Final Project and Reflection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjqKe5qZ2AE&feature=youtu.be


              

After I wrote the previous post, I finished the audio which consists of 28 voice recordings and 2 tracks of the first two movements of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata 27 opus 2 interpreted by pianist Paul Pitman. I chose this particular piece because it was written in 1801 which is the time period that Alexander von Humboldt and Aime Bonpland explored Central and South America. While it is fairly recognizable, my reason for using it is that the composition has a calm determination to it which I feel captures the sense of purpose that it must have taken these 2 explorer/scientists to undertake their journey. I feel that it also conveys a sense of  the scholarship it required to have the knowledge these men had to be able to understand these foreign countries from a  geological, scientific and archaeological point of view.

Albert Bierstadt, The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak

The VideoPad video editing software I used started to freeze up after I added the voice
recordings so that it was very difficult to change the sequence 
of the recordings, their placement or the images once everything was added to the timeline. There were a few revisions that I wanted
to do but could not. I wanted to create more transitions, possibly change a couple of images, add another chart of the volcanoes,
a photograph of John Muir or a Bierstadt painting, another artist that was inspired  by Humboldt and also shaped the view of the
unknown America in the 19th century, but
the software really did not allow me to do this. 

In addition, the software program crashed
several times so at the end of editing, I was
thankful that I had a project that was as near to
the final edit without any setbacks. I wanted to
add text which listed sources, credits and infor-
mation about the pianist as well as the name of the piece and composer. Unfortunately, that was not possible either.

The audio was difficult to match up with the images. It was pretty essential that the images change with the transitions in the narrative. I was not really sure how some of the transitions in the narrative related to the images so I was somewhat unclear where it would be best to change the image.With this type of video, the transition from one image to the next can add to the meaning of the video as long as it is the right one. As an example, using the circle zoom can have the effect of focusing on the subject to give greater insight or it can be a transition in time like the transition from Humboldt talking about his plans for the journey and then showing him in the landscape by a tent in the midst of his travels. That was actually unintentional. I was really pleased with the way that came out. 

The music elevates the viewers ability to assimilate the narrative. Using the multimedia principle, the music helps to give the video a consistency so the graphics which are somewhat different in style come together to create a continuous narrative. (Clark et al, 2008) I also like how the music adds to the mood of the video. When the narration begins discussing Humboldt's influence on the artists of the Hudson River school, the music picks up in a way that seems as if it was planned and actually much was an approximation of placing the narrative about where it seemed it should go. I am sure there must be a way to do this more exactly, but I feel it came together pretty well considering how inexact my editing process was.

There are a couple of graphics I would change. I don't think I adequately explained the concept of bio geography. I thought it was somewhat confusing and the chart by Aime Bonpland was completely illegible. I really should have included a close up of it or explained it better.  This video is a research project and I do not intend on releasing it as a stand alone video or for public viewing on Youtube. However, I enjoyed researching the material for this video. Alexander von Humboldt was and is a very interesting person. As it turns out, the credentials of one of the scholars referenced in the video is slightly incorrect. Frank Baron has a PhD in Germanic studies and has researched literature and art from the Renaissance to the 20th century. In the narrative, he is described as an art historian. His description should probably be changed to scholar but I have not been able to revise the video due to the software problems.

References
Alexander von Humboldt webpage, Wikipedia.org. 
retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_von_Humboldt

Baron, F., 2010. "From Humboldt to Darwin: Influence and Evolution", Alexander von Humboldt Digital Library, University of Kansas, 2013.
retrieved from http://www.avhumboldt.net/_publications/DarwinHumboldt.pdf

Baron, F., 2005. "From Alexander von Humboldt to Frederic Edwin Church: Voyages of Scientific Exploration and Artistic Creativity", Humboldt Digital Library, VI, 10, 2005.
retrieved from: http://www.uni-potsdam.de/romanistik/hin/hin10/inh_baron_3.htm

Buttimer, A., 2012. "Alexander von Humboldt and planet earth’s green mantle", Cybergeo, European Journal of Geography. 
retrieved from: http://cybergeo.revues.org/25478#illustrations

Clark, R. C. , Mayer, R. E., 2008. E-Leaarning and the Science of Instruction, Pfeiffer, an imprint of Wiley, San Francisco, CA. 

Darwin Correspondence Project, Cambridge University Library, University of Cambridge, 2015. retrieved from:   http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/darwins-letters

Emerson, R. W., 1869. XXIV Humboldt, An Abstract of Mr. Emerson's remarks made at the celebration of the Centennial Anniversary of the birth of Alexander von Humboldt, September 14, 1869, Complete Works of Ralph Waldo Emerson website, RWE.org, 1998.
retrieved from: http://www.rwe.org/xxiv-humboldt.html

The Humboldt Digital Library, The University of Kansas, 
retrieved from: http://www.avhumboldt.net/index.php?page=138

Pitman, Paul, n.d. Piano Sonata no. 14 in C sharp minor, Op. 27 no. 2, (I, II,), Ludwig van Beethovan, Musopen website.
retrieved from:  https://musopen.org/music/278/ludwig-van-beethoven/sonata-no-14-in-c-sharp-minor-moonlight-op-27-no-2/

Sachs, Aaron. 2007. The Humboldt Current: Nineteenth-Century Exploration and the Roots of American Environmentalism. Penguin

The Thomas Jefferson Papers, American Memory website, The Library of Congress online.
retrieved from :  http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/

VideoPad video editing software

Images:

Aime Bonpland Daguerrotype, 1850, (cropped) no attribution, Harvard University Library Weissman Preservation Center, Aime Bonpland webpage, Wikipedia Commons.
retrieved from: 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Aim%C3%A9_Bonpland_daguerreotype.jpg

Begas,R., 1883. Alexander von Humboldt sculpture, Humboldt University, Berlin, 
Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: 
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=52.517646&lon=13.396235&z=20&m=b&show=/7867130/Alexander-von-Humboldt-Statue

Bonpland, A., 1807, "Geographie of Plants", Zurich Central Library, Zurich, Switzerland, Aime Bonpland webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zentralbibliothek_Z%C3%BCrich_-_Ideen_zu_einer_Geographie_der_Pflanzen_nebst_einem_Naturgem%C3%A4lde_der_Tropenl%C3%A4nder_-_000012142.jpg

Church, F. E., 1862. "Cotopaxi", Detroit Institute of Art, Detroit, Michigan, USA, The Public's Library and Digital Archive website.retrieved from: 
http://www.ibiblio.org/ulysses/gec/painting/church/cotopaxi1862.jpg

Church, F. E., 1854, "Tequendama Falls, Near Bogota, New Granada", Cincinnati Art Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, Frederic Edwin Church webpage, Wikipedia Commons. 
retrieved from: 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Frederic_Edwin_Church__Tequendama_Falls,_Near_Bogota,_New_Granada.jpg

Ender,E., ca. 1850. "Alexander von Humboldt and Aime Bonpland in the Amazonas Jungle", oil, Berlin Brandenbergische Akademie der Wissenschaften, (U.S Public Domain) Alexander von Humboldt webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Humboldt_and_Bonplant_in_the_Jungle.jpg

Friedrich, C. D., ca. 1834, "Stages of Life (beach picture, beach scene in Wiek)", Museum de bildenden Kunste, Leipzig, Germany, Wikipedia Commons, retrieved from:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Caspar_David_Friedrich_013.jpg

Humboldt, A. von, 1810. "Chute du Tequendama", Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens des Peuples Indigines d'Amerique, F. Schoell, Paris. retrieved from 
http://caliban.mpipz.mpg.de/humboldt/atlas/images/tafel_06.jpg

Humboldt, A. von, 1810. "Landscape as focus for both scientific and humanistic study, Gas Volcanoes of Turbaco in Columbia", table 41, Monumens des Peuples Indigines d'Amerique, F. Schoell, Paris. retrieved from:
http://cybergeo.revues.org/docannexe/image/25478/img-8.jpg

Humboldt, A. von, 1810. "Le Chimborazo vu depuis Le Plateau de Tapia", detail, M. Thibaut after F. W. H. A. von Humboldt, Hand colored stipple engraving, Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens des Peuples Indigines d'Amerique, F. Schoell, Paris. LuEsther T. Mertz Library, New York Botanical Garden Online exhibits, Sci.web.nybg.org. retrieved from:
http://sciweb.nybg.org/science2/Onlinexhibits/exhbtcata.html

Humboldt, A. von, 1810. "Masse detachee de la Pyramide de Cholula",  Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens des Peuples Indigines d'Amerique, F. Schoell, Paris. retrieved from:
http://caliban.mpipz.mpg.de/humboldt/atlas/images/tafel_08.jpg

Humboldt, A. von, 1810. "Passage de Quindiu dans la Cordillera des Andes",   Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens des Peuples Indigines d'Amerique, F. Schoell, Paris.  retrieved from: 

http://caliban.mpipz.mpg.de/humboldt/atlas/images/tafel_05.jpg

Humboldt, A. von, 1810. "Ponts Natural d'Icononzo",  Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens des Peuples Indigines d'Amerique, F. Schoell, Paris. retrieved from: 
http://caliban.mpipz.mpg.de/humboldt/atlas/images/tafel_04.jpg

Humboldt, A. von, 1810. "Pyramide de Cholula",  Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens des Peuples Indigines d'Amerique, F. Schoell, Paris. retrieved from: 
http://caliban.mpipz.mpg.de/humboldt/atlas/images/tafel_07.jpg

Humboldt, A. von, 1810. "Relief in Basalt", Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens des Peuples Indigines d'Amerique, F. Schoell, Paris.  retrieved from: 
http://olivercowdery.com/texts/plate08a.jpg

Humboldt, A. von, 1810. "Rochers basaltiques et Cascade de Regla",  Vues des Cordilleres et Monumens des Peuples Indigines d'Amerique, F. Schoell, Paris. retrieved from: 
http://caliban.mpipz.mpg.de/humboldt/atlas/images/tafel_22.jpg

Humboldt, A. von, 1814. "Self Portrait", (U. S. Public Domain), Alexander von Humboldt webpage, Wikipedia. retrieved from: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alexander_von_Humboldt-selfportrait.jpg

Humboldt Current chart, Humboldt Current webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Humboldt_current.jpg

Karnstedt A., 2009. Alexander von Humboldt's American expedition from 1799-1804 map,Wikipedia Commons, Alexander von Humboldt webpage, Wikipedia.
retrieved from:
 http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:AvHumboldts_Americatravel_map_en.svg

Largilliere, N. de, (workshop), after 1724-25. Voltaire (at age 24), detail, Musee Carnavalet, Paris, France, Voltaire webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Voltaire.jpg

Loutherbourg, P. J. de, latter part of 18th century, Seascape with Sunset, Residenzgalarie, Salzburg, Germany, Phillip Jacob Loutherbourg Webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Philipp_Jakob_Loutherbourg_d._J._-_Seascape_with_Sunset_-_WGA13732.jpg

Melbye, A., 1843. Seascape, Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia, Anton Melbye webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Anton_Melbye_(painter)_-_Seascape_-_WGA14750.jpg

Peale, C., 1791. Portrait of Thomas Jefferson (cropped), Independence National Historical Park, Philadelphia, PA, Thomas Jefferson webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:T_Jefferson_by_Charles_Willson_Peale_1791_2.jpg

Richmond, G., ca. 1830's, Portrait of Charles Darwin, from Origins, by Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin, Charles Darwin webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Charles_Darwin_by_G._Richmond.png

Rouse, S. W.artist, Schoff, S.A., engraver, 1878, Ralph Waldo Emerson portrait, head and shoulders facing right (cropped), Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress. retrieved from: 
http://loc.gov/pictures/resource/ppmsca.07398/

Schrader, J., 1859. Baron Alexander von Humboldt, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, New York, Alexander von Humboldt webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Baron_Alexander_von_Humboldt_by_Julius_Schrader_1859.jpg

Stieler, J. K., 1843, Portrait of Alexander von Humboldt, Schloss Charlottenhoff, Potsdam, Alexander von Humboldt webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Stieler,_Joseph_Karl_-_Alexander_von_Humboldt_-_1843.jpg

Weitsch, F. G., 1806, A portrait of Humboldt, Alte Nationalegalerie, Berlin, Germany, Alexander von Humboldt webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alexandre_humboldt.jpg

Weitsch, F. G., 1810. Alexander von Humboldt und Aime Bonpland am Fub des Vulkans Chimborazo, Alexander von Humboldt webpage, Wikipedia Commons. retrieved from: 
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Humboldt-Bonpland_Chimborazo.jpg