Digital Photography and Imaging - Week 4

14/10/2024 - 20/10/2024 (Week 4)

Chang Wing / 0367807 

Digital Photography and Imaging / Bachelors of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Project 1A: Digital Collage Design

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Week 4 

Lecture

Mr. Fauzi introduced us to the adjustment layer feature in Adobe Photoshop, which is a useful feature to enhance the flawed images without permanently changing their pixel. 

Figure 1.1 Adjustment Layer

The 5 Basic Adjustment

1. Brightness/Contrast: The brightness slider is for adjusting the highlights in image and the Contrast slider is for adjusting the shadows in image.

Figure 1.2 Brightness and Contrast

2. Levels: Modify the tonal values in an image by adjusting the levels of the shadows, midtones, and highlights.

Figure 1.3 Level

3. Curves: Adjust tonal range of dark and bright areas

Figure 1.4 Curves

4. Exposure: Adjust the highlights of the image.

Figure 1.5 Exposure

5. Selective Colour: Selectively modifies the amount of a primary colour without modifying the other primary colours in image.

Figure 1.6 Selective Colour

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Tutorial

Mr. Fauzi provided video tutorials to vital tools that will be needed in completing this task such as match lighting, adjustment layers, pen tool and filters in Adobe Illustrator.


Video Tutorial (Adjustment Layer): https://youtu.be/81lAetwbAUs?si=z1euNMhy1PS5mhHM

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Practical

Project 1: Digital Collage Design

 

Same as last task, Mr. Fauzi helped us to choose one final design from the 3 Pre-compositions we did. The chosen design will then be carried on to the next task: image enhancement with the adjustment layer feature in Adobe Photoshop.

Inspiration

Before entering to Adobe Photoshop, I started out by searching for inspiration on Pinterest just so I have an idea on how to composite my photo elements. I also looked up seniors' works to know the expected outcomes. 

Figure 2.1 Inspiration from Pinterest

PRE-COMPOSITION #1

Figure 2.1 Pre-Composition #1 (20/10/2024)

PRE-COMPOSITION #2

Figure 2.2 Pre-Composition #2 (20/10/2024)

PRE-COMPOSITION #3

Figure 2.3 Pre-Composition #3 (20/10/2024)

Final Photo Collage (Before Adjustments)

I chose this design because I think it has the best colour scheme. Blue colour of the building and green colour of the teenager's shirt goes well the fished and florals in the background. Also, the placement of the man and the teenager serves to symbolize humanity.

Figure 2.4 Final Design

Digital Collage - Adjustment Layers & Filters

In this task, Mr. Fauzi wanted us to apply what we've learnt about the adjustment layers onto our chosen final design of digital collage.

Research

Before enhancing my digital collage with the adjustment layers and filters, I wanted to understand better about how they work and I am still confused about the adjustment features (especially the curves and layers), so I searched up tutorials on Youtube. 

Figure 2.5 Youtube tutorials explaining the curves

As I was skimming through different tutorial videos, I discovered a very useful tool called "Blend If" that allows us to apply our adjustment/filters at selected bright or dark areas.

Figure 2.6 Youtube tutorials explaining the"Blend If" feature in Layer Style

Exploration

Figure 2.7 Exploring Blending Mode and Adjustment Layer (21/10/2024)

Final Photo Collage (After Adjustments)

I enlarged the man and the kid because I think they need more emphasis. I covered the man’s eyes because I wanted viewers to view them as generic humans and not focusing on who they are.


With the adjustment layers, I dimmed the brightness of the man and kid because I feel they are slightly brighter than the other elements, I also increased the contrast of them because I want the details to be more visible.

I added a threshold adjustment layer and it gave a monochromatic tone to my photo collage, I tuned down the threshold level to soften its effect and I like the vintage feel it gives to my photo collage.

Figure 2.8 Final Design

The Concept

This digital photo collage portrays the cyclical nature of the universe that draws all things toward a predestined end, only to begin again. The Golden Ratio symbolises order, the unbroken cycle of birth, growth, decay, and rebirth. The placement of the fish, humans, and building along the Golden Ratio spiral represents humanity and nature, innocence and wisdom. Together, they all set along a path they cannot control but must follow.

At the heart of the composition lies the typewriter, symbolising the act of creation, communication, and the narrative of life itself. It represents the unseen hand that writes the story of existence, reminding us that while we may not control the larger forces of the universe, we are still the authors of our personal journeys.

I hope this message inspires humanity to reflect on their existence within the universe, to seek out the hidden truths of the universe, and to write their own legacy even knowing that all things, in the end, must fade.

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Reflection

Through this particular task, I’ve learnt how to use the magic tool to crop out the images’ background, it saves a lot of time compared to using the pen tool if we want to crop the subject more precisely. Through my research, I’ve also known that converting my images to smart objects allow me to carry out non-destructive editing and I can scale my image without losing its original quality. Besides that, I have learnt to utilize adjustment layers and filters to enhance my images. They enable me to correct uneven lighting, recover overexposed highlights, and even apply colour overlays to shift the overall mood of the image.

Overall, I enjoyed this task because it allowed me to experiment with the photo elements using the Photoshop features introduced in lectures. I also realised that working with limited resources encourages a deeper focus on composition, rather than spending time searching for flashy or elaborate visuals.