Capturing Reality Pt.1

Jada Rodgers

Nov 18, 2021 · 2 min read

Photographs are known to be one of the earliest methods in which we capture media. Photography has evolved from its early days and continues to evolve as technology progresses. From your phone to a 360-degree camera, the levels of immersion vary from what kind of technology is present.

As one of the media forms for reality capture, I consider the photograph a media source at the beginning of the reality-virtuality continuum. Everything in the photo is present in a real environment. There are no artificial objects in the photo; the desk, chair and students were all present in real-time. The photograph captures a direct view of reality by capturing a still moment in time within the boundaries of a camera. The photograph allows the viewer to see what the photographer is experiencing at the exact moment the shutter closes. As a 2D form of media, the photograph is not interactive.

Here we see a stylized photograph of students in a classroom. The only thing we are able to see is what is in the boundary of the camera. There may be activities outside the frame, but we are unable to see or hear anything outside of this shot. As the story of students in a classroom is retold using different forms of media, we will learn more about what the students are saying, how they are feeling, and what they are doing. The level of immersion and interactivity will increase as we continue to explore the reality virtuality continuum.

Jada Rodgers is a 4th-year undergraduate student in the Media Production and Design program, focusing on interactive media. Her interests include gaming, art, and media. She hopes to combine her interests and expertise with Interactive Media in the future. She has collaborated on numerous projects and studies throughout her undergraduate experience, including Augmented Reality-based learning and a Virtual Reality storytelling project about COVID-19.

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