When approaching this project, I knew I wanted to find an image that portrayed the stars or the ocean; something that created a sense of vastness. I usually try to find positivity and hope in every situation, so I decided to try to create something that goes somewhat against that. I wanted something that gave the feeling of realizing how we are a tiny part of a huge universe. This image feels like the creator is far off from maybe a place they would rather be, framed by the endless, starry sky.
Adding this specific piece of music does transform the picture. If a more ethereal, upbeat piece was put with it, it could invoke a feeling of potential and reaching for your dreams. The chosen piece is more somber and haunting, as its creator put it, leading to a sense of sadness and being lost.
Melancholy Daydreams by Christina Mumpower is a derivative licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
Hello Christina,
When I first viewed the image, I felt small due to its vastness, but also a sense of curiosity for what’s out there. However as soon as I played the audio, you added a whole new meaning. Now it feels as though I’ve been lost for days, curiosity replaced by being overwhelmed of the vast world around me. It is haunting, making me fear the unknowns that could be out there. I like that you chose this over the expected.
Thank you for sharing your post! I really liked how in your image it almost looks like the silhouettes of the trees are being pushed back by some force, or perhaps are leaning back to get a better look at the stars. (I also liked that we both picked space themed images). On it’s own the audio you picked, especially the piano melody reminds me of a video game soundtrack, not a specific one, it just sounds like something that could fit in as the background music in a level.
To me, the initial image is very awe-aspiring or wondrous, with the inclusion of the music the image begins to feel a lot more final to me, like I would almost expect to see credits rolling with this image and song choice. The story has finished, but perhaps there are still questions left lingering for the audience to ponder in the nights to come. But that’s just what I get from it.
As for other audio options, I think what you decided on emphasizes the otherworldly elements of space, so another option could have been to include audio of nature and wildlife the lower third of the image and draw attention what could be going on in the shadows that we cannot see.
On the technical side of things, I did notice you did not include a direct hyperlink to the song, and that the link on Kevin MacLeod did not lead directly to an about/artist page. I mostly note this, because I noticed a minor thing with the audio you included, because you shortened it, the music ends very abruptly. If this was your intention, that’s fine, and I know we have not discussed in-depth in class yet about audio editing, but in the future, I would suggest fading music out to make the transition to silence less abrupt.
I’ve got an incredible soft spot for astronomy, so a picture with that many stars fills me with childlike wonder and a sense of oneness with the world. I hardly recognize those trees on the horizon, but I know we all see the same stars (…give or take). The music meets that with peace and melancholy, which feels odd to me, but I can see the connection. Together, it seems like you focus less on the stars and more on the void between them. Nice touch. Does well on the technical stuff.
The image immediately creates a sense of vastness, which I find strangely comforting. Realizing how small we are in such a large universe often puts my own worries into perspective. On its own, the starry sky feels awe-inspiring and contemplative. The music adds a layer of melancholy that shifts the tone from pure wonder to something more introspective. Together, they create a space for reflection rather than optimism, which I appreciate. It feels grounding rather than overwhelming. Technically, everything functions smoothly, though a slight fade-out at the end of the audio might make the transition to silence feel more intentional.