Final Portfolio

 This final portfolio is a show of my entire semester learning how to use digital media tools while also trying to figure out style. Starting from something as simple as an ASCII selfie and ending with harder projects that combined Photoshop, Illustrator, I can definitely see how much my work evolved. When making the portfolio, I tried to pick background colors and text colors that complemented each individual project. Overall, I wanted to most of my slides clean, organized, and easy to follow, as I wanted the focus to be on the projects themselves. But, for the introduction and index slides, I also tried to add more stylistic choices since they weren’t tied to any specific project. The colors I choose throughout my projects are usually vibrant, so I tried to keep a similar color scheme with my portfolio.

Autoscopy Assignment

The assignment this week was to make an autoscopy which included choosing a photo and transforming it into anything creative having to do with how we see ourselves. I started with the picture of me seen on the bottom. I used the masking tool to cut myself out and I applied different filters and distortions as well. I tried to keep the color scheme, especially for me, light and colorful to reflect good energy and maintain the bright tone of the image. I also added a smoke cartoon above my head to represent my mind always thinking and being in the clouds, while keeping the lighting consistent with the original photo. Within the smoke bubble, I added two more pictures of myself from when I went skydiving to act as a border of an eye, with another picture of my face to act as the pupil. I choose these photos because they represent adventure and happiness and them being made into an eye symbolizes the lens I try to view life through. The background I found off of Pinterest, and I changed the coloring as well as made it look like it was made from oil paint. The vision I had was leaning more towards surrealism and to represent passivity and going with the flow. To me, the background represents randomness and the endless possibilities that are involved in life. Adding all these layers together, I tried to make the image feel like a visual map of my inner world, showing joy and desire for fun within and despite uncertainty.

Multiplicity Assignment

 

The assignment this week was to take at least 6 pictures of ourselves and combine them into one single image involving a story. I had a lot of trouble with the assignment this week. At first, I had high hopes for taking a cohesive picture and story, but I don't like how my photoshop ended up coming out. The original idea was to have 6 different Kirby's, since he has different abilities, all in the same photo. The "abilities" I chose include shower Kirby, meditation Kirby, hula Kirby, chef Kirby, sleeping Kirby, and jumping Kirby. While I did have 6, I just feel like since the costume is so round and pink all the Kirby's start to blend together and I don't really like it. As well as this, I also think that I am too close to the camera since all of my Kirby's are touching so I wish I chose a better spot where I could've backed the camera up further. I also had much difficultly with the process of trying to apply to layer masks to each other, so I ended up having to utilize other tools and practices, like the selection tool, to get all my pictures combined. However, I did end up enjoying being able to see and learn the different ways multiplicity pictures can be created using different methods. Overall, I think the illusion of multiplicity is there but if I were to redo this project I would definitely opt for a more cohesive story, different outfits, and a better place to take the pictures. 

Somewhere Assignment

 

The assignment this week was to insert ourselves in a still from one of our favorite movies. I chose to insert myself into a scene from Requiem for a Dream. I chose this photo of myself because I am wearing similar clothes to the characters because we are in comfortable loungewear, but I also enjoyed that my facial expression would be very ironic to the contents on the scene. Before this scene, one of the main characters, Harry, encourages his girlfriend, Marion, to engage in prostitution with her psychiatrist in order to get money to feed the drug addiction they are both heavily deep into. This scene occurs directly after Marion has returned home with the money. Overall, the tone of the scene is very emotionally empty and defeated so I thought adding my smile and thumbs up would contrast well and add a layer of irony. To make this, I started by using the eraser tool on a photo of myself and then importing my outline into the scene photo. From there, I changed many of the settings including hue, saturation, brightness, contrast, exposure, offset, vibrance, etc. In addition to these, I also utilized the burn tool, dodge tool, blur tool, and sharpen tool. With all of these together, and after making different versions and comparing, I was able to match the scene the best I could. I enjoyed doing this project a lot. I have used simple cut and paste apps/softwares before to place myself in photos, but it was so interesting to see a more professional and accurate way to create these types of photos.

B&W To Color Assignment

 Color Scheme 1: Split Complementary

Color Scheme 2: Square

Color Scheme 2: Complementary

    The assignment this week was to turn a photo into black and white and then overlay it with colors. This was the most time-consuming assignment so far for me. I used the quick mask eraser method to complete the whole photo, so I know that, as well as the picture I choice, contributed to the time. I realized it would take so long after I first finished the car and saw how many individual pieces were left, but ultimately, I was too stubborn to give up and switch photos. It was very interesting to see the process of grouping individual pieces of a photo together, and once that is the done the ease of being able to make so many different versions. For example, the quick masking took SO long, but making 2 copies after in other color schemes was very easy and fun. My favorite photo I completed was my split complementary color scheme. This was my favorite because I feel like the colors go really well and it reminds me of the 2000's. My least favorite one I completed was my complementary color scheme because I feel like the background doesn't go well and it looks too dark and like muddled. Some design choices I made were trying to keep the car and the sign as focal points of the photo, making sure the background chosen wasn't too bright, and making sure the color scheme made the contents of the photo pop. Overall, this assignment was okay, I enjoyed learning the process, but I felt like the amount of time I spent on my project didn't align with my end result.

Poster Assignment #2

Color Scheme 1: Square

Color Scheme 2: Shades

Color Scheme 3: Compounds

This week's assignment was to repeat last week's poster assignment with Illustrator and to now incorporate Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop ultimately allowed for more pictures to be chosen and came with more settings to change the look of the lighting and small details in photos. Again, this assignment included choosing a valid color scheme, coloring the picture of our choice, and adding text. I did this process for 3 separate posters with 3 different types of color schemes as seen above. Right away, when working on the assignment I can tell Photoshop was noticeably better for image settings. I tried to use this photo last week and the image trace tool did not work at all. But, after using Photoshop to fix the lighting and contrast, I was able to use this picture and have it work well. My favorite poster from this week was my square color scheme because I feel like the colors really pop as well as compliment the photo's contents. My least favorite poster that I made was my compounds color scheme because I feel like it looks kind of cluttered and like a lot on the eyes. It was nice learning that different Adobe tools may each come with their own benefits, and it was cool seeing this work in action with fixing my photo in photoshop and then bringing it to illustrator to trace and color it. I look forward to being able to use this knowledge for any photos I want to edit the background for in the future.

Poster Assignment #1

 

Color Scheme 1: Compounds

                                                                  Color Scheme 2: Triad

Color Scheme 3: Split Complementary

This week's assignment was the poster assignment with Illustrator which involved choosing a picture, image tracing it, choosing a valid color scheme, coloring it, and adding text. I did this process for 3 separate posters with 3 different types of color schemes. I ran into issues right away when the initial picture I chose did not work well with the image trace tool. This made me pivot to the image above which allowed for more picture definition and more shapes to be created. The effect of this can directly been seen by looking at how color schemes 1 and 2 have more shapes/color than scheme 3. The picture I chose depicts me on the boardwalk in Wildwood, New Jersey looking at a Zoltar while he is giving me a fortune. Since Zoltar is known for telling fortunes about the future, I added a slogan on my arm to each poster conveying a similar idea. I also tried to add my own shapes at a point to further color my picture but quickly realized the weirdness that goes on while trying to connect the pen tool with the image trace and decided against it. Overall, my triad color scheme poster was definitely my favorite. I felt the colors along with the text popped and enhanced the contents of the picture well. My least favorite poster is my split complementary because my picture lost definition during image trace processing which lead to less shapes as well as I do not love the color scheme. In the end, I am happy with my results but also am excited to try Photoshop and see how much easier the process can be.