Digital Media

As a class, we were given an image to work with in Photoshop. We basically had to make some adjustments to a landscape image - it didn't have to look good, but we were required to show our understanding of "adjustment layers". 

Here is the image we were given to work with..

I made a record of my adjustments:

- Duplicate Image
- Clicked on levels
- Used paint tool (black) painted parts of mountain
- Used hut tool and gave image a purple hue
- Painted ground (black)
- Played with levels, made darker
- Used hue tool
- Painted Sky (black)
- Invert
- Clicked adjustments, increased contrast
- Clicked curves, set grey scale
- Adjusted levels and made darker
- Increased offset in exposure

Final Image...

Varied Repition

Repetition refers to one object or shape repeated; pattern is a combination of elements or shapes repeated in a recurring and regular arrangement; rhythm--is a combination of elements repeated, but with variations.

Varied repetition refers to elements in image being similar/almost the same with variations. Here in my image, you see the repetition of the wooden pillars, however they appear to vary in size (starting large in the foreground of the image) and the plants and vines grow around each one differently. The same variations can be seen in the brick work. 

This image was taken at Tupare Gardens.

Emphasis by Contrast

Emphasis is a noun. It occurs whenever an element of a piece is given dominance by a photographer (artist). The photographer makes part of the work (the focal point/s) stand out by drawing the viewer’s eye towards that specific point.  There are several ways this can be achieved, the photographer may use emphasis by contrast, creating places in an image where the viewer’s eye cannot help but be drawn. 

Emphasis by contrast: When one part of the image is identified as different to the other. I decided to use this lovely little flower I found in The Fernery at Pukekura Park. The flower is clearly different to the background, it is bright, colourful and in focus. Whereas the background is dark and blurred (shallow depth of field). 

 

Landscapes

I recently learnt how to get creative in Photoshop with landscapes, this is something I am completely new too and tend to just go with the flow throughout the entire process. I am only experienced in portraiture, landscapes however is something I am really keen to learn. 

...It is also a requirement to do 5 blog posts for Project 1 in Digital Media. Here is my unedited image, taken at Tupare Gardens in New Plymouth. 

..And here is my attempt at creative adjustments, I was aiming to bring out the autumn magic :)

Damaged

So among the bomb of work my class has been asked to do, is a task where we are asked to find a damaged photograph and fix it. Many times in the past I have wished I could have done this! I absolutely love old photos and although occasionally the damage/lack of quality appears to give them character, it can destroy important aspects of a photograph. 


I don't know this man, but I find the photo of him enchanting. I want to know more about him, I want to know what he was thinking about, where he is from, what he has seen. Although I will never know these things, I can at the very least, attempt to fix his photograph.

Flood of Knowledge

The past five weeks have been some of the busiest of my life! I have learned so much in such a short amount of time my brain is wondering where to store all this new information. Brain storage files seems to be of short since I had my son, I guess that space was needed for extra love and creativity as a mother. 

So as I learn to focus again (it's been years since I was a student) my life as a photographer continues to keep me on my toes. I was recently asked to a fundraiser for a beautiful woman - Harmony. Luckily I was able to fit a few shoots into my every expanding schedule and I am happy to say that I am noticing a difference in the quality of my images. I have my tutor Chris Hill to thank for that, turns out there is a file in my brain specially for the flood of knowledge you have gifted me with....

'Dessin'

Design originated from the french word 'dessin' which simply means 'to draw'. There are three elements associated with design - point, line and shape. Philippa sent our class out to experiment with all three elements and come back with a photo example of each...

Point: (points being inside the chain links)

Shapes: (Squares)

Lines: 

Philippa then asked what element we found the easiest to find, most of us answered 'lines'. She asks us why? We say it's because lines are all around us! She then points out that this may be true because we are in a residential area with buildings etc, however if we were at the beach, we may find shapes easier to locate. I would like to look into this a little further...