Digital Photography and Imaging - Project 1

 05/04/21 - 02/05/21 

Week 2 - Week 5

Tan Jiaxuan 0339598

Bachelor of Mass Communication (Public Relations and Events Management)

This project requires us to find different elements such as typography and images from magazines and newspapers. This project has split into two parts, A and B. For Project 1A, we have to cut our design elements out and form a new physical collage design whereas, for Project 1B, it will be a digital collage. 

Project 1A - Physical Collage

PRE-COMPOSITION #1

Concept: Little dreamer blooms when she dreams. One day, she’ll be blooming on the newspapers. 

My concept of this design is adding colour in the black and white world, trying to make it a focal point. 

PRE-COMPOSITION #2

Concept: Wonderer taking pictures in heaven. 

I’m trying to create a balance and contrast in this design. Black and white and coloured world; retro and modern world. 

PRE-COMPOSITION #3

Concept: She survived and became stronger in a world full of judgement.   

For the last design, I try to play it with the landscape. Since the background is already full of words forming black and white, so I used the contrast of colour to show out my main character. I try to keep everything simple in this design and play with the rules of third in this design. 

Feedback from Mr. Martin:

Composition #1: Too crowded in the middle.

Composition #2: Better composition. It is all straight in the middle. Better than the first one. Let's just go with this design!

Composition #3: Too simple. 

Final chosen : Composition #2

Project 1B - Digital Collage

Now we can proceed to Project 1B which is a digital collage. We have to create 3 different designs using the images given by Mr Martin in Photoshop.

Figure 1.1 Elements that used Pen Tool to cut out 

Figure 1.2 Elements that used Lasso Tool to cut out 

Figure 1.3 Elements that used Quick Selection Tool to cut out 

PRE-COMPOSITION #1

PRE-COMPOSITION #2

PRE-COMPOSITION #3

Mr Martin didn't give a lot of feedback on my design, he has straight chosen Pre-composition #3. I want to make improvements on my work so I make some edit on Pre-composition #3 and redesign my other collage.

   

Figure 1.4 I make some colour correction and make adjustments on the brightness and contrast.

Figure 1.5 I used Drop Shadow on some of my design elements.

   

Figure 1.6 Before and after adding shadow.

Figure 1.7 I Applied Golden Ratio Rule in my design.

PRE-COMPOSITION #1

PRE-COMPOSITION #2

PRE-COMPOSITION #3

Feedback

Mr Martin asked me to go for my third design. He said the illusion of distorted 3-dimensional space is pleased to watch.

Final chosen : Composition #3

Reflection:

Experience: At the very beginning, I thought the Physical Collage wouldn't be a very difficult task since it is all based on the elements we wanted to choose. However, I did find it was a bit time-consuming as we'll need to cut out every single piece of the elements and play around with different compositions. There was a time that I missed out on some of the elements I wanted to print but my printer just ran out of ink. So in the end, I had to try and play around with what elements I have. 

For the Digital Collage, I found it is way easier to complete (thanks to the Quick Selection Tool in Photoshop :b). The only challenge I faced here was brainstorming the idea for my design as we can only use the design elements provided by Mr. Martin.

Observation: After few attempts in different types of compositions, I observed that my designs were improving and I also managed to figure out different tools and functions in Photoshop. This project really helps me to get familiar with Photoshop. 

Findings: Before this project, I wouldn’t know there are so many rules and theories contained in any piece of design. I thought that designs come spontaneously. So, after this exercise, I have learned that having those rules and theories, it will make the design look way more different and outstanding and I am more aware of it.