DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY & IMAGING : FINAL PROJECT (SELF TITLED)
Week 9 - Week 14 (18/10/21 - 22/11/21)
Christie Angelica Bakhary (0350655)
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media - Digital Photography & Imaging
GROUP C
Final Project - Self Titled
INSTRUCTIONS
TASK
Idea Development & Visual Research
Biography
Before starting to do research and stuffs, I firstly write a short biography and introduction of myself with the template given in Google docs.
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| Fig. 2.1 : Personal biography |
From what Mr. Fauzi suggested (to make a bright and positive work), I came up with an idea to do a dreamy core theme combined with a bit of fairy core, together with some symbolization through elements.
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| Fig. 2.2 : Personal statement |
Moodboard
For the moodboard poster, I gather 4 of my favorites to be use as references for my design (source will be link on the bottom of this post).
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| Fig. 2.3 : Moodboard posters |
Elements ideas and its meaning / symbolization :
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| Fig. 2.4 : Crescent symbolization (Source : Visme Blog) |
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| Fig. 2.5 : Butterfly symbolization (Source : Visme Blog) |
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| Fig. 2.6 : Butterfly symbolization (Source : Visme Blog) |
Design Direction (Sketches & Digital Poster)
Sketches
Sketches
For the concept I decided to do a photo manipulation concept with me being a 'fairy' in a dreamy world / background. So this is what I came up with :
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| Fig. 2.7 : Mockup poster sketches |
First idea is inspired by both moodboard image 1 and 2, where the person is sitting in a cloud. While the second idea is more of a combination of moodboard image 3 & 4. Same with the first one, the second idea tells about the big goal I wanted to reach to, which is represented by the moon I am holding on.
Digital Poster Progression
To proceed, I decided to chose the second sketch because I feel it's the closest to what I want and how I want to express myself. Then I started taking photos, starting from half body to full body photos. I've try my best to find free time and the right time to take a photoshoot but the weather in my country doesn't want to work together with me.
But then I decided to just took the photo with the help of a light yellow-ish light bulb that I place not far from me, tripod, and also my phone (that've been set to portrait mode). Next, for the pose I try to mimic the one that I've been sketched out before (although it's hard because I'm not used to it lol). The final results of the photoshoot came out quite badly i say, because of the light problems I had and though I've set my phone to portrait mode, some of the photos still came out blurry.
After taking a photoshoot, I collected some pictures and elements that I'm going to use in the poster, where mostly were taken from Unsplash and Pngtree (all the resources will be linked on the bottom of this post).
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Firstly I cut out all the elements I am going to use, but for some of them that are in PNG like the bubble, I can immediately use it.
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Next, to start compositing, I attach the sky image to the canvas (IG story size) and adjusted the levels and others. However, I feel like the cloud in the image are too much, so I decided to make a brush layer in it with a purple color and start brushing off the cloud part that I don't want.
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| Fig. 2.10 : Before after background |
Then I added the sea image, erase the top part/excess part and set it to soft light as well as adjusted the color to match the background.
All the step above, like adjustment and stuffs are repeated for the other elements. The moon image itself is a full moon which is not what I wanted, so I erase it to form a crescent moon and added another bright crescent moon image on top of it to make the glow effect. I also added clouds and a Sagittarius constellation, just to represent that I am a Sagittarian, although it may not be that obvious. Next I added pink roses and clear quartz prism beside the bubble to make the whole composition a little bit fuller. But aside that, they also symbolize something important and related to the piece.
I added shooting stars and also a reflection of myself in the water, which I followed the instructions from the previous task (Shazam task)
Because I couldn't get a png stars, I looked out for a tutorial on how to make a starry night stars effect on Photoshop, and found one that helps me on it.
Fig. 2.11 : Video tutorial on how to create a field of stars in Photoshop
To represent that butterfly is the 'hope' and dreams, I added a blue glow effect with the brush tool behind it.
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| Fig. 2.12 : Adding glow effect |
Lastly, I add several adjustment layers on top of all the image and elements just like what Mr. Martin suggested in class, to balanced all the colors.
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| Fig. 2.13 : Adjustment layer on top of everything |
Finally, I came up with 2 poster options, the first one uses crescent moon as the 'part' of the bubble, while the second one doesn't. The sea image on the second poster uses the soft light mode and also added clouds around the crescent moon. The first poster uses a normal mode for the sea image, that's why it is more blue-ish in term of color.
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| Fig. 2.14 : Poster option |
Final Still Poster
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| Fig. 2.15 : Final poster |
Animation
Idea : Making the butterfly glow and light the surroundings. Then when the butterfly glows, the bubble will slowly fade away / pop. Also, for my wings I'll be animating it to flap slowly.
As the bubble fade away, the glow around butterfly and crescent are going to be brighter, as they light the surroundings, and the shooting stars will start falling slowly. This are all to indicate a strong meaning of hope and dreams in it. The wings that previously don't move, are now flapping slowly together with the glowing effects.
To make the wings flap, I used the 3D layer option and adjusted the Y rotation for both of them, then set all the keyframes to easy ease so that the animation will move smoothly.
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| Fig. 2.16 : Rotating the wings |
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However, after trying to animate it in After Effect, it doesn't come out as what I wanted it to be. It come out very stiff and weird looking that it seems like a very poor animation. So, I just stick with the previous animation that I've made before and start adding audio to it.
So, I moved to Youtube and searched for a suitable music audio with a key search of ethereal fairy music. I spent quite a time on looking for the right audio that really suits my poster's vibe, but in the end I found one that suits pretty well, which is below video. Then I also added a calming seashore sound to it to make it sound more 'realistic' and soothing.
Fig. 2.18 : Music used taken from Youtube
Final Submission (with animation)
Fig. 2.19 : Final animation outcome
Title :
"Alis Propriis Volat" (which means ‘she flies with her own wings’)
Statement:
This piece tells about how I slowly learn to heal from my sad and negative phases in life to achieve the dreams I have. Having freedom and become independent have always been my dream since then. However, I often have the feelings of insecurity, self-doubt, as well as lack of self-confidence. But outside that, I also have a strong hope and desire in achieving that dreams. From that, I slowly learn and tell myself daily that I am capable of doing anything I want to, as well as to be bravely taking a little step forward. Slowly, this strong hope of mine helps to break that insecurities and negativity I have toward myself, in which will lead me to reach that goals and freedom , just like what this piece’s title means.
Symbolizations and Meaning :
1. Butterfly => represents a strong hope, transformation (becoming a better version of myself)
2. Wings => represent freedom, confidence
3. Clear quartz => means healing and spiritual growth
4. Myself inside a bubble => means that I'm currently trapped in insecurities and negativity I have.
5. Shooting stars => means hope and wishes
6. Crescent moon => a new beginning, a hope to make dreams into reality
7. Pink roses => indicate gratitude and peace
FEEDBACKS
Week 11
General Feedback :
Mr. Fauzi suggested us to make a positive/bright work that focused on all the positivity and ability that we have, which will be nice for you and people to see rather than making a negative/dark theme work about ourselves.
Week 12
General Feedback :
Mr. Fauzi asked us to focused more on our personal photography because nevertheless this is a digital photography class. While for the animation itself, we can just do a simple one.
General Feedback :
Mr. Fauzi asked us to focused more on our personal photography because nevertheless this is a digital photography class. While for the animation itself, we can just do a simple one.
Week 13
General Feedback : -
General Feedback : -
REFLECTION
This final project was really helpful for me because I can get to learned many things from it, not just on how to use after effects and etc, but also on how this kind of opened up my mind in the way I can view myself in a more positive way.
Through this final project and insights given by the lecturer, I realized that I don't necessarily have to always brought up and focused on all my negativity and sadness, but to see more about what I am able to do, what I have gone through. Beside that, I also learn many new skills, like how to use After Effects, adding audio to it and etc.
REFERENCES
REFERENCES
Moodboard
First poster :
Second poster :
Third poster :
Fourth poster :
Elements
Sea :
Sky :
Clouds :
Shooting stars / meteor :
Moon :
Butterfly :
Bubble :
Sagittarius constellations :
Clear quartz crystal :
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