CD Cover Experiment

This image was created by starting with a blank 120mm by 120mm canvas and using the gradient tool to add in the original blue/white background. I have then used a mix of text which has had the colours edited and a stroke added and brushes to create a simplistic yet effective CD cover that reflects the band and the song title. the brush I have used looksold and rustic to fit and old timely theme.

Shutter Speed Photos

 This image uses a 10 second shutter speed and the model using a torch to draw lines around them-self. The slow speed has allowed the light lines to show up on the photo. However the model is barely visible even though the light lines orbit the model.

 This image uses a smaller shutter speed of about 2 seconds which leaves a more solid shape on the picture. The model is using a torch again to draw a shape in the air which is a lot more solid than that of the previous image. This image has motion blur from where the camera has shaken and the models movement.

 This image also uses a two second shutter speed but the model has moved a lot slower and created a smaller and more solid shape. I have also experimented with light in this image with the background that makes the model stand out more than the previous image as the model is a lot less hidden.

 This image is using a 1 second shutter speed to take a quick light image of the torch movement. the model is blurred due to motion blur caused by camera movement which was accidental yet leaves the image leaving the image looking quite mysterious.

 This image uses a 1/4 of second shutter speed to capture the slightest motion in clear detail. In this case I have used this shutter speed to capture the model leaping over the railing.This shutter speed has captured the movement perfectly. The only problem with this image is that is slightly out of focus.

this is another image using a 1/4 of a second shutter speed to capture another jumping motion. this is taken at a closer range and is slightly tilted to make the jump seem slightly higher than it seems. the shutter speed has allowed this motion to be caught with the model in thin air.

Photoshop work- subtle techniques

This image has been edited in Photoshop and has been auto-coloured, contrasted and toned. It does not appear to have changed much. the main difference is that the colours are slightly sharper which changes the overall tidiness of the image.

This image has been desaturated and then the brightness and contrast levels have been edited. The colours have been taken out of the image and the contrast levels have brought the blacks and whites out in the background. The image has been edited to give a more mysterious or possibly serious tone to the image.

This image has had an unsharpen mask added to sharpen certain parts of the face especially the eyes. After the mask has been applied the image has been feathered around the facial area with the inverse area selected. The background has then been contrasted to bring out and intensify the background. This technique is known as vingetting.

The original unedited image.

Photography Work 

This image uses the use of framing and is was taken from medium distance to include the full body. As well as making use of frame I have positioned the model so that their eyes just miss the third eye-line. this makes the model slightly powerless and fits the almost "caged" theme this image presents. The image also uses back-lighting to bathe the model in shadows. 

 This image makes use of a line to draw attention to the focal point that is the model. The stairs form a line that leads directly up to the model who is not even looking at the camera but instead pulling a rather thoughtful pose. i have also used a slight tilt up to make the model appear slightly more powerful again uses back-lighting to add shadows and mystery to my image.

This image uses tilt and side-lighting to create a weird image. The model is sandwiched between two electric boxes and crouched down to appear trapped even if the facial expression doesn't show it. The tilt down shows the powerlessness of the model and the position make it appear that the viewer is looking down on the model as if they are a trapped animal or that the model is "popping" out of the place.there may also be a slight line appearing in the image with the pavement behind the model.

 This image is quite weird. it is slightly out of focus but this has created a dark line around the model. the main technique it uses is a line as the gorund beside the model leads to the focal point. the model is also shadowed by the trees whitch makes them appear mysterious against the bright background.

This is another caged picture using a similar pose to the previous image. this time however the light is shining through the cage because of the flash on the camera. There is a slight tilt down to fit with the cage style frame of the image and showing a slight powerless feel.

This image is using a slight tilt up to show the character has a bit more power than the person viewing it. There is also a use of pose in this image to make it seem funny. the image is using the invitation pose to make a funny image. Also the the eyleine of the image makes the person seem powerful as they are in power and slightly looking down on the camera.

this is another image showing the power of tilt down on a model. they are off centre and being looked down upon by the camera and are posing quite casually. this image is showing the power balance of the image again with the model being forced to look up at the camera showing they aren't the most powerful.

Magazine Evaluation
Photography

 This image is much better as it is a close up head and shoulders shot with the correct eye line and is properly focused.





         

                                                           

 Bad photo as it is not just of head and shoulders shot. It was taken from too far away.

 This photo is better as the person is higher in the photo and the eyes are near enough third line eye level.

Photography Skills

Since I took GCSE graphics in last year I already had a decent idea of how to use a camera

and the different techniques of using them. I knew a bit about manual and auto focus and the

zoom ring. However through the little photography session I have managed to fine tune those skills

and improve on them. I have also learnt new skills such as the benefit of the T-stance when trying to

zoom in on a target. It helps get closer up without actually moving closer and reduces shaking by

giving the photographer a sturdier position.  I have also better focused my images as some of the

first images I took were out of focus slightly. I can now perfectly focus a model and using manual

focus. I also originally had problems with eye line as the model was either too low or high. This

did improve as the shoot went on and eventually the photos looked better with the eyes in the

correct line. The use of the backgrounds in my photos was mainly dominated by light. Since I had to

take a range of shots using a range of lightings I had to focus on where the lighting was and how to

utilise it. Some of the backgrounds were good but others made the model to high or low to position

against them. 

Photoshop Skills

Again since I did graphics at GCSE I had a sound understanding of Photoshop as I used it throughout

the course. I understood how to use and manipulate layers to gain effects. I could insert text and add

fx. However again this project has helped me to fine tune and improve these skills further. I have now learnt how to download fonts and install them properly. Custom fonts are a very important part of my cover as they give it that punk effect I want my readers to see. I downloaded them from a site called dafont.com in a zip file and extracted the contents once the folder was in my documents. I have also learnt how not to stretch my images when re-sizing which is just to hold the shift key whilst transforming an image. This will help me avoid losing marks when my work is marked as my images are perfect without signs of stretching. The cover itself looks pretty professional as I have the text in noticeable colours (red and grey) which are aligned to the right in my cover. They form a neat line down the right hand side and are easily readable. I picked the colours red and grey because they work well together. For my sell lines I have the first part black and the second part grey. The picture is centred in the cover and fills the whole page with the text neatly displayed over and around it. I have used sharpen on the face and blurred the background slightly to make the model stand out more. I added a stroke to each text to emphasise my texts broken font and make it stand out against the background.  

The finished product. it looks like a professional magazine cover with a ordered layout and all the necessary background introduction.