Surrealism

For the surrealism assignment we were to create a dream-like photograph by incorporating parts of several photos into one piece. I started editing this photo by first adjusting the background image. I increased the contrast of the photo to make the lighting more dramatic as well as increased the vibrancy to increase the vividness of the colors. I then created a layer mask by selecting the pig from a different photo and dragging that layer over to the background image. I then made an adjustment layer to the pig layer mask which I used to tweak the hue of the colors and decrease the contrast i the pig's face. I then created a second layer mask of a fast-food cup and created a second adjustment layer which I used to adjust the hue of the cup. I also used the Render Filter of the cup to change the shadowing and light source. Lastly, I made a third layer mask of a Big-Mac. I used the Render Filter of the Big-Mac to change the shadowing and light source.

The main difficulty I faced in this assignment was getting the shadowing i all three layer masks to match up with the light source in the background image. I feel that I could have improved and tweaked the shadowing and light source a bit more with the Render Filter. A potential weakness of this photo would be the fact that the pig looks like a cut-out. I feel the cup and Big-Mac fit into the photo rather well, but the pig stands out which may be due to its size. A strength of this photo would be the theme. I feel a pig fits in rather well around McDonald's fast-food.

Filtered Selection Picture

This photograph was edited for the filtered selection assignment. I started out by adjusting the contrast of the photo with the levels adjustment on Photoshop due to the fact that the French Bulldog, Diogi, appeared washed out in the original image. I then highlighted the grass around Diogi with one of Photoshop's selection tools. Next, I applied a filter to the grass selection. For this particular photo I chose to use the Poster Edges Filter. This filter gives the grass a "cartoon-ish" appearance because it is all outlined.

A strength of this photo is the fact that the "cartoon-ish" looking grass ties in with the visually interesting French Bulldog. Also, the fact that the filter does not take away from the focal point, Diogi, is key to the visual appeal of this photograph. A difficulty I came across while completing this assignment was in the selection of the grass. Around Diogi's legs, the individual blades of grass stand out against his black coat. I probably could have been more precise when selecting these blades of grass.

Text + Image

"Feel how deep the roots dig,

And they sink into my skin.

I see myself in the cracks of your foundation,

And these walls will crumble by our hands."

The Text + Image assignment was the first of the semester to incorporate both Adobe Photoshop and Adobe Illustrator. I first began by creating a composite. I made edits to the background photo with the levels adjustment to increase the darkness of the cracks in the stark-white wall. I then used the overlay blending mode to create the look of flowers on the wall. I erased the flowers aroun the wall so the wall could in turn be the focal point of the photograph. Next, with Illustrator I created a path and then typed lyrics along that path.

A noticeable strength of this project is how well the lyrics I chose fit into the character of the photo. The vivid cracks in the wall combined with the path of text following them relates directly to the lyrics from one of my favorite songs, Parallels by Misery Signals. Personally, I do not find any major weaknesses in this photograph, as it is my favorite piece. A difficulty I came across while editing this photo was getting the path tool on Illustrator to follow the cracks in the wall closely. However, looking at the final product, I feel I did a decent job creating a path that flows with the cracks.

Composite Assignment

For the composite assignment we were to combine two full photos together in a visually appealing way. By using two different photos of the same Golden Retriever, Roxy, I created this composite. I first started by making adjustments to the background photograph in Photoshop by using levels to increase the shadows in Roxy's fur. I also used the vibrancy adjustment to increase the golden vividness of her fur. Next, I made similar adjustments to the foreground photo and then by dragging the layer over to the background image, combined the two photos. I then used a specific blending mode to create the smooth transition between the two focal points. After I had blended the two photos together I noticed the background image was not showing through as much as I would like it to so I decreased the opacity of the foreground photo to improve the composite.

A strength of this photo is the blending mode I chose to use. I feel it made the gold of Roxy's fur and the blue sky stand out much more than in the original photographs. This provides a nice complementary color scheme being that light blue and gold are across the color wheel from each other. One weakness that I see in this composite is the ground that is showing up in Roxy's face. This would be the only part of the photo that I would consider revising. For the most part, I had no difficulties during this assignment.

Gaussian Blur Photograph

This photograph is from the assignment "A New Way of Seeing" which I edited by adding a Gaussian Blur effect. First, I edited the photo by enhancing the color with the curves adjustment on Photoshop. I then increased the shadows and midtones of the photo with the levels adjustment. Finally, I added the Gaussian Blur behind the dog by first selecting the background. I then selected the Gaussian Blur option under the filter drop-down menu on Photoshop. After that, I cleaned up the edges around the dog by using the freehand blur tool to touch up spots that I did not select in the background.

Though this photo did end up turning out decently in the end, I had many difficulties throughout the editing process. My main frustration was selecting all of the background behind the dog. After I added the Gaussian Blur I saw tons of little spots that I forgot to select when originally selecting the background. However, I did find a way to fix this. I used the blur tool on the left hand tool bar to clean-up the outline around the dog.

A New Way of Seeing

This photo is a free edit from our assignment "A New Way of Seeing." First, I used the levels adjustment on Photoshop to increase the shadows in the photograph to make the moon look more dramatic against the blue sky. To enhance the color of the blue sky, I increased the saturation of the photo using the hues/saturation adjustment on Photoshop. After editing the coloring I simply added a vignette to the sides and corners of the photo to create a dramatic effect. I added the vignette by using the gradient tool located on the left-hand tool bar and using the black-to-checkers option.

Overall, I am content with how this photo turned out. I really love the fact that the moon is clear and crisp against the clear, blue sky. One difficulty I came across while editing this photo was with the building in the bottom right corner. I knew that I wanted to increase the shadowing in the photo so the detail in the bottom right building was something I was forced to sacrifice to achieve this. I am really happy with the dramatic effect the vignette added to this photograph. I feel that the vignette showcases what I want the viewer to focus on, the moon.

Pop Art Portrait Assignment

For the Pop Art Portrait Assignment we were to edit one portrait four separate times using each of the different color schemes we learned in class. Before adding any color to the portrait I first outlined my subject, Shannon, with the Magnetic Lasso tool and proceeded to delete the background. I then used the Posterize Adjustment on Photoshop to create a more harsh shading on her facial features. To add color to the portraits I used the Paint Bucket Tool and the Brush Tool on Photoshop. On the top left I used the analogous color scheme and included red-violet for the background, violet for her face, and blue-violet for her hair. On the top right I illustrated the monochromatic color scheme using blue for the background, a tint of blue for her face and a shade of blue for her hair. On the bottom left I used the triadic color scheme by filling the background with red, painting her face with yellow and painting her hair with blue. Lastly, on the bottom right I illustrated the split-complementary color scheme by using violet for the background, yellow-orange for her face and yellow-green for her hair.

Overall, I enjoyed this assignment. I feel my split-complementary portrait and my monochromatic portrait are the stronger elements of this project. I believe I got the colors perfectly right. I was frustrated while editing my analogous portrait because I had trouble finding the correct shade of blue-violet. I did not want the color to appear blue, but I also did not want the color to look too similar to the violet on Shannon's face. Though it is not my best portrait edit in this assignment, I feel somewhat satisfied with it now because you can definitely see a difference in the colors. If I could go back and change something about this assignment I would redo my triadic color scheme portrait. Although it does correctly illustrate the triadic color scheme, I am not satisfied with my use of primary colors. It is very different from all of the other portrait edits in the project that I feel it may stand out too much.

Natural Lighting: Anna

For this assignment we were to take a photo of a classmate using a natural light source to produce different lighting effects. In this photo, side lighting is shown. This technique is subtle due to the fact that I used the burn tool of Photoshop to lighten the left side of Anna's face. I also used the dodge tool of the right side of her face because the facial definition of her cheek bone was lost. I used the sponge tool to enhance her eye color. I used the quick selection tool to select her bandana and change the shade of green with the hue/saturation adjustment on Photoshop. Lastly, I used the quick selection tool again to select the brick wall in the background to bring out more detail and color in the brick.

I am satisfied with how this photo turned out because I feel Anna is the focal point in the frame. I also love how the brick wall in the background appears more vivid because I enhanced its color and in turn its texture with the quick selection tool. It was frustrating learning how to use the dodge tool because I found that the areas I swept over turned to an unnatural gray. If I could change something in this photo I would position the camera differently so that the sign in the background is not in the frame.

Studio Lighting: Shannon

For this assignment we were to take a portrait of a classmate using artificial light and various positions of the light source. This particular portrait is showing three-fourths lighting because roughly one-fourth of Shannon's face is dark. I adjusted this photo with the burn tool on Photoshop to lighten her right cheek and eye, in addition to her right jaw line. I also used the sponge tool to saturate her eyes, which makes them more vivid and captivating. To accentuate Shannon's red hair I used the sponge tool as well.

In my eyes, this picture is relatively strong. I was able to even out the light on Shannon's face well. The left side of her face is not overwhelmingly bright, so the facial definitions of her cheek and eye are visible. The right side of her face is shadowed, but is enhanced by Photoshop's burn tool so as to highlight her cheek and eye so they are not lost in the dark areas. Another adjustment that went well was the saturation enhancement of her hair and eyes. I feel Shannon's red hair is a defining feature, which is why I decided to highlight it by enhancing its color. One thing that was frustrating for me throughout the assignment was using a tripod. I never got it to work to my benefit, but I do feel this was one of the photos that turned out nicely without it.

A Day in the Life

This is a picture of clothes pins in my laundry room for the “Day in the Life” assignment. The objective of this assignment was to adjust a setting on the camera and edit the photo using a border and Photoshop adjustments. For this particular photo I changed the white balance on the camera to the fluorescent setting due to the fact that the only source of light in the room is fluorescent bulbs. During editing this photo I first added a black feather border to make the corners as dark as possible. I then used the levels adjustment to darken the blacks and lighten the midtones, leaving the background almost entirely black. Next, I used the hue/saturation adjustment to decrease the saturation of reds and blues in the clothes pins. Lastly, I used the channel mixer to further decrease the amount of red in the clothes pins.

Judging the final product I am content with how the editing techniques affected the photo. I feel a strength of this photo are the vivid colors of the clothes pins. It catches one’s eye and gives the viewer something to focus on. The colors of the clothes pins were successfully enhanced by Photoshop adjustments. I feel a weakness of this photo is the background. Though it is dark enough so that items in the background do not take one’s focus off of the clothes pins, there still remain subtle outlines of objects. If I could go back and re-edit this photo I would darken the background further so that little or nothing could be seen in the background, making the photo more dramatic.

Artist Statement

For me, art is an escape, an expression and a passion that is enjoyable and relaxing. The main and most important reason why I create art is to express my personal and unique style in a way that makes sense to me. Some people may feel inclined to express themselves through sports, writing or music. I feel most comfortable expressing myself through art, and more specifically, photography.

Though many different things influence my art, my Dad is one of the most important. Due to the fact that I aspire to be like my Dad someday, I am inclined to follow in his tracks. As a graduate from Pratt Art School in Brooklyn, New York, my Dad’s interest in art has shown up at many different points throughout my life. Another major influence is my love of nature. I thoroughly enjoy taking pictures outdoors of nature’s idiosyncrasies and unique elements.

Thus far most of my work has been photography. However I have also taken classes on oil pastels and charcoal drawing. I briefly took an interest in painting during middle school. During this semester I would like to gain a strong understanding of how I can best edit photos, without making them look overdone. Also, I hope to make quality work throughout this semester while incorporating my unique interpretations of nature.

This photograph was found at: http://www.bulldogblog.net/articles/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/ansel.jpg