Digital Photography and Imaging

September 11, 2023

Digital Photography and Imaging - WEEKLY EXERCISES

Week 1 (28/08/23)- Week 14 (01/12/23)

Student: Raida Abdoul Kader

Programme: Bachelor of Mass Communication (Hons)

Weekly exercises

WEEK 1

3 favourite graphic design composition work from Pinterest

By Maxime Manga

This kind of design is called Afrofuturism, and I'm a big fan of it! In this picture, you can see a photography mixed up with geometric shapes and bright colors that make it pop.

To represents the word "introvert" the artist uses the character's face, to in my opinion, show what's hidden deep down inside the character. The way everything's put together is pretty awesome.

By Eduardo Argoud

I like this kind of abstract design because here the artist used random and ordinary element to create a surreal and extraordinary image. I think the way the artist mixed everything together works really nicely.

By unknown

Another example of afrofuturism, this graphic design composition is pretty simple, but I love the vibrant colors used for the scene. In a certain way it represents the afro culture, especially with those black figures at the center.

WEEK 2: PROJECT 1A - PHYSICAL COLLAGE

LECTURE:

INTRODUCTION TO COMPOSITION

TUTORIAL:

Collage elements layering & composition: https://youtu.be/2KqXGMf0HNk

PRACTICAL:

The first step was to choose and identify the elements we wanted to cut out from our magazines.

Once the elements had been chosen, I started trying to assemble the different elements that I had cut out, and then we first presented our pre-compositions.

The preliminary composition was a very important step that allowed me to visualise how I wanted to put everything together in the final artwork.

Pre-composition 1

Pre-composition 2

Pre-composition 3

WEEK 3: PROJECT 1A - DIGITAL COLLAGE

LECTURE:

Introduction to Photoshop 2

TUTORIAL:

Digital collage briefing: 1. Blending Mode . Paths. Masking. Layering.

https://youtu.be/BlW7F-fTsbE

PRACTICAL:

In this exercise we had to download and use different images given to us for our digital collages. We had to arrange and manipulate the downloaded images, and apply effects or filters. To do this I used Photoshop and created three different compositions.

Composition 1

Composition 2

Composition 3

WEEK 4: PROJECT 1A - DIGITAL COLLAGE

LECTURE:

Introduction to Photoshop 3

Adjustment Layer & Filters

TUTORIAL:

1. Match lighting. Adjustment layers, Filters.

2. Photoshop Pen Tool.

Video links:

https://youtu.be/4b-swzGzOGw
https://youtu.be/D2brHNadF8Y
https://youtu.be/81lAetwbAUs

PRACTICAL:

To complete this exercise, we had to adjust and modify the best composition of the 3 by using adjustment layers and filters on Photoshop.

Throughout this exercise I learned how to combine different random images, which helped me to understand the principles of composition, such as balance, contrast and harmony. I also learned how to arrange elements to create a visually appealing image.

Working with layers and adjusting layers and filters in Photoshop teached me how to organize, edit, and enhance images in a creative way.

These skills will be very useful as I am a fan of photography, especially to achieve visually appealing photos.

Composition edited

Composition edited with filter

I wanted to give more life to this photo and create an unreal and psychedelic effect.

WEEK 5: PROJECT 1B PART 1 HEARST MANSION

LECTURE:

DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY

TUTORIAL:

Studio Shooting

https://youtu.be/JiVVWiqTnQc

PRACTICAL:

Part 1: SHAZAM

In this exercise we needed to mask out Shazam from the picture below and photoshop him into the Hearst Mansion picture. To achieve that we needed to adjust the colour of Shazam, create a shadow and a reflection to make it more realistic

Hearst Mansion

Shazam

PS process

Final piece

Part 2: MY REFLECTION

For this part, I needed to re-create the same as the first but with my own picture.

The picture I used

PS process

Final piece

WEEK 6 PROJECT 1B PART 2 - RECOLOURING BLACK & WHITE

LECTURE:

POSTER DESIGN

TUTORIAL:

Photograpy Basic:

Video Links:

https://youtu.be/V7z7BAZdt2M
https://youtu.be/ffiJH5fUeN0
https://youtu.be/AKXwJbZ7kXQ

PRACTICAL:

For the last part of our 1st project we were instructed to recolor black and white pictures using Adobe Photoshop.

First with this picture

B&W picture to recolor

PS process

Final Piece

Then we had to recolor this picture but we had some references for the hair color, and the skin tone. I used the marquee tool to crop a section of the first image for the skin tone. Afterward, I employed the brush tool to create strokes with three distinct colors, spanning from the skin's brightest highlights to the middle tones and shadows. I replicated this process when working on the hair as well.

B&W picture to recolor

PS process

PS Process

Final Piece

For the last one, we were asked to choose a picture from a google drive file and re-color it, I've decided to choose this picture and I search a picture online for my reference.

Picture choosen

Online reference

PS Process

Final Piece

WEEK 7 PROJECT 2A - DOUBLE EXPOSURE

LECTURE:

Double Exposure

TUTORIAL:

Double exposure exercise

PRACTICAL:

We had to create a double exposure photo using 5 different images/elements.

The first step was to mask out the woman from the photo.

After masking and adjust the picture I added those elements (Image below)

Then I added a gradient map layer.

Final piece

Then we had to create our own double exposure picture; for that I used the processus but with my picture and other pictures found on the internet.

Final piece

WEEK 9 - WEEK 11: PROJECT 2B - DIGITAL SURREALISM

LECTURE:

DIGITAL SURREALISM

TUTORIAL:

How to create loop animation for I.G Stories

https://youtu.be/HQL5ntLlHTg

PRACTICAL:

For this exercise we had to create a conceptual product photoshoot

First I searched for some inspirations in pinterest

Pinterest inspo

After conducting my research, I decided to pursue an idea involving combining the lens of a camera with a coffee-filled mug.

To start, I brought a mug and the lens of my camera to the photo studio to capture them in a photograph. I tried playing with the lighting to achieve a good result.

Picture taken in the studio photo

After choosing the photos I wanted to use, I used Photoshop.

First I used the mask tool to remove the background.

I did the same with the mug, but I decided to only keep the handle.

Then, I assembled everything and added a yellow background; I find that it provides a good contrast.

However, I felt that something was missing from the image and that it appeared quite empty. So, I took a photo of boiling coffee, then I used the mask tool just to keep the visible part of the coffee, and afterward, I assembled everything.