storytelling Site:

    Hi everyone! My name is Parker McCausland and I am going into my senior year at UMW. I play on the womens soccer team as a forward, and I am currently majoring in Digital Studies with a minor in Sports Managment and Marketing. Being a student athlete has taught me a lot about teamwork, discipline, time managment and balancing responsibilities both on and off the field. Soccer has been a huge part of my life for many years, I started playing when I was 4 years old, and it has helped shape who I am today.

    Outside of school and soccer, I enjoy staying active, working out, listening to music (my favorite music is country or house music), and spending time being creative like doing diamond art or painting. Music has always been a big part of my life, and I play several instruments including the guitar, flute, ukulele, and the drums. Another thing I enjoy is working with social media and digital content. I currently run the UMW baseball social media account, which I took over in the spring of this year, and it has helped me become more interested in digital communication,and content creation for sports teams and

    A fun fact about me is that I was born in New York, but I spent about 8 years living in Europe while growing up. During that time, I lived in both Budapest and Prague and had the opportunity to travel throughout Europe. Living in different countries and being exposed to different cultures gave me experiences that many people do not get to have at a young age. I was able to see many different lifestyles, traditions, languages and ways of communicating. I think growing up in different environments helped me become more open minded and creative, and it also made me interested in how people connect and share stories accross different cultures.

    I am excited to take DS106 because I want to learn more about creating digital content and using different forms of media to tell stories in creative ways. Since social media, marketing, and online communication are such a major part of society today, I think digital storytelling is an important skill that can be useful in many careers, especially in sports, media and marketing. I am interested in learning how photography, video, audio, websites and design can all work together to create engaging content.

    I also hope this course helps me feel more comfortable using platforms like Flickr, Vimeo, and SoundCloud. I think learning how to create and share digital content will help me both personally and professionally in the future. During the semester, I look forward to building my website, being more creative, and sharing assignments, projects and other work that shows my experiences and interests.

    Flickr Image

    IMG_3870

    One of my favorite photos from my Flickr profile. An amazing trip to Costa Rica with my soccer team back in 2024.

    Vimeo Video

    SoundCloud audio

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