Voices of the Wind DES304 Task one - Sensing Environments Leah Barclay

The walk centres around the concept that everything in nature happens in its own cycles. The cycles that are most obviously depicted in the walk are Mooloolah River National Park's forest and plant life cycles. Each part of the walk has been titled reflecting the point in this cycle. The images are of plants in the Mooloolah River National Park that reflect each point. The audio also matches as the lead tracks are recordings of the corresponding plant. It is an immersive experience as all elements link and the walk can be stopped or started at any point or go on forever, just as these cycles do.

This project has been inspired by a few different aspects. The first being, my relationship with the Sunshine Coast, Caloundra region has flourished since the very beginning of me coming to Australia, as it was the first place my family and I stayed at. I have spent countless hours exploring all the different streets, nooks and crannies within the area. Secondly, the Caloundra cinema was the first cinema which played a movie written and directed by me, creating very important core memories for me. Lastly, the Caloundra cinema is one of the first cinemas on the coast, making it a special location for many locals. For this project I decided to take my photographs using a film camera. This allowed me to think critically before capturing every special moment. Additionally, using film would be an appropriate medium as it gave the photos the appropriate vintage look according to the environment. The sounds you hear in this experience have been carefully recorded, selected and edited, being layered allowing for an immersive and realistic experience. I hope you get to experience the Caloundra region and cinema through my lens!

Defenceless Giants is a locative media experience created to raise awareness of our rainforests. With audio taken from Mary Cairncross in the traditional lands of the Jinibara people, the rainforest reserve is the last remaining parcel of rainforest which used to cover the Blackall range. From the tranquility of nature, we turn our eye to our destruction of it. We are reminded of Feral invasion, our pollutive nature and are we warming our planet?

Sounds By Light is a different approach to how we perceive sound and imagery through interpretive digital art. This pieces’ aim was to capture different sound recordings from a variety of natural environments, along with photography from the same locations.

Take an audio immersive tour through the F1 Melbourne Grand Prix! WARNING: Engines are loud.

Welcome to this immersive experience that invites you to explore the Mooloolah River National Park, which is merely 3 km away. This experience aims to plunge you into a wet hike through this beautiful bushland. These echoes are located on clear footpaths, to ensure accessibility, and can be enjoyed while not in map view. This hike does have a sense of time and is formed to be told in order, with the first echo "Arrive" located on the path between H block and E block. However, the nature soundscapes can be enjoyed in any order. Grab your device, turn up your volume to your comfort level, and enjoy a rainy day in one of our beautiful natural parks. I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land of the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Mooloolah River National Park, where the experience will take place, the Kabi Kabi peoples. I would also like to pay my respects to their Elders, past and present.

Welcome to Sounds of the Forest. This immersive audio visual experience will expose you to the diverse sounds and sights of Buderim Forest Park. You'll experience everything this location has to offer from chittering birds to bubbling creeks and raging waterfalls. For the best viewing experience, start at the primary echo located at the beginning of E block. This audio-visual project is best appreciated through headphones, so get set and dive into this relaxing experience.

This walk is a personal reflection of time framed around nature, life, death and the passing of my first and only dog Vader. This work was designed to be a personal reflection of time and how the passing of time can create both hardships and beautiful moments. This walk is designed to be taken at approximately 5km/h (not too slow but not racing through), starting on the walkway surrounded by trees and ending looking at the university lake. Each Echo contains 30 seconds of audio and it is recommended you pass through each with a small amount of sound overlap, spending approximately 25 seconds in each echo would be an ideal pace, this will allow for a seamless audio visual experience. Please remember to tap on each echo as you walk through them to ensure you view each image. Please download the walk before progressing for an optimal experience. The last slide contains an instruction for you as well as a recap of all that came before it. We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters upon which the University's campuses are located. We acknowledge their continuing connections to Country and pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging.

The geolocated audio installation “Avian Harmonies” uses Echoes to create a rich and immersive experience that aims to encapsulate the diverse biospheres of the sunshine coast area by allowing listeners to enjoy their various bird calls on a single walk. The audio experience features the iconic sounds from a range of Australia’s native birds, such as Magpies, Ibises, Willie Wagtails, Rainbow Lorikeets, and many more. The audio tour was recorded using a H2 Microphone, allowing for a crisp surround sound experience that transports listeners to the environment it was captured in. Also incorporated into the project are a series of minimalist digital artworks, which aimed to combine my personal memories of these bird calls with a dream-like abstract art style. Each artwork was designed to reflect its respective audio file to create a harmonious experience. Highlighted in this project is the stunning diversity and complexity of bird calls, allowing the vast array of melodies to take centre stage with minimal disruption from other sounds. Furthermore, these soundscapes have been carefully recorded at the most opportune times of day when many bird species are highly active. By using Echoes to present the experience, it can be enjoyed at any time of day by anyone with the means to access the app, allowing a wide range of people to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of avian harmonies.