Digital Photography & Imaging: Exercises

31.3.2022 - 9.6.2022 (Week 01 - Week 11)
Tan Yi-Tyng (0353327)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Digital Photography and Imaging
Exercises

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

WEEK 1 (31.3.2022)

Lecture

Week 1: Introduction to Digital Photography & Imaging

Firstly, Mr Martin briefed us on the module information booklet and he shared some of the past student’s work with us. We were also asked to join the google classroom as these will be the main platforms that we will use for this module. In the next section, Mr Martin gave a short lecture introducing us to the importance of mastering adobe photoshop and also collage. Besides, we have played the Bezier game, which helps us become familiar with the pen tool. Furthermore, Mr Martin informed us that we need to prepare some material or design elements to make the physical collage design in the next class.

The importance of Photoshop for designer

Express Your Creativity
Create Graphic Design
Restoration of Old Images
Integrate Graphics with Texts Artistically
Make Use of Brushes
Change Photo Colors
Rectify Mistakes in Photographs

10 Tips of Successful Graphic Designer

Follow the Tutorials
Experiment
Memorize All Keyboard Shortcuts
Try to Replicate Others Work
Do Participate in Design Competitions
Subscribe to Online Gallery
Smart Objects for Smart Designers
Scaling Artwork and Proportions
Use Actions to Personalize Work
Organize the Files Properly

Practical

1. Bezier Game

Practice and play on this game: https://bezier.method.ac

Your score:

Fig 1.0 - Bezier Game, (31.3.2022)

2. Create your E-Portfolio blog

E-Portfolio Link: https://yityngtandesign.blogspot.com/

3. Register Pinterest

Pinterest Link: https://pin.it/2e2fjmT

4. List down your 3 favourite graphic design works from Pinterest. Explain why you like the designs?

Design 1: Doris Whisker by Mohanad Shuraideh

Fig 1.1, Collage Design - "Doris Whisker" by Mohanad Shuraideh (31.3.2022)

When I was looking for inspiration for the collage exercises through Pinterest, I found this artwork created by Mohanad Shuraideh that so is appealing to me. This surreal collage is manipulated and forms a magnificent vintage image featuring a retro blender beating a snowy mountain instead of whipped cream, causing an avalanche. I was so amazed that his creative idea incorporates emblematic images provoking the vibe of a quirky, fun and interesting theme that can make me personally take a while to appreciate this artwork.

Design 2: Nihon Buyo by Ikko Tanaka

Fig 1.2, Poster Design - "Nihon Buyo" by Ikko Tanaka (31.3.2022)

I really like this poster as this is so eye-catching that the artist has composed it entirely with simple two-dimensional shapes such as circles, triangles and squares to create a Japanese woman’s head. I especially like the geometrical composition, and the colours palette used in this poster has been designed in the way of simplicity and strong contrast. Overall, this poster has completely expressed the feeling of Japanese style and traditional Japanese beauty.

Design 3: Noise X Gif Fest by BURO UFHO

Fig 1.3, Animation Poster Design - "Noise X Gif Fest" by BURO UFHO (31.3.2022)

This is a static piece of print as well as an animation poster, the main things that attracted me to this design was the style and the concept of this poster are so unique and interesting. There are textures that move across the poster to produce a sense of depth, it creates an illusion of movement as well. The colour palette used in this poster also creates a sense of unity. Even though there are a lot of design elements placed in the composition, there still can be shown unity, balance, emphasis, and rhythm that they fit together, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing look.

Week 2 (7.4.2022)

Lecture

1. Introduction to basic composition

Focal Point – helps viewer’ eyes naturally settle on the important pieces of your design first.
Scale and Hierarchy - help communicate hierarchy by drawing attention toward and away from certain elements, thus signifying their importance to the communication.
Balance the Elements - think of each element as having a ‘weight’
White space / Empty space - help boost your design’s clarity and overall look by balancing out the more complicated and busy parts of your composition with space that helps your design to breathe.

2. Rule of Thirds

is the process of dividing an image into thirds, using two horizontal and two vertical lines. This imaginary grid yields nine parts with four intersection points.
When you position the most important elements of your image at these intersection points, you produce a much more natural image. It is also suggested that any horizon is placed on either the top horizontal line or bottom horizontal line.
Use composition techniques that are in line with what’s naturally pleasing to the eye.
Creatively use negative space.
Create conversation between the subject and background.

Fig 2.1 Example of Rule of Thirds

Fig 2.2 Example of Rule of Thirds

3. Golden Ratio

is a mathematical ratio. It is commonly found in nature, and when used in a design, it fosters organic and natural-looking compositions that are aesthetically pleasing to the eye.
In design, the Golden Ratio boils down to aesthetics — creating and appreciating a sense of beauty through harmony and proportion. When applied to design, the Golden Ratio provides a sense of artistry

Fig 2.3 Example of golden ratio

Fig 2.4 Example of golden ratio

4. Composition (Framing and Cropping)

Camera Framing Cheatsheet from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQNiqzuXjoM&ab_channel=StudioBinder

Single shot

Features one character alone in the frame
The individual character is the primary focus
to convey a character's isolation

Fig 2.5 - Single Shot Example

Two shot

When two characters are visible together in frame
The orientation of the character to one another can vary, both phases must be clearly visible
creating visual relationship between two characters

Fig 2.6 - 2-Shot Example

When more character are added to the frame the terminology adjusts to 3 shot, 4 shot and so on.

Fig 2.7- 3-Shot Example

Fig 2.8 - 4-shot example

Fig 2.9 - crowd shot example

Over the shoulder (OTS)

often only focusing on one character at a time
we get the perspective from both sides and a sense that we are included in the moment

Fig 2.10 Example of OTS

Point of view (POV)

cover a wide range of perspectives

Fig 2.11 Example of POV

Insert shot

is not just about going extremely tight on a detail
the way the information is framed is often even more important than how prominent it is on screen

Fig 2.12 Example of Insert shot

Week 3 (14.4.2022)

Lecture

Introduction to Photoshop

1. Tool Box

-Photoshop provides several tool sets in the Toolbox, and you can expand the tool sets to reveal additional tools.

Fig 3.1 - Photoshop Tool Box

2. Lasso Tool

-The Lasso Tool allow you to draw and pinpoint specific areas of a document.

-There are three different tool options provided from the toolbar such as Lasso, Polygonal Lasso and Magnetic Lasso.

Fig 3.2 - Lasso Tool

3. Pen Tool

-When it comes to actually creating a path from scratch, the pen tool is the most common option.

-The pen tool is the way that you add these points and the way you drag the tool as you create the points determines how they will look.

-The fewer points, the smoother a path will be.

Tutorial

Mr Martin has provided us with some photos, and we were asked to explore the tools we learned to insert all the furniture into the interior space.

Fig 3.3 - Using Pen tool the select the object

Fig3.4 - Using Polygonal Lasso tool to select the object

Fig3.5 - Final Outcome of week 3 class exercise

Week 4 (21.4.2022)

Lecture

Introduction to Photoshop: Adjustment Layer and Filters

What is Adjustment Layer?

-A group of a super useful, non-destructive image editing tools that add color and tonal adjustments to your image without permanently changing its pixels.

-With the adjustment layers, you can edit and discard your adjustments or restore your original image at any time.

-This will make your workflow in Photoshop more flexible and efficient, and is an absolute must-know.

What is Filter?

-Using filters to edit photos is an essential element of Adobe’s graphics editor.

-There are filters to change colour, add blur or create completely new image effects.

-Photoshop offers a virtually unlimited variety of filters for this purpose.

Tutorial

During our class, Mr Martin showed us step by step of using the quick selection tool, layer mask, filters and colour correction in order to create a poster. And we were asked to follow the guidance to place a photo of Shazam in another different photo of Hearst Mansion.

Fig 4.1 - Apply Layer mask on the Shazam

Fig 4.2 - Insert the Shazam into the photo of Hearst Mansion

Fig 4.3 - Process of colour correction

Fig 4.4 - Final Outcome of Hearst Mansion exercise

Week 5 (28.4.2022)

Lecture

Double Exposure

What Is Double Exposure Photography?

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

Photoshop: Blend Modes

Working with blend modes is almost always an experimental process. Because it’s nearly impossible to predict the results, you always seem to end up experimenting with different modes and Fill Opacities until you get the results you’re looking for.

Fig 5.1 - Blend modes in Photoshop

Practical

In this week of class, Mr Martin has introduce us a new technique of combination of two images into one where one image is overlaid onto another at less than full opacity. We were tasked to create a double exposure exercise by following step by step with the given tutorial video.

Fig5.1 - downloaded the images provided in google drives

Fig5.2 - Process of editing in Photoshop

Fig 5.3 - Final Double Exposure (JPG)

Week 6 (5.5.2022)

Lecture

Photo Manipulation Ideation

Photograph manipulation involves the transformation or alteration of a photograph using various methods and techniques to achieve desired results. It requires skill as well as an active imagination to create an illusion.

Practical

Recolouring B&W photo

In this week 6, we had no class as it was a public holiday. However, Mr Martin provided a demo video and some sources of images for us to learn the technique of recolouring B&W photos.

Fig6.1 - Progress

Fig6.2 - Progress

Fig6.3 - Progress

Fig6.4 - Layer Panel

Fig6.5 - Final Outcome of Recoloured Photo

Week 7 (12.5.2022)

Lecture

Photo Shooting Skills

The main parts of the camera:

1. Camera body (is a light proof box): Shutter, Image sensor, LCD screen

2.Camera lens: Aperture/ Iris

Fig7.1 - Camera Body and Lens

Exposure Setting

1. IRIS / APERTURE

Size of lens opening & control the flow of light entering the lens.
The lower the f-number, the larger the lens opening (more light)
Control depth of field
The lower the f-number, the smaller the depth of field
Iris/Aperture is measured by f-stop, indicated by sequence of f-number: f/1, f/1.4, f/2 , f/ 2.8, f/ 4, f/ 5.6, f/ 8, f/ 11, f/ 16, f/22 , f/32..
only one person - low f/stop (f/2)
more person - f/3.5 f/4 etc.,

Fig7.2 - Iris / Aperture

2. SHUTTER

The shutter is a small plastic sheet that opens and closes to allow light onto the film or prevent light from reaching the film.
Shutter speed is the amount of time the shutter is open.
slower shutter speed : 1", 2", 30" seconds (controls motion blur) (allow more light) (used when on tripods)
Slower shuttle speed=More motion blur ; Faster shuttle speed=Less motion blur
Shutter speed is measured in seconds: 1/1000 s,1/500 s,1/250 s,1/125 s,1/60 s,1/30 s,1/15 s,1/8 s,1/4 s,1/2 s,1 s, 2 s, 3 s…

Fig7.3 - Shutter

3. ISO

Sensitivity to light
More ISO = More light (but also more grains and noise)
outdoor - ISO100
shade - ISO200
indoor - ISO400-800
try to keep your ISO as low as possible

Fig7.4 - ISO

Step of Setting:

1. Set ISO first based on scene light (ISO100 OR 200 for outdoors)

2. Set Aperture by looking at the subject and decide how much depth of field you want (focus only 1 person or focus the next nearby person (2) etc) More Aperture = more depth of focus.

3. Set Shutter Speed based on how much motion blur u want or don't want.

If the image too Dark

1. Slow shutter speed down until you don't see a motion blur.

2. Lower Aperture to LET MORE LIGHT until the subject is in focus.

3. Raise your ISO

If the image too Bright

1. Lower ISO

2. Raise shutter speed.

3. VERY LAST, Raise the Aperture (Remember you' ll have larger circle IN FOCUS)

Practical

Fig7.5 - Physical studio shoot

Week 9 (26.5.2022)

Lecture

Realism

Takes subject matters of the ordinary and common world which we call "reality." It almost always takes a non-exotic and non-extraordinary subject matter and theme. There is no need to think outside of the box, as that is not "real."

Surrealism

A twist on Realism. It explores the subconscious mind, with subject matters concentrating on dream-images and often aims to distort the ordinary and what we call reality.

Fig 9.2 - Surrealism artwork

Practical

Exercise 1 (Blending Mode: Screen)

Fig9.3 - combine the photo of the girl with coffee and steam

Fig9.4 - Apply screen blending mode

Fig9.5 - adjust the curves

Fig9.6 - Create a gradient and apply screen blending mode

Fig9.7 - Final Outcome of blending exercise 1

Exercise 2 (Blending Mode: Multiply)

Fig9.8 - Select the birds with lasso tool

Fig 9.9 - Paste the bird on the sea side image and apply multiply blending mode

Fig 9.10 - adjust the level

Fig 9.11 - apply gradient and multiply blending mode

Fig 9.12 - Final Outcome Blending Exercise 2

Exercise 3 (Blending Mode: Softlight)

Fig 9.13 - Duplicate low contrast photo and apply softlight mode to increase contrast

Fig 9.14 - Create radial gradient

Fig 9.15 - Apply multiply blending mode

Fig 9.16 - Final Outcome of Blending exercise 3

Week 10 (2.6.2022)

Practical

Introduction to Adobe After Effects

In this week, we were introduced to using new software – Adobe After Effects that used for animation, visual effects and motion picture composition. Mr Martin explained in detail of the workspace and the workflow of animating a work. We were given footage in a PSD file to try making our own motion graphic artwork.

Fig 10.1 - Import the footage

Fig 10.2 - Composition Setting

Fig 10.3 - Apply transition by adding keyframe

Fig 10.4 - Select the keyframes and apply ease ease

Fig 10.5 - Exporting the artwork

Fig 10.6 - Final Outcome of Adobe After Effect exercise

YouTube link: https://youtube.com/shorts/rTTwQTJxo9I?feature=share

Week 11 (9.6.2022)

Practical

Introduction of animating in Adobe Photoshop

During this week 11 of class, we were learn to animate a motion graphic in Adobe Photoshop. We were introduced to some new tools such as content aware, puppet wrap tool and so on. Same as usual, we need to download the source of images provided in google drive and follow what Mr Martin shows us step by step.

Exercise 1

Fig 11.1 - Select and mask the girl

Fig 11.2 - Using the tool of content aware to remove the girl from background

Fig 11.3 - Progress of Animating

Fig 11.4 - Final Outcome Animation Exercise 1

YouTube link: https://youtube.com/shorts/6KWM20cQchQ?feature=share

Exercise 2

Fig 11.5 - Select and Mask the girl

Fig 11.6 - Remove the girl from the sky background

Fig 11.7 - Separate the grass from the image

Fig 11.8 - Progress of Animating

Fig 11.9 - Final Outcome Animation Exercise 2

YouTube Link: https://youtube.com/shorts/EJ-qTp7Ja8E?feature=share

Exercise 3

Fig 11.10 - Select and mask the girl

Fig11.11 - Remove the girl from background

Fig11.12 - Using the puppet wrap and animating

Fig 11.13 - Final Outcome of Animation GIF exercise 3

TAN YI-TYNG (0353327)