City walk.

5 ECHOES

Location: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

This journey is very special to me and am very excited to be able to share this with you today. As you embark from Milsons point, all the way over the harbor bridge and to the ending point, i have no doubt your clarity of mind and general thought processes will be clearer. During your journey you experience the contrast between tranquility and energy to provide you the perfect balance of stimulation along your walk. Just like life you must have balance, so whilst you immerse yourself in this walk, bring a book or journal alongside with you to encapsulate your thoughts. There are marvelous sights to be seen which are very much unappreciated by most of society. At any point it is always possible to appreciate the beauty of your surroundings and really be in the present. And i hope alongside this walk you take, you will feel the same.

Milsons Point

I have specifically placed the echos in this project to reflect a common route i take for a walk at least once a week. I have chosen to begin at Milsons Point, finding the altering soundscapes from each area to the next has a beautiful contrast to each other which provides the perfect correlation between natural ambience and sounds of our civilization. Upon embarking on the walk over the harbor bridge in Milsons point, if you alter direction down the road towards the water you are met with an array of natural ambient sounds of crashing ocean against the rocks accompanied by the wind lightly passing through the trees. This specific area i find to be a very relaxing point to sit down and take a look at the busy city from a relaxing and calm location. I usually write journal notes whilst i sit down at a bench in Milsons point and absolutely find it to be one of my most favorite things to do to reflect on the week and plan ahead for the next.Accompanied by this zone is a synthesized element i created that gives a sense of wonder and represents the way i feel as i walk through this area. Reflecting, thinking and directing the future.

1 sound

Circular Quay

Emerging from the rain and tranquility. you are now immersed back into with the rest of the world and as you embark on your stroll, you'll be constantly amazed of all the beautiful architectural marvels and crowded and energetic social energy that is hovering around you. The iconic Sydney Opera House stands proudly, its unique design and soaring white sails providing an instantly recognizable symbol of the city. I love this part of the journey as it feels nice to rejoin with the rest of the world whilst previously being in moments of tranquility and peace. this provides the perfect balance of sensory stimulation and is a true experience that gets me excited every time i pass through here.

Harbour Bridge

traversing over this beautiful structure is an experience that encapsulates the city's charm and grandeur. As you first step on to the bridge you immediately feel the strong presence and power encapsulating from cars speeding down the road and the array of people jogging past you rapidly. The contrast between the previous area really gives a sense of reality back to my thinking. Reaching the midpoint of the bridge, a sense of tranquility takes hold. The panoramic view of the Sydney Opera House emerges, proudly displaying its distinctive sails against the backdrop of the city skyline. This sight is a true visual feast for the senses.

As you continue your walk, you can't help but feel a profound connection with the city and its history. Each step carries you forward, immersing you in the rich tapestry of Sydney's past and present.

Walking over the Harbour Bridge in Sydney is not just a physical journey; it's an emotional and sensory experience. It evokes a sense of wonder, appreciation, and a deep admiration for the beauty that surrounds you. Whether you're a local or a visitor, this stroll is a quintessential Sydney experience that will leave an indelible mark on your memories.

In between

For brief periods of time, unpredictable bouts of rain might encompass you. use this time to find a place in shelter and take in the scenery for a moment. This is also a time to be in the present and have no need for moving forward. I find when it rains on my walks it provides me with a sense of clarity and peace.

The end.

My final destination on this walk encapsulates my need to now rest and revise on my thoughts during my journey. I usually find it quite relaxing to lay on the grass for a while and read a book whilst i watch the sunset.

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exploring sydney harbour bridge construction in 1923

exploring sydney harbour bridge construction in 1923

Sydney harbour bridge a recognizable symbol of Australia , build on the 28th of July 1923, using 1,400 workers . Harbour bridge is an Australian heritage listed steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is widely regarded as an iconic image of Sydney, The location is harbour bridge , the harbour bridge walk .I aimed to represent an echo journey on how it was build . Aspects and facts about the bridge . How it was build . I reflected my vision about that time during the construction ,as you walking and imagining how it was built ,by listeaning to sound walk I am representing to you today. Aspects of representation I approached is I simulated the amount of steel that was used to build the bridge , which was 53,000 tones of steel , and 1400 Labour built the harbour bridge. I added mainly hammering sounds , Labours and construction background. Music was representing some events happened during the construction of the bridge . Sixteen workers died during construction ,two from falling off the bridge. I represented that with low octave chords as it was a sad event . The music I used in the intro was to give a refelection of space while the represented describing the location of the Sydney harbour bridge. As it was surrounded by darling harbour water . I represented in my work a lot of my recorded collection for the project where it included solid sounds of metal and solid objects , foot steps to represent the bridge climb that allowed more than 3 million people to scale the bridge and enjoy an unforgettable experience. It takes 1,332 steps to reach the top of the Summit.
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Audric Sebastian Audio Cultures Assessment 2

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Soundscape assessment

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Ballast Point Park Walk

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Welcome to Ballast Point. This beautiful park boasts scenic walking paths, historical sculptures and installations as well as amazing panoramic views of the harbour. This park is a great spot to go and relax while taking in the environment around you. The aim of this project is to explore the relationship between nature and ambient music, and what kind of effects it can have on your emotions. As you walk through the park, you will be immersed by an ambient composition that combines some of the most calming sounds that nature has to offer, with the gentle evolving sounds of ambient music. Life is full of complications and roadblocks. I believe that meditation and self reflection can be extremely helpful in clearing a persons mind and giving you the opportunity to have a break from the stresses of life. Exposure to nature is inherently calming, but when combined with the sounds of music, I believe it can transport a person into another state of mind that is full of tranquility, self reflection and an appreciation for nature. 
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Audio Culture_Assessment Task 2

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A night out on Oxford Street PART 1: Enter Oxford Street on a Saturday Night. Tonight ill be taking you through Oxford Street, as we walk past some of Sydney's best clubs that showcase great music and put on some of Australia’s best events. Built by convicts in 1803, it was once used as a passageway for easier navigation and access to a signal station located in South Head (City of Sydney, n.d.). Nowadays, Oxford Street is home to Sydney’s most extensive nightlife. You notice the crickets cry dying blissfully and the air coiling chronically as you leave the serene Hyde Park. Notice how the sound begins to erode and distort to the on-coming sounds of traffic. The mumbles of chatter can be heard in the distance, but it’s not loud enough to subordinate the sounds of your own footsteps. A line hordes at the Burdekin Hotel, white button-ups and inaudible chatter; just locals trying to get into the pub. No music can be heard yet, only the crippling sound of asphalt that quakes the ground around you and the sound of laughs. The night has just begun. PART 2: The Oxford Art Factory, one of Sydney’s best nightclubs located in the heart of Oxford Street, attracts the liking of all people to share their love and connection towards all areas of music. Recently becoming quite popular among younger audiences, it is known for consecutively hosting the event ‘SASH’ every Sunday, as well as hosting other major events with both national and internationally renowned headliners. The venue was inspired by New Yorks Andy Warhol Factory during the 1960s (Oxford Art Factory, 2023). Its large capacity makes this venue an attraction for those who seek new musical and nightlife experiences. What you are listening to right now are the events taking place both inside and outside the venue. Remember, you are still outside and just a humble observer. The chatter constantly grows louder as the queue attracts more people; the shuffling of the feet rakes the path as they move inside one by one. These people came here to dance; they came here for House music. The music feels distant, however, the low-end bass groove makes your heart warm and pulsate as the vibration penetrates through your skin. Using a simple low-end filter, I cut off a large portion of all high and mid frequencies making them completely subordinate and isolating the bass, allowing for the track to sound more distant yet present within the location. PART 3: As we continue to walk further and deeper into oxford street, we stumble upon an interchange. We hear music quite distant, however, we follow the rumble into Flinders Street. The music is different; louder, faster and deeper. You can hear the kicks reverb sing in an echo-like harmony that ricochets the walls of the apartment. Like before, masses wait to enter inside the rumbling cage of the Flinders Hotel, all dressed in black, a strong community of techno lovers, uniting in matrimony to enjoy the euphoric emotions that techno delivers. The Flinders Hotel, opened in 1918 used to serve as a local pub/ restaurant (The Flinders Hotel, 2020). Now it is the epicentre of techno nightlife in the city. The small confined space allows for fuller crowds, closer community and amazing sound quality. The venue is primarily known for hosting hard techno event ‘Black Noir’ every Friday, and constantly brings hundreds of people through the doors as well as multiple famous and internationally known techno headliners. As the walk comes to an end, take a moment of reflection to recall the presence of people, the social interactions and the emotions that are attracted by music. Additionally, think past those aspects and focus on what is really happening outside; the traffic, the cars, the birds, and the footsteps. This program was intended as a way to both educate and experience what Sydney’s nightlife is like and the diversity of music and the presence of social interactions within our society. I hope you have enjoyed your walk. References: Functions. (2016, December 27). Oxford Art Factory. https://oxfordartfactory.com/functions/ Oxford Street: A history from track to high street | City of Sydney - News. (n.d.). News.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://news.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/photos/oxford-street-darlinghurst-a-history-from-track-to-high-street#:~:text=In%201803%2C%20convicts%20cleared%20this The Flinders Hotel. (2020). Theflinders.business.site. Retrieved May 14, 2023, from https://theflinders.business.site/?utm\_source=gmb\&utm\_medium=referral#summary
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