Digital Photography & Imaging - Final Project
30.10.2023 - 27.11.2023 || Week 10 - Week 14
Ruchira Nowreen || 0347111
Major: Bachelor of Software Engineering || Minor: Creative Media Design || Taylor's University
Digital Photography & Imaging GCD 61204
PROJECT 4: SELF-TITLED
INSTRUCTION
PROJECT 4
In Project 4, spanning six weeks and comprising 40% of the final grade, the objective was to seamlessly integrate concepts from Illustration & Visual Narrative and Digital Imaging & Photography. The task involved crafting a comprehensive poster that showcases acquired skills in each module. The project requirements included incorporating a self-portrait (DIP), and weaving a related motive (IVN) through both elements to create a cohesive and conceptually rich narrative reflecting personal or artistic identity.
BACKGROUND
For this project, my initial task was to delve into self-discovery and identify the crucial aspects of my life, my likes, and elements that represent me. In capturing my personal essence, I began by outlining a brief biography, serving as a foundational tool to guide and support my entire project.
Next, using the biography I crafted for myself, I developed the rationale for my idea or concept for this project. In this section, I will discuss both the biography and the rationale.
Biography
I am Ruchira Nowreen, a resilient individual born in Bangladesh, characterized by a strong and bold personality that has accompanied me since my formative years. Fueled by an innate ambition and competitiveness, my academic journey has been marked by excellence, supported by the unwavering encouragement of my parents. A defining chapter of my life led me from the vibrant landscapes of Bangladesh to the educational opportunities in Malaysia, where I set out to fulfill my lifelong dream of becoming a software engineer, aspiring to contribute to industry giants like Google, Apple, or Microsoft.
From an early age, my fascination with technology has been a driving force. While others delved into movies, my time was devoted to consuming tech reviews, nurturing a profound interest in mobile phones and electronic devices. Alongside this tech-savvy inclination, my recreational pursuits found solace in gaming, particularly in the realms of horror, racing, and multiplayer experiences. These interests not only shaped my leisure activities but also underscored my dedication to the ever-evolving world of technology.
Beyond the binary realm of code and circuits, my heart lies in the arts. Since childhood, I have immersed myself in art classes, refining my skills to create captivating cartoons and digital designs. Photography and editing, another dimension of my artistic expression, became second nature. Despite cherishing my role as the personal photographer and editor for family and friends, my personal passion lies in delving into nature photography. Driving to the mountains has become a habitual escape, allowing me to live harmoniously with nature and capture its beauty through the lens of my phone. To intertwine my love for the arts with my academic pursuit, I chose to minor in creative media design, aligning my studies with my passion. Looking ahead, I envision a future where I succeed as a software engineer while nurturing my creative arts hobby. Crafting my own game stands as a paramount goal—a project where I can meld programming prowess with the ability to sculpt characters according to my artistic inclinations.
In summary, I, Ruchira Nowreen, am a dynamic individual navigating the intersection of technology and art. Born in Bangladesh and pursuing higher education in Malaysia, my journey epitomizes ambition, dedication to excellence, and a harmonious fusion of the analytical and creative realms. As I tread the path towards a successful career in software engineering, my commitment to artistic expression remains unwavering, showcasing a multidimensional approach to life's pursuits.
Rationale
Title: TechNature Symphony
"TechNature Symphony" unfolds as a visual representation of the intricate tapestry of my identity and passions through a surrealistic self-portrait. This artwork stands as a testament to the synthesis of my love for technology, nature, and personal interests.
At the center of the composition, an intricately designed sky takes prominence, portraying my profound appreciation for the vastness of the celestial realm. The orange sun within this surreal skyscape becomes a symbolic representation of my affinity for mornings, light, and the boundless optimism that accompanies each new day.
In the foreground, a cloud adorned with herbaceous stems encapsulates my connection to nature. These stems elegantly intertwine with objects representing my academic pursuit in software engineering – a headphone, mouse, and keyboard suspended from their ends. This combination highlights not only my technological inclination but also underscores the symbiosis between the organic and the artificial in my life. Perched on the edge of the herbaceous cloud is a cat, embodying companionship and mystery, qualities that resonate with my personality. In the artistic backdrop, a playful cat gracefully navigates clouds, embodying the spirited qualities I cherish and symbolizing my deep affection for feline companions. Meanwhile, in the virtual realm, a joyous dog character in the game reflects my genuine love for animals, blending the balance between work and leisure and demonstrating my commitment to infuse personal joys into digital spaces.
In "TechNature Symphony," the convergence of these diverse elements creates a harmonious and surreal narrative. Through this artwork, I aim to convey the interconnectedness of my passions, the synergy between nature and technology, and the vibrant energy propelling me forward in both academic and personal pursuits. The intricate details mirror the complexity of my life's tapestry, illustrating the seamless integration of diverse elements that define my journey.
VISUAL RESEARCH
As part of my typical process, I commenced the task with visual exploration on Pinterest to better grasp self-titles, composition, and animation. Below, I'll present some of the ideas that stood out to me the most.
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| Figure 1: Visual references from Pinterest |
SKETCH
Next, I began sketching out my ideas to gain a better grasp of the concept. Sketching serves as a valuable step in the creative process, aiding in the visualization and digitization of concepts, a realization I've garnered throughout the semester.
Figure 2: Sketch 1 (Left) & Sketch 2 (Right)
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| Figure 3: Final sketch |
SELF-PORTRAIT
First and foremost, we were assigned to conduct a photoshoot, capturing preferably a half-body portrait with proper lighting. To achieve this, I set up a ring light at home and ensured that natural light from a window was positioned in front, providing an additional light source. Below, I will provide a glimpse of my setup and the selected photograph used for the project.
Figure 4: Glimpse of my setup
Figure 5: The final self-portrait
I incorporated the coffee cup as a prop to align with my concept, aiming to balance the numerous illustrations with a photographed element. After selecting the desired portrait, I decided to enhance it by applying a tweak inspired by Donna Adi's art style. Utilizing Adobe Fresco, I added vibrant vector strokes to make the portrait stand out more within the composition, creating a visually striking effect.
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| Figure 6: Work progress on Adobe Fresco |
I employed the vector brush tool in Adobe Fresco to introduce lines around my coat, enhance eye makeup, and incorporate bold golden ornaments. This detailed and meticulous process aimed to bring out specific features and elements, adding a personalized and artistic touch to the portrait.
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| Figure 7: The self-portrait after adding Donns Adi's art style |
Subsequently, I utilized Photoshop to remove the background from this modified version of the portrait and seamlessly incorporated it into the composition. This step ensured a cohesive integration of the enhanced self-portrait within the overall design.
DIGITISATION
Now, it was time to face the actual challenge—digitizing the artwork. Initially, I felt a bit overwhelmed since it was my first attempt at a task that required a combination of Photoshop, Illustrator, and After Effects. However, I calmed my mind and devised a plan. My approach involved creating the individual elements in Adobe Illustrator, exporting them as PNG files, and then proceeding to compose them in Photoshop. Once the composition was finalized, I planned to animate it using After Effects. The subsequent section will delve into the detailed steps of this process.
Progress on Adobe Illustrator
Initially, I focused on creating the composition elements such as the keyboard, mouse, monitor, cat, dog, plant, leaf, coffee bean, steam, coin and patterns using the techniques taught in Illustration & Visual Narrative (IVN) with the pen tool. For each element, I incorporated shadows to enhance the depth and realism.
Afterward, I obtained stock photos depicting computer error messages, a coding platform, and a game background. I seamlessly incorporated these images into the composition. However, I customized the stock images in Illustrator by incorporating my own typography and additional illustrated elements, as demonstrated below.
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Finally, I downloaded the illustrations with transparency, allowing them to be seamlessly incorporated into the composition in Photoshop. This approach ensured a smooth integration of the illustrations into the overall design.
Progress on Adobe Photoshop
Next, I transitioned to Photoshop to create the composition, bringing together all the elements, including the adjusted self-portrait, illustrations, and stock images sourced from Google (with their backgrounds removed). In this step, I applied various tricks and techniques learned during my Digital Imaging & Photography (DPI) class. Given that I am enrolled in all three modules—Illustration & Visual Narrative (IVN), Digital Imaging & Photography, and Typography—I aimed to efficiently incorporate techniques from each module into my project.
I incorporated the blue background using Photoshop and then added all the other composition elements on top of it. This process involved carefully layering each element to achieve the desired visual composition. To enhance cohesion, I introduced several adjustment layers, ensuring that each item harmonized within the overall composition. For organizational convenience in After Effects, I diligently renamed all layers. In the following section, I will provide a detailed breakdown of the layers employed in the project.
I endeavored to maintain a vibrant and colorful composition to evoke a cheerful vibe rather than a realistic one. The overall style of the composition is intentionally kept cartoonish, aligning with my preference for animated aesthetics over realism. I strategically positioned the plant around the cloud to create an intertwined effect, aligning with the requirements of the Illustration & Visual Narrative (IVN) project. This placement aimed to convey a visually cohesive and harmonious connection between the elements in the composition.
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| Figure 9: First Composition |
The majority of the elements in this composition are self-created, excluding the orange, computer screen backgrounds, and clouds. I made a conscious effort to minimize the use of Google stock images in my work, following the guidance of my Digital Imaging & Photography (DPI) lecturer, Mr. Fauzi, to ensure authenticity and originality in my creations.
Figure 10: Layers used in the first composition
After completing the work for this version of my poster, I desired further enhancement as it didn't fully satisfy me. I decided to modify the composition by introducing a touch of nature. To achieve this, I opted for a surreal effect by cutting a piece out of my face and adding plants emerging from within me. This not only symbolizes my deep connection with nature but also provided an opportunity to showcase and apply the teachings from my Digital Imaging & Photography (DPI) class more prominently. To accomplish this, I reworked on my portrait separately in a dedicated PSD file. I utilized several essential layers, as illustrated below.
In this step, I incorporated stock images from Pinterest for plants and flowers after removing their backgrounds. This allowed me to integrate these elements seamlessly into the composition while ensuring a cohesive and visually appealing result.
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| Figure 11: New layers created |
Once satisfied with the outcome, I copied and pasted these layers into the previous PSD file, subsequently removing the previous layer containing my portrait. Essentially, this process involved replacing the old portrait with the new and enhanced version in the overall composition.
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| Figure 12: Second Composition (with new layers) |
Once content with the composition in Photoshop, I saved the file in PSD format to commence the animation process in After Effects. This step marked the transition from the static composition to the dynamic and animated phase of the project.
Final Poster Frames
Figure 13: 3 different poster frames according to my final sketch
Progress on Adobe After effects
Finally, I embarked on what seemed to be the most complex step, given my novice status in After Effects. Beginning with limited familiarity, I watched numerous tutorials on YouTube to understand how to integrate PSD files, videos, illustrations, and images within After Effects. Once I gained a basic understanding, I initiated the process by importing my PSD file into After Effects and commenced animating the targeted elements. The specific animation techniques will be detailed in the subsequent section.
My intention for animation in After Effects (AE) was to bring dynamic movement to various elements within the composition. The planned animations included:
- Clouds: Slowly moving left and right to create a subtle drifting effect. I used Transform > Position to make this animation.
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| Figure 14: Animation for the clouds |
- Plants with Gadgets: Swaying or swinging, simulating movement in response to airflow. I used Effects > Distort > Bend it to make this animation. I also added the keyframe assistant easy ease to make the transition even smoother.
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| Figure 15: Animation for the plant and the gadgets |
- Cat: Peeping from different elements in the composition for a playful and dynamic appearance. I used Transform > Position to make this animation.
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| Figure 16: Animation for the cat |
- Dog in the Game: Animated movement, specifically the head, to add liveliness to the dog character.I used Transform > Rotation to make this animation.
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| Figure 17: Animation for the dog in the game |
- Orange Background (Sun): Rotating in one direction to introduce a dynamic element to the background. I used Transform > Rotation to make this animation.
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| Figure 18: Animation for the sun |
- Facial Element: A piece of my face sliding, accompanied by plants popping out, creating a surreal effect. I used Transform > Position to make this animation. I also added the keyframe assistant easy ease to make the transition even smoother.
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| Figure 19: Animation for the face element |
- Computer Screen: Changing three times, transitioning from code to an error message and finally to a game, adding a narrative dimension to the animation. To achieve this effect, I applied Effects > Distort > Displacement Map to both the layers representing the coding screen and the error screen. Subsequently, I incorporated opacity adjustments to enable a gradual fade-out.
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| Figure 20: Animation for the coding screen |
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| Figure 21: Animation for the error screen |
- Coffee steam: For the animated movement of the coffee steam, I achieved the effect by altering its opacity in a continuous loop. I utilized the Transform > Opacity function to create this animation.
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This plan aimed to infuse life and narrative into the static elements of the composition, enhancing the overall visual experience. The intricate transitions implemented for each layer to bring this animation plan to fruition are outlined below.
This step proved to be the most challenging part of the project due to issues with my PC's performance. After launching After Effects (AE), my computer faced significant lagging, and the major problems arose during the export process. Unfortunately, H.264 was not available in my AE version, prompting me to use Media Encoder after researching on YouTube. However, the download on Media Encoder took more than 24 hours, and upon checking the video, it was completely distorted. Attempting to use the Mac lab also ended in failure. After numerous setbacks and frustrations with the application, I eventually succeeded in downloading the video as an MP4 using Voukoder. However, this process also failed 2-3 times and took more than 10 hours to complete. Despite my efforts, the resulting video was larger in size, a circumstance beyond my control.
Final Animation
Figure 23: Final Animation (MP4)
Figure 24: Final animation (YouTube)
FEEDBACK
Week 13
- The sketch looks great. As you move into the composition phase, be cautious about relying too heavily on downloaded images. Strive to incorporate your own illustrations to maintain authenticity in the final composition.
REFLECTION
Embarking on Project 3 has been a profound exploration into the intersection of my artistic and technological identity. The initial stages required a deep dive into self-discovery, crafting a biographical sketch that laid the groundwork for a cohesive narrative. From childhood ambitions in technology to a lifelong passion for the arts, this reflective journey became the foundation for the subsequent creative processes. The integration of Typography, Illustration & Visual Narrative, and Digital Imaging & Photography unfolded as a meticulous dance between various design tools. Sketching out ideas and conducting a photoshoot for a half-body portrait marked the transition from conceptualization to tangible forms.
The digitization phase presented its own set of challenges and learning curves, particularly for someone relatively new to the intricacies of Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and After Effects. Navigating through these programs required a strategic approach, especially in reconciling size requirements between DPI and IVN modules. The deliberate use of a custom font, the incorporation of patterns, and the addition of a surreal touch with plants emerging from within added layers of complexity to the composition. This phase was a test of technical proficiency, and each layer in Photoshop became a canvas for integrating techniques from each module. The decision-making process, especially in maintaining authenticity by minimizing the use of stock images, showcased a commitment to originality and personal expression.
The animation phase in After Effects marked the pinnacle of this creative endeavor. From drifting clouds to swaying plants, each element came to life in a symphony of movement. Challenges in exporting the final animation tested resilience and problem-solving skills, ultimately leading to success with Voukoder. As the project concludes, the realization dawns that every stroke, every element, and every animation is a brushstroke on the canvas of my creative journey—a testament to the intricate dance between creativity and technicality, reflecting the multidimensional facets of my identity.
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