Digital Photography and Imaging - Project 1A & 1B: Collage Design

- April 12, 2022

14.4.2022 - 28.4.2022 (Week 2 - Week 5)
Tan Yi-Tyng (0353327)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Digital Photography and Imaging
Project 1: Collage

QUICK LINKS

Exercises: Weekly lecture note & class exercise

Project 1: Physical & Digital Collages

Project 2: Conceptual Product Photoshoot

Final Project: Cinemagraphs Self-tilted (still & animation)

INSTRUCTIONS

Project 1A - Physical Collage

For this week, we were asked to collect materials from magazines, booklets, and pamphlets. However, I didn’t have any magazines or booklets I could get for the college material. So, I decided to randomly choose some images or design element from Pinterest and print it out.

To begin, I have prepared myself with a few supplies, such as a scissor tool and cutter knife for cutting into paper and glue. I like how collage offers the opportunity to arrange the various elements with trying different compositions. It takes me some time to plan out my composition, I lay all the elements out before committing with glue and move them around until it feels right.

Fig 2.1 Tools for making collage

Fig 2.2 Printed element for physical collage

Pre-Composition #1

Fig 2.3 " Killing Us Slowly"
Composition 1

Pre-Composition #2

Fig 2.4 - " Love vs Trust "
composition 2

Pre-Composition #3

Fig 2.5 - " Be Yourself "
composition 3

Pre-Composition #4

Fig 2.6 - " The Difference "
composition 4

Final Physical Collages

Fig 2.9 Final Physical Collage

Fig 2.10 Making Process, GIF

Project 1B - Digital Collage

Pre-Composition #1

Fig 2.10 Process

Fig 2.11 composition 1

For the first digital collage, I started to get my idea when I saw the material of television, I wanted to have something happen on the television screen. Based on this final outcome, the message that I want to transfer to the viewer is like people walking toward a “magical world”. I intentionally used the glow effect for the television and the two walkways to make them stand out from the background. For the design principles used in this composition, it definitely has a visual hierarchy that helps to draw attention to the main focal point, and there is also an asymmetrical balance in this composition.

Pre-Composition #2

Fig 2.12 Process

Fig 2.13 Composition 2

For the second collage, I have an idea to incorporate the paper plane and the old factory to create something special for the theme. It shows an accident of the paper plane crashing over the old factory. To make it more vivid to look, I apply the motion blur on the paper plane and the old factory to create a movement. Besides, to make the background doesn’t look too flat and simple, I added the texture on top of the colourful sky and adjusted the blending mode for the layer into luminosity. Also, to combine all those materials harmonically, I adjust the hue and saturation of the fencer, paper plane, car and plant based on a pink colour palette.

Pre-Composition #3

Fig 2.14 Process

Fig 2.15 Composition

At first, I had no idea on what story or theme could be used for the third composition, and I ended up deciding to just randomly arrange the layout and play with adjusting the hue and saturation without limiting my creativity. I was surprised that the outcome looks very free and aesthetic pleasing to look at, even without a strong theme. This composition which also gives me a retro and vintage look. I’m also using the principle of the golden ratio as a guideline to arrange the layout, and it turns out great!

Final Digital Collage

Fig 2.16 Final Digital Collage

Feedback

Physical Collage

All look good! It can be seen this is a surrealism collage, and it looks like there’s some story behind it. If based on good composition, the 1st composition will be the first choice for the final submission.

Digital Collage

Look like you are very familiar with using photoshop, the 3rd composition looks great, it somehow gives a sense of sadness and loneliness. The 2nd composition look like something is going on, especially you using the glow effect, good job! After voting from my classmates, the 2nd composition is the best choice to submit as the final composition.

Reflection

Throughout this physical and digital collage exercise, I have learned a lot about combining multiple images or materials to create a good composition. Especially in the starting process of thinking about the theme or story for that composition, I felt very excited and enjoyed the process. When seeing my final artwork, I gained more confidence, and I could feel proud of myself for my own visual storytelling and photoshop skills have improved a lot.

TAN YI-TYNG (0353327)