Digital Photo Imaging - Task 2: Conceptual Photoshoot & Digital Imaging

25/10/2023 - 5/12/2023 / Week 5 - Week 9
Cindy Clarissa Leslie / 0367677
Digital Photo Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Task 2: Conceptual Photoshoot & Digital Imaging

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LECTURES 

Week 6: Lecture 6

Poster Design

The 7 Principles of Poster Design

Figure 1.1 Poster Design with all elements

Emphasis - main focus of the poster, where the viewer's eye should first be caught in.

Balance and Alignment - organize elements, to group elements, to create balance, to create structure, to create connections between elements, to create a sharp and clear outcome.

Contrast -  creates space and difference between elements in your design.

Repetition - could help unify and strengthen a design. 

Proportion - visual size and weight of elements in a composition and how they relate to each other.

Movement - controlling the elements in a composition so that the eye is led to move from one to the next and the information is properly communicated to your audience.

Negative Space - the empty page around the elements in your composition. 

Week 7: Lecture 7

Double Exposure

Double Exposure & Image Blending Mode

Figure 2.1 Double exposure in a photography

Double exposure photography refers to merging multiple images. The goal is to make them surreal, emotional, or humorous. They usually feature silhouettes.

Tips on creating the double exposure effect:

• Using the Tilt-Shift Effect
• Create fake reflection
• Experiment with simple portraits and details textured
• Convert your results to Black & White
• Work with silhouette
• Pick two random photo
• Make simple objects look fascinating
• Use shadow

Week 9: Lecture 8

Digital Surrealism

Realism Versus Surrealism

Surrealism defies logic. Dreams and the workings of the subconscious mind

How to start creating Surrealism artworks?

• Dream-like scenes and symbolic images
• Unexpected, illogical juxtapositions
• Bizarre assemblages of ordinary objects
• Primitive or child-like designs

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INSTRUCTIONS

Task 2: Exercise 1 [Double Exposure]

Tutorial Exercise

Figure 3.1 Original BNW picture used in tutorial

Before doing my own version of double exposure, I was required to follow the tutorial given.

Figure 3.2 Masking the image and adjustment layer

I removed the background by masking the picture, removing the background and focused on the emphasis instead.

Figure 3.3 Process of double exposure effect

Using the image of the texture/pattern, I positioned it onto the head of the woman and created a clipping mask, replacing her head entirely. Using the colour picker tool, I clicked on the colour from the clipped image and set it as the colour of the background to create an 'invisible' head effect.

Figure 3.4 Adding further details onto the image

I added layer mask onto the layer that I have clipped the image of the woods to, using the eraser tool, I erased the part of her face on the layer mask to make it visible. Proceeding to the body I repeated the same process except that I flipped it vertically. I added the final touches with png assets overlayed and changing the colours using gradient map.

Figure 3.5 Final result of double exposure tutorial

My Own Double Exposure

Figure 4.1 Initial concept and idea for my double exposure

From my moodboard, I wanted my design to be filled with 'meshes', these organic wired shape that would be infused with my face in some kind of way. I was going for a more grungy and artificial look, therefore my own design will include these net meshes as a key point.

Digital Process

Figure 4.2 Original image of self portrait

This image will serve as a base for my final design.

Figure 4.3 Removing background by masking

Utilizing the same process and tools from the tutorial, I removed the background by masking it and used the curve adjustment tool to manipulate the strength of contrast in my picture.

Figure 4.4 Adding texture into my head

I went on and added in the chosen texture I had over my head, using clipping mask over the layer of the original picture. To reveal my face, I set layer mask on the clipped layer and used the eraser tool to reveal only my face.

Figure 4.5 Detailing process

Using the same process, I transformed the texture vertically and used clipping mask. With the other textures and pngs I downloaded, I positioned and overlayed it onto the areas I wanted, creating the background with additional assets.

Figure 4.6 Adding gradient map

As the finishing touch, I added a red and white gradient map on reverse to change the whole colour of the design/

Final Task 2: Exercise 1 - Double Exposure

Figure 5.1 Final design for self double exposure

Task 2: Exercise 2 [Product Photoshoot]

Research

Figure 6.1 Moodboard for my conceptual photoshoot

Based on the reference pictures, my whole idea was to apply surrealism onto food that humans consume with an object that is unlikely to be consumed, creating an ironic concept. I wanted the colour scheme to be similar, using soft colours especially pink that would create a sweet atmosphere.

Idea 1: watch lollipop

Idea 2: A jug with the sea inside it

Idea 3: Cracked open egg with basketball as the yolk

Sketches

Figure 6.2 Rough sketches of ideas

Using Adobe Photoshop, I digitally sketched out the ideas I have in mind for the product photoshoot.

Digitalizing Process

Figure 6.4 Original images taken

I decided to go with the first idea since it is relatively a simple concept and I found stuff around my living space that I can easily take pictures of. Since I didn't have a proper set, I chose the natural lighting from my window as the light source, giving the pictures a softer look.

Figure 6.5 Removing background from the original lollipop image

Using masked layer again, however I found that the refine edge brush does not work well with this picture since it would add in weird shadows around the hand, therefore I had to manually erase the dark line using the eraser tool.

Figure 6.6 Masking watch layer

Masking the watch was relatively easier since the shape was more rigid and no further detailing was required.

Figure 6.7 Combining both products together

I positioned and rotated the watch on top of the lollipop, eventually letting my concept idea come to life.

Figure 6.8 Adding details onto the image

Using the airbrush tool, I drew in shadows behind the lollipop casted by the light, making the photo more realistic. I also added in a curve adjustment layer to change the values of each images.

Final Task 2: Exercise 2 - Product Photoshoot

Figure 7.1 Final result of surrealistic product

TITLE: 

Sweetest Time

DESCRIPTION: 

Combining lollipop and a watch, I wanted to embody the love language of ‘quality time’ where the atmosphere is soft and lovely. With the support of the soft pink colour, this combination with the object shows how spending time in the right way can be like a sweet treat to anyone.

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REFLECTION

I noticed that as we advanced the class, I'm able to learn more complicated process to design posters. I thoroughly enjoyed task 2 since it allows more personal freedom with our designs without much rules to follow, we were allowed to do different kinds of concepts as long as it stays in line with what the objective is. The concept of surrealism was fascinating to me, to be able to visualize something absurd in real life was something fun and new, so I enjoyed coming up with ideas that are ridiculous. My only struggle was getting the pictures, since I had use my own pictures I worried that I wouldn't even have the physical objects. I was also worried since my phone camera quality is rather bad, but I was able to pull through and make it better by learning how to adjust the lights and shadows.