Digital Photography and Imaging / Final Project

Week 10 - 14 (30.05.2022 - 03.07.2022)
Yung Siew Weng / 0339847
Digital Photography and Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Final Project / Self- titled

FINAL PROJECT : Cinemagraph - Self-Titled

MODULE INFORMATION

INSTRUCTION
Cinemagraph’s of Surrealistic imagery using mostly your own photographs edited and manipulated in Photoshop then animated. The images must have a visual or a conceptual theme.
EXPLORATION

FINAL PROJECT : Cinemagraph - Self-Titled

At the very first of the task, as usual, searching for possible reference and build up the idea.

PART 1 : IDEA DEVELOPMENT

Before everything start, the first step is to gain the idea development. We are instructed to write a biography about ourself, which connected or creating some inspiration for the self-titled assignment. When the idea popped out, we are required to write a statement about our work too! :D

Fig 3.1 screenshot, biography about myself (week 11 / 09.06.2022)

Fig 3.2 screenshot, statement about the task (week 11 / 09.06.2022)

After a frame about how the artwork goes, I take some reference on Pinterest to create my mood board.

Fig 3.3 screenshot, mood board (week 11 / 09.06.2022)

PART 2 : DESIGN DIRECTION

Then, it's the time for directing the sketches! Based on the mood board, I sketched the version :

Fig 3.4 Sketches (week 11 / 09.06.2022)

I named the artwork as "DREAMY"
My idea of dreamy is to depict my life, my life collection The piles of books that showed in the poster illustrated my life journal, every books or every pages consists of my ups and downs, burdens, challenges and dream. My intention is to told my viewers, no matter how hard are you facing now, you are the extraordinary, different from the others, you deserve what you having now or even future. Don’t compare, don’t judge, creating your own sunshine, you are the most extraordinary.

The idea of ;
Colourful balloons - represent to my ups and downs, different emotions in my life journey.
Doll - showing my innocence; a playmate that accompanying me growing.
Piles of books - different ‘years’ or ‘series’ of the journal that i go through.
Dreamy clouds - my dream ; my hope.

Moreover, after having the idea of how to construct and digitalise, I captured my own portrait in different angles to get the most preferable position.

Fig 3.5 screenshot, portrait shooting (week 12 / 13.06.2022)

The selected portrait ;

Fig 3.6 the selected portrait (week 12 / 13.06.2022)

To remove the background of the portrait, I used the skills that I learned during the modules several weeks before, [selection tool > create vector mask > select and mask > refine edge brush tool].

Fig 3.7 outcome, after removing background (week 12 / 13.06.2022)

I repeated all the steps for the other elements. The material used :

Fig 3.8 material needed (week 12 / 14.06.2022)

I experimented severals layout composition and finalise a draft outcome:

Fig 3.9 screenshot, draft outcome #1 (week 12 / 15.06.2022)

Fig 3.10 - 3.11 preview, draft outcome, based on sketches (week 12 / 15.06.2022)

FEEDBACK @ WEEK 12 / 16.06.2022

Good progress, keep going. The bright version seems to be all elements such as colours are working together.

After receiving the feedbacks from Mr. Martin, I make some research on how to make the outcome to be more interesting. As having an idea of the portrait "flies out" from the book, I do some research on how to make the popping out effect in Photoshop.

I take a YouTube tutorial video as my reference to make a pop out effect, "How to Make Pop Out Photo Manipulation Effect in Photoshop"

Fig 3.12 Screenshot, YouTube tutorial video (week 13 / 23.06.2022)

Followed by the tutorial, I get some material online and start my experiments.

Fig 3.13 material, book that used (week 13 / 23.06.2022)

To clean the background, [selection tool > create vector mask].

Fig 3.14 book, removed background (week 13 / 23.06.2022)

To match the composition, I found an image of a table, create vector mask to remove the unwanted parts.

Fig 3.15 selected image (week 13 / 23.06.2022)

Fig 3.16 outcome, selected image without background (week 13 / 23.06.2022)

Then, I insert the image (book and table) into the draft outcome :

Fig 3.17 insert to the draft outcome (week 13 / 23.06.2022)

I put some shadow under the book to make it more realistic, situating it on the table in the outcome. [brush tool > Lower the opacity]

Fig 3.18 shadow (week 13 / 23.06.2022)

To create something on the pages, according to the tutorial video referred, I used the [pen tool] to shape the particular page.

Fig 3.19 pen tool (week 13 / 23.06.2022)

Fig 3.20 shape the another page (week 13 / 23.06.2022)

Then, insert a new layer of selected images, create clipping mask for it.

Fig 3.21 outcome, clipping mask (week 13 / 23.06.2022)

At this moment, I having the notion on adding another portrait which showing me falling down to the field, illustrating "we are allowed to fall, our life not only contains joy, but also some downs."

Fig 3.22 selected portrait (week 14 / 25.06.2022)

Fig 3.23 selected portrait, removed background (week 14 / 25.06.2022)

I even add a images of clock in, creating a sense of moment for the journey of the particular page. I used the [puppet warp] to fit the clock hand.

Fig 3.24 Outcome, clipping mask (week 14 / 25.06.2022)

To make my portrait be realistic "sitting" on the field, I use the pen tool, draw a shape and insert the image of the grass as well as create a clipping mask for it.

Fig 3.25 Pen tool, shape the particular part (week 14 / 25.06.2022)

Fig 3.26 Outcome (week 14 / 25.06.2022)

I used the same methods as the right, [insert image > create clipping mask] for the left page.

Fig 3.27 outcome, left page (week 14 / 25.06.2022)

Moreover, I changed the original clouds to a cloud that more similar than the background. And, I did the version in two different background. The outcome are showed below :

Fig 3.28 outcome, after amendments (week 14 / 26.06.2022)

Fig 3.29 - 3.30 outcome, draft outcome #2 , #3 (week 14 / 26.06.2022)

FEEDBACK @ WEEK 14 / 27.06.2022

Great, but the birds seems ugly within the layout composition. The colour of the birds doesn't match, it should be pinky or peachy colour, illustrate a very dreamy sense. And, add new adjustment layer on the top for colour grading.

Then, I made some adjustments on the colour of the birds, as well as add on a new layer for colour grading [colour balance].

Fig 3.31 outcome, after adjustment of birds (week 14 / 27.06.2022)

Fig 3.32 outcome, colour balance (week 14 / 27.06.2022)

FEEDBACK @ WEEK 14 / 27.06.2022

The bird looks so strange. Compared to the 1st version, I prefer it than these.

Despite receiving a non-enjoyable feedback, I accepted Mr. Martin's suggestion on having draft outcome #1 as #1 might be more suit the themes of my idea, dreamy whereas draft outcome #2 and #3 might be more playful.

By continued on using the same outcome on draft outcome #1, I continued on making some amendments. I did some amendments on the clouds, changing it to the cloud that used in draft outcome #2 and #3 to make the balancing, more realistic of the images itself.

Fig 3.33 original draft outcome #1 (week 12 / 15.06.2022)

Fig 3.34 outcome, after the amendments (week 14 / 28.06.2022)

Fig 3.35 draft outcome #4 (week 14 / 28.06.2022)

After the changes, I started animate the outcome. At the moment, click [window > timeline > create video timeline] to animate and adjust the layers.

Fig 3.36 draft outcome, video animation #1 (week 14 / 29.06.2022)

FEEDBACK @ WEEK 14 / 30.06.2022

SPECIFIC FEEDBACK :

1. Make the balloon colour more brighter as it consists of the sense of dreamy.

2. Duplicate or multiply more layers of the book, make it having foreground, background and the main elements. For animations, you may construct it as pop out one by one.

3. Add more clouds to create the sense of clouds floating within the frame.

After receiving feedbacks from Mr. Martin, I did an reattempted on my draft outcome :

Based on the feedback given, to make the balloon to be more brighter, which seems to look in dreamy, I cleaned the original 'string' and re-construct it again.

Fig 3.37 cleaning the 'balloon string' (week 14 / 30.06.2022)

As usual, I used the curvature pen tools to construct the line, form the balloon string. I used a purple to construct it as purplish brings a sense of dream (in my opinion) 💭

Fig 3.38 outcome, with balloon string (week 14 / 30.06.2022)

To bring it into detail, certain changes may be needed to assure that the string is completely linked. So, I made some amendments by rasterise the layer, using the eraser tool, lower the opacity and erase the particular part :

Fig 3.39 in details (week 14 / 30.06.2022)

Fig 3.40 outcome, after amendments (week 14 / 30.06.2022)

Then, I tried to adjust the colour of the balloon, make it more bright. I insert a new layer of brightness/ contrast, adjust it. After the adjustments, I felt that the colour of the balloon string is seems to be too dark, so I also adjust the both layer on adjusting the brightness.

Fig 3.41 outcome, after amendments (week 14 / 30.06.2022)

After settle down the balloon, followed by the amendments for the 'books'. Based on the suggestion given by Mr. Martin, I duplicated the book layer by having the sense of foreground, background and the main.

Fig 3.42 outcome, with multiple of books (week 14 / 30.06.2022)

Continued to the next amendments, I make multiplied more layers of clouds in front of the portrait to let the animation be more interesting after.

Fig 3.43 outcome, with multiple of clouds (week 14 / 30.06.2022)

To make the poster to contrast in a same colour balance, I insert a layer of [colour balance] to construct them to a same colour theme.

Fig 3.44 outcome, after adjusting the colour balance (week 14 / 30.06.2022)

Fig 3.45 draft outcome #5 (week 14 / 30.06.2022)

Because my concept of this self-titled task is to create my own sunshine, "Every life means a different journey, an adventure, every life is ordinary". I insert a quotes on the left, each indicates the idea of the poster itself.

DREAMY - create your own sunshine, extraordinary!

Fig 3.46 draft outcome #5, with quotes (week 14 / 30.06.2022)

I send the latest version of the digital outcome, one with quotes and one without to Mr. Martin for clarification, and received the following feedback :

FEEDBACK @ WEEK 14 / 30.06.2022

Nice, the composition is better. The one without quotes is more suitable for the task.

Then, I proceeded with the animation :

To animate the poster, click [window > timeline > create frame timeline] to achieve the outcome. At first, I insert and framed all the layers to 15 seconds (as guided).

Fig 3.47 frame to 15s (week 14 / 01.07.2022)

After, I started to animate, made adjustments on transform and opacity for each layers and create the outcome below :

Fig 3.48 screenshot, random part of transformation (week 14 / 01.07.2022)

Fig 3.49 draft outcome, video animation #2 (week 14 / 01.07.2022)

I found that the layer of book >1 (the biggest one) should be at the foreground instead at the back of the elements that in the background. So, I did the amendments on it too.

Fig 3.50 draft outcome, video animation #3 (week 14 / 01.07.2022)

FEEDBACK @ WEEK 15 / 06.07.2022

Shrink down the last stack of books, and suggest on don't used the dissolve effect.

I did the final amendments and achieved the final outcome below (figure 3.51 & 3.52):

FINAL OUTCOME @ SELF-TITLED
Final digital version :

Fig 3.51 Final outcome, Final digital version (week 14 / 03.07.2022)

Final animated version :

Fig 3.52 Final outcome, Final animated version (week 14 / 03.07.2022)

Youtube link : https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wVgN5D8mj3A

FEEDBACK

WEEK 12 @ 16.06.2022

Good progress, keep going. The bright version seems to be all elements such as colours are working together.

WEEK 14 @ 27.06.2022

The bird looks so strange. Compared to the 1st version, I prefer it than these.

WEEK 14 @ 30.06.2022

SPECIFIC FEEDBACK :

1. Make the balloon colour more brighter as it consists of the sense of dreamy.

2. Duplicate or multiply more layers of the book, make it having foreground, background and the main elements. For animations, you may construct it as pop out one by one.

3. Add more clouds to create the sense of clouds floating within the frame.

WEEK 14 @ 30.06.2022

Nice, the composition is better. The one without quotes is more suitable for the task.

WEEK 15 @ 06.07.2022

Shrink down the last stack of books, and suggest on don't used the dissolve effect.

REFLECTION

Throughout the final project, self-titled, I saw that various people had varied beliefs about what it means to be "self." Everyone interprets "self" differently, which everyone depict "self" in a theme that best matches the self's personality. Initially, I had no idea how to make it but thankfully, after some study, I discovered several thoughts. I find that there is frequently a gap between the initial concept and the end outcome, whether due to immature skills that causes me to give up, or suddenly I get a better idea, or I am suddenly drawn to a artworkand feel that I can invest in it. Overall, I had a great time with it. Even though the criticism was not what I had hoped for, I am pleased that Mr. Martin offered him his honest assessment. When I go back at my own work after his review , I will see that it is similar to what he stated, which offers me a different viewpoint. In conclusion, the final project, self-titled demonstrated that I had learned anything over the semester, as most steps, shortcut keys, or effects are directed and taught during the semester. In fact, the final project may be defined as the culmination of all abilities acquired over the semester!

Yung Siew Weng / Jq 0339847

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