Text overlay

The aim of this task was to create a set of text overlay images using low key lighting. First off I needed to create the low key lighting images, which I did by going into the studio, using a background and only one light. I moved the light to different positions, which created different amounts of light and shadow on her face. I made sure I had a good small set of images before leaving the studio and going to use photoshop. In photoshop I edited the image black and white, I then found text from a song of the classmates choice. I took this text and brought it into word, made it a size I felt would help to create a better image. Whilst correcting the text throughout these 3 processes, I chose two different typefaces. Once I had the text how I wanted it I took a screen shot of it and dragged it into photoshop on top of the portrait. I positioned it over the portrait, then changed the blending mode to 'multiply'. I then erased the text from where I didn't want it to be. 

I have created three different images using text overlay, using different photographs, different typefaces and positioning them differently. I feel that the third one is the most successful, as the text typeface fits in well with the image and creates a good style. Although these images are successful on the what they intend to do I don't like the images as a whole, I felt that I could of got better portraits and her facial expressions don't match up with the style of the images. I also would change the way i added the text to make it more of a style that I like.

Photoshop techniques

Polaroid
To create a polaroid style image in photoshop you start off by opening up the image in photoshop and using the crop button, crop the image to square on the part of the image you want to use. Then create a new layer, then using the gradient tool, select colours you want to use that will work best to create a polaroid effect. Then apply the gradient by dragging it across the image in the direction you want it to flow. Bring down the opacity so that both the image and the gradient colours are visible. Next is to add a border, which is done by selecting image, canvas size, and add on 5cm to the original size, then proceeding to add another 10cm to the bottom by repeating the same steps, but where the small graph is at the bottom, click the top arrows to cancel them out and only adding 10cm to the height. Once all these steps are followed you can then add text using the text tool, which results in a polaroid style photograph.

Vignette
To create a vignette open up your photograph into photoshop and select the elliptical marque tool, using this drag the shape around the image from the corner. Once you have this shape in the position you would like it to be, go to select and inverse, then select again, modify and feather. Choose the pixels and select ok, make sure your colour is on black (or the colour you want to use), press cmd and backspace on the keyboard and then change the opacity to what suits your image.
































Cyanotype
To create an cyanotype effect image simple change the image to black and white(unless it is already), add a new layer, fill with solid blue and change the opacity. This creates an image with a nice blue effect.

Old fashion/sepia

To create an old fashioned image using background layers and the sepia effect, you must have the image you want to edit, and an image of a crumpled piece of paper or anything you feel would work well with this. Open up the main photograph in photoshop then place the paper image over the top and change the blending mode and opacity on this layer so that the paper image blends in nicely with the main photograph. Too add the sepia effect select image, adjustments, photo filter which will bring up a box, choose the sepia filter and change the colour density to suit how you want it. 

Experimental images

For my first set of experimental images I went out into the college and shot as many different buildings as I could find, at different angles to experiment and see what kind of buildings I would like to shoot for my final images. I feel that this shoot was successful and I got a good amount of experimental images. I explored as much as possible using a range of different buildings as well as shooting techniques. After this experimental shoot around college it will help me to move forward and continue to shoot experimental images and develop into creating my final images. 

Multiple exposures

For this experiment I created multiple exposures using the camera instead of photoshop. To do this we used the studio, turning off all the lights and just using a flash, once we had our cameras ready and focused the person controlling the flash would turn out all the lights and using a slow shutter speed we pressed out shutters then whilst the flash was pressed several times during the exposure as the model moved about to create the multiple exposure as the camera would of captured the position of the person each time there was light, which was each time the flash was set off. Although this was difficult to get right and was a bit of a struggle at first, working as a team and taking it in turns to work the flash and be in front of the camera, I managed to create a good body of work using these techniques. Using different methods for the person to move around in front of the camera and thinking up different poses that are interesting, the one I find most interesting that we thought up was to do the 'hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil' poses, which I think working out successfully.

Solarisation

Using the old and new images I had previously shot in black and white I created a few solarisation images using photoshop. To do this I opened up the image in photoshop, created a background layer and inverted the image, which I then played around with by changing the opacity to bring down the invert slightly to a point where I felt the image looked better. Doing this helped me to experiment in this different way of editing an image and present it, and gave me the experience of using this technique to possibly use within experimenting throughout this project.

Old and new

For this experiment of photographing old and new I photographed objects that I felt was old and new in the same frame whilst photographing in black and white. Around the college I photographed objects together in one frame I felt represented this, things such as old and new buildings, paths etc. Out of these images I feel that the paths one works well because there is part of an old and a newly laid path/road. This helped me to experiment with different ways and processes of representing the theme of old and new and get an idea of a way to photograph old and new by capturing two object that represent the theme in the same frame. I feel that I was successful in experimenting with this, I captured both old and new in the same frame to represent the theme and have experimented with this technique which will help me as I move along with this project.

Evaluation excercise

I feel I have achieved my original intentions very well, I photographed using the intention of the old and new effect and feel I have been successful in doing so. The old and new effect is shown in this photograph by the road and the markings, on the right is old where the markings are fading away and the road is looking new, and on the right where the pavement has been newly laid and new road markings have been placed. This image has been correctly exposed and is straight. I could maybe of made the two sides of the images even so there is the same amount of each of the aspects shown. I have used some cropping by cropping out some of the road markings, but don't feel that it has given a bad effect on the image.