Digital Photography & Imaging - Week 5

Ruchira Nowreen || 0347111
Major: Bachelor of Software Engineering || Minor: Creative Media Design || Taylor's University
Digital Photography & Imaging GCD 61204
WEEK 5: LECTURE, TUTORIAL, PRACTICAL || 25.9.2023

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LECTURE

In this week's lesson, Mr. Fauzi provided a comprehensive overview of Digital Photography basics, focusing on exposure and its three crucial components: shutter speed, aperture, and ISO.

Exposure: Exposure defines the lightness or darkness of an image captured by the camera. It is determined by adjusting three camera settings: Shutter Speed, Aperture, and ISO.

Shutter Speed: This setting controls the duration of exposure by managing how long light is allowed to enter the camera. Slower shutter speeds result in longer exposure times, causing motion blur in moving objects. Conversely, faster shutter speeds freeze motion, eliminating blur.

Aperture: The aperture is the opening in the lens through which light enters the camera. It directly affects the brightness of the photo. A large aperture allows more light, resulting in a brighter image, while a small aperture reduces light, creating a darker photo. Aperture also influences the depth of field, determining the sharpness from front to back in a photograph.

ISO: ISO determines the camera's sensitivity to incoming light. Lower ISO numbers make the image sensor less sensitive, resulting in less grain, while higher ISO numbers increase sensitivity, allowing for better performance in low-light situations but with more noticeable grain. Understanding these components is essential for achieving well-exposed and visually appealing photographs.

Figure 1: Lecture's Slide

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TUTORIAL

Mr. Fauzi shared a helpful demo video on creating a DIY photography studio at home, offering valuable insights for the Hearst Mansion Exercise and Project 4. The tutorial equips us with practical knowledge and skills to enhance our photography setup, facilitating the successful execution of future projects.

Figure 2: Demo video 1

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PRACTICAL

DIGITAL IMAGING EXERCISE 1 - Photo Manipulation (Hearst Mansion) 

PART I: SHAZAM 

In this particular exercise, we were provided with an image of the Hearst Mansion and a picture of Shazam along with a step-by-step process demonstration video to watch, follow, and complete the task. Our assignment involved using Photoshop to meticulously cut out Shazam and seamlessly integrate him into the mansion scene. The goal was to achieve a high level of realism by incorporating reflections and shadows, making the composition appear as authentic as possible.

Figure 3: Demo video 2

STEP BY STEP WORKING PROCESS THAT I FOLLOWED FOR THIS TASK:

STEP 1: I employed the Quick Selection tool to cut out Shazam from the poster and inserted it into the Hearst Mansion scene. Subsequently, I labeled each layer for better organization.

STEP 2: After pasting Shazam into the Hearst Mansion, I utilized the Match Color feature to enhance realism. Adjusting luminance for brightness, color intensity for stronger hues, and using the fade option for seamless blending contributed to a more convincing integration.

STEP 3: To heighten authenticity, I introduced Noise to the Shazam layer. Additionally, I created a new layer, applied Brush for a shadow effect behind Shazam, and slightly reduced the Opacity. A touch of Gaussian Blur was then added to refine the shadow.

STEP 4: In the final step, I duplicated the "Shazam" layer, naming it "Reflection," and made adjustments to its hue and saturation for a nuanced effect.

This iterative process ensures a detailed and cohesive composition, enhancing the overall visual appeal of the scene.

Figure 4: Hearst Mansion image (provided)

Figure 5: Shazam image (provided)

Figure 6: Shazam - background removed using Photoshop

In this step, I eliminated the background from the Shazam image using the Quick Selection Tool. 

Figure 7: Shazam with the Hearst Mansion as the background in Photoshop

To summarise, I pasted Shazam onto the Hearst Mansion image and performed necessary adjustments. Initially, I resized Shazam to match the background, adjusted its color, and introduced a subtle amount of noise. Following that, I created a new layer for the shadow using the brush tool, adjusting its opacity to 60% and applying a Gaussian blur for a more realistic effect. The subsequent layer was dedicated to the reflection, achieved by duplicating the Shazam layer, inverting it, and placing it upside down. I applied adjustments like reducing brightness, contrast, and saturation, adding fade, and concluding with a Gaussian blur to achieve the final result.

FINAL OUTCOME

Figure 8: Final outcome of the Hearst Mansion with Shazam

PART II: MY REFLECTION

For the next task, I replicated the previous steps, but this time I replaced Shazam with my own picture. I had taken the photo against a white wall to facilitate the separation from the background. The process involved resizing, color matching, noise addition, shadow creation, and reflection adjustments, resulting in a final composition.

Figure 9: My photo

Figure 10: My photo - background removed using Photoshop

Figure 11: My photo with the Hearst Mansion as the background in Photoshop

FINAL OUTCOME

Figure 12: Final outcome

After acheiving the final outcomes, I sought feedback from Mr. Fauzi, who affirmed that the work was well done. Following his approval, I proceeded with the submission. This marked the conclusion of this particular task, and the subsequent task, focusing on recoloring, will be discussed in the following section.

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REFLECTION

In Week 5, we delved into the essential basics of Digital Photography with Mr. Fauzi's insightful lecture. The exposure triangle—comprising shutter speed, aperture, and ISO—was meticulously explained. Understanding how each component influences the final image's lightness or darkness, freezing or capturing motion, and sensitivity to light, laid a robust foundation for my photography skills. The accompanying visuals, including lecture slides and tutorial images, added a practical dimension to the theoretical concepts.

The tutorial on creating a DIY photography studio was a game-changer. Mr. Fauzi's demonstration not only expanded my understanding of studio setups but also highlighted their practical applications in upcoming projects like the Hearst Mansion Exercise and Project 4. This hands-on insight resonated with me, emphasizing the real-world relevance of the skills being imparted.

The practical segment, focusing on photo manipulation within the Hearst Mansion Exercise, was both challenging and rewarding. Applying the techniques discussed in class, I successfully integrated Shazam into the mansion scene. The step-by-step process, supported by visual aids, allowed me to create a composition that achieved a high level of realism. This task not only honed my Photoshop skills but also instilled confidence in my ability to apply theoretical knowledge to practical assignments. Overall, Week 5 marked a significant stride in my photography and digital imaging journey, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art and science of capturing and manipulating visuals.