2.04.2010

Photoshop




This photoshop assignment wasn't my first time working with photoshop but I am still quite new to this whole scene. I picked this background because I wanted to add another picture that would look out of the ordinary. I wanted to leave the background alone and just manipulate the picture that I would add the original picture. Originally, I wanted to use the stamp clone tool to make another copy of the bird, but I haven't got a good grasp of that tool yet. So I just settled for using the lasso tool, then magnifying the bird and making the outline of the bird white. I added the extra white bird to add the effect of a mother bird and a baby bird. This assignment was kind of challenging but at the same time it was made easier because of that packet that Mrs. Alvarez gave us about photoshop. I will practice more with photoshop as I would love to one day photoshop on the same level as professionals.

Sequence Book








Ah sequence! When I first heard, that we were going to do this assignment I was really excited. I had so many ideas on how my story would play out and how I'm going to shoot it. In the end I opted for a more simple story: Chris suddenly realizing that he lost his phone and then finding it in his pocket afterwards.
Seeing other people's works made me really envious and frustrated in myself. If given more time, I would have probably chosen a better story or maybe decorate my book more.I really do wish that my book was half as creative as the others in my class but as luck would have it I ran out of time and was left to just try and complete the book.
I didn't really want the images to be so dark because it wasn't meant to be taken seriously. I wanted them to be light because I wanted to portray those moments that I think everyone has where you panic that you lost something only to find it in your hand, head or pocket some time later.

2.03.2010

Photobooth Assignment

Trying to think up of four different personas for myself was troublesome but it was fun trying to be someone else. I guess I like the idea of alter egos or being someone you're not. The first set of pictures are supposed to be someone who feels like a celebrity or a socialite. The second was someone who is more prim and proper, possibly innocent. The third one was someone who is kinda dumb and ditzy hence the doh face. The last one is someone who is stressed out, which in a way is how I feel this week.
I felt that this assignment could be made better if the pictures were taken with the whole body as if you are truly personifying that character instead of just changing for your head. As much fun as that sounds, I honestly think it would take too much time however but it would be nice as a project you could do for fun.
I'm pretty satisfied with the overall pictures, I like the variety of characters that I've chosen and I am glad that I finished this assignment on time.

2.02.2010

Studio Lighting



Out of all the assignments that we've had this semester, I would have to say that studio lighting is my favorite. I think the main reason why I liked it so much is because I had a lot of fun while shooting. Trying to manipulate light to work in your favor is kind of challenging but at the same time it gives you a lot of options on how you take your pictures. I liked how you can play around with shadows and how you could position the light to convey various moods. I felt that it would be better if I added the crazed fan hands in the background to accentuate the whole rockstar appeal. I think it adds more dynamic in the image and creates nice shadows. I am quite happy that I added those hands as it really does look like Omar is a real rockstar.
In this picture, I wanted to portray a story. Omar is the uber popular lead singer while Chris(in the background) is the unaprecciated member overshadowed by Omar's popularity. I wanted to show Chris' remorse and anger towards the amount of limelight that Omar is getting so I focused most of the light on him but kept some light on Christ-- just enough to show his emotion.
Printing this picture was the only obstacle I had on this assignment. Trying to get the picture to turn out just right was pretty difficult because it would either come out too dark or too light. In the end, I decided to just play around with the contrast in photoshop and fix it up a bit.
Overall I really enjoy shooting for studio lighting and if given the oppurtunity, I would love to this one again just for fun.