Digital Photography and Imaging - Project 2
Week 5 - Week 9
Tan Jiaxuan 0339598
Bachelor of Mass Communication (Public Relations and Events Management)
Project 2A (Exercise 1) - Photo Manipulation
We have learned how to crop Shazam into Hearst Mansion during Week 4. In this project, we have to replace Shazam with a photo of ourselves.
Photo Manipulation Progression
Figure 1.1 Photo of myself
Figure 1.2 Final result of editing
Project 2A (Exercise 2) - Recolouring B&W photo
For this project, we are required to recolour B&W photos using Photoshop. Part 1 is the basic level for recolouring which we will be using the Quick Selection Tool to select the area out. Meanwhile, Part 2 is the advanced level for recolouring which we will need to Mask the image and use Refine Brush to perform the recolour well.
Figure 2.1 Part 1- Before and after recolouring
Recolouring Exercise 1 Progression
Figure 2.2 Part 2-Before and after recolouring
Recolouring Exercise 2 Progression
Figure 2.2 Part 2-Before and after recolouring
Project 2B - Poster Design
For this project, we have to create a poster about Refugee in Malaysia.
1. Summary of your research (with not more than 500 words)
When talking about refugees, the reaction of Malaysians is always unfriendly.
To Malaysians, refugees are labeled dangerous, dirty, criminal, kidnappers, etc. Each ethnic group has different views on the issue, they view refugees as a threat that will threaten their social-economic status and deprive them of resources and job opportunities. Indeed, refugees are always not being welcome to Malaysia.
While the refugees are recognized by the UN's refugee agency UNHCR, Malaysia is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, which means all refugees are viewed as illegal migrants awaiting resettlement in a third country.
Malaysia also does not extend protection, job opportunities, or education to them, causing many refugees to end up finding odd jobs in the informal sectors as cleaners, waiters, or construction workers. Restaurants and factories in Malaysia have a high demand and are dependent on refugees as their low-cost labor but at the same time the employers look down on them.
Refugees suffer abuse by employers, many are victims of robberies, men are beaten, women are raped and children displaced. They are being exploited by the local residents and neighbors. For example, the landlord charged refugees more rentals because they do not trust them. There is also a refugee who mentioned that “Our boss does not pay us but we cannot say anything” “Taxi drivers do not take us as they are suspicious of us.”
The refugees have no legal standing in this country and therefore no recourse to the law.
The 2009 World Refugee Survey lists Malaysia together with South Africa and Gaza as the “Worst Places for Refugees”. The Amnesty International Report 2009 on the State of the World’s Human Rights comments on the beatings succumbed by refugees and the deplorable conditions at our immigration centers. These findings have brought Malaysia into significant disrepute. We cannot continue to label ourselves as “Malaysia, Truly Asia” while hypocritically engaging in vile and inhumane acts against our Asian neighbors.
It is understandable the discomfort from Malaysians, however, Malaysian should not use hatred or exclusion as a response. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Malaysians can defend for their own privilege, but not to racist and discriminate against the refugees. Malaysian public must strive to make themselves aware of the plight of refugees domestically and internationally while endeavoring to assist where possible. We cannot disregard the curtailment of human rights and democracy in Malaysia or foreign lands.
2. Highlight, keywords, your design approach/Idea.
- Human Rights
- Human equality
- Fear
- Racism
- Sexual Violence
- Unwelcome
- Social discrimination
3. Poster Reference
Figure 3.1 Poster Reference
Define concept
1. Create a sketch for each layers (Title, Slogan, Details & Call for Action)
Title
Mock up poster #1 : We are human, not your puppet
Mock up poster #2 : We are just finding a place to survive
Figure 3.2 Sketch title for mock up poster #1
Figure 3.3 Sketch title for mock up poster #2
Slogan
Human rights don't change based on whether seeking safety by land, air or sea.
Figure 3.4 Sketch for slogan
Details
Figure 3.5 I would like to add all these criticism as a dialogue box in my poster, making the feel of people saying these kinds of things to refugees.
Call for Action
Stop racism
Figure 3.6 I try to make the poster simple and not too wordy, so I will keep my call for action simple.
2. Sketch your mock up poster.
Figure 3.7 Sketch for mock up poster 1
This idea is based on the poster reference I have found. I want to use the concept of the puppet as I think the refugees in Malaysia has no rights and freedom and at the same time, the way Malaysians treating them is just like the way human playing with puppet.
Figure 3.8 Sketch for mock up poster 2
In this idea, I plan to add Malaysia's map to my design. This is to emphasize the situation of refugees staying in Malaysia.
Mock Up Poster 1 progression
Mock Up Poster 2 progression
Figure 3.8 Mockup Poster 1 & 2
Feedback from Mr.Martin :
Go for the first design, but the masking feather is too much, can try to lower down the feather. Can also make some colour correction (duller) on the refugee's image.
Figure 3.9 So I used Pen Tool to redraw the selection for my refugee.
Figure 3.10 The details.
Figure 3.11 Make a selection on the area and place it in my poster.
Figure 3.13 Final Poster
Poster Description
Refugees are human too, they have their emotions. Malaysia is a multicultural country that was labeled as “Malaysia, Truly Asia” while hypocritically engaging in vile and inhumane acts against Asian neighbors. Wasn’t this ridiculous?
From my research, I found that the reaction of Malaysians treating refugees is like playing a puppet. Also, refugees are denied to have proper education, medical and career in Malaysia. Which means they have no basic rights and freedom in Malaysia. Thus, I came up with the idea of a puppet trying to show how Malaysian control them by treating them unfairly and the string on the refugee’s hands represents refugees bound to have no freedom.
I want to bring out the unfriendly reaction from Malaysians in this poster, so I added those aggressive and critical words. The title of the poster represents the thoughts of refugees.
Reflection:
Experience: Both of the exercises under Project 2A are quite a new thing for me as I did not have the chance to learn these kinds of editing skills before. It is not a difficult task since Mr.Martin has provided a lot of guidance in the tutorial video.
However, for Project 2B, I felt it was difficult for me. The examples that Mr. Martin has shown us are too professional and skillful. The message the artist conveys is cleared as well. So I was kind of stressed while doing this project and kept on researching and brainstorming to portray the idea for my poster.
Observation: For Project 2A, I observed that every detail matters in editing. The recolouring required our patience to refine the mask and applied the colour on each of the layers. It will be very obvious if one of the layers did not select well.
Meanwhile, for Project 2B, I observed that Masking is very crucial in all of the designs. It must be very precise if not it will ruin the look of your design. At first, I applied a lot of Feather on my refugee. But after making the changes according to Mr. Martin’s feedback. I feel more satisfied with the fine edges outcome.
Findings: There is a part that I have to add those puppet strings in my poster, but I couldn’t find any of the photos that fit it well. So, I ended up using the Brush Tool and draw the puppet strings by myself in Photoshop. I found that it is cool that we can even draw in Photoshop (without using Illustrator) in order to make the design fulfill the outcome we wanted.
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