Digital Photography & Imaging - Project 4
19.10.20 - 16.11.20 (Week 9 - Week 13)
Sajiya Mir (0340836)
Digital Photography & Imaging
Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Taylors University
Project 4 - Surrealistic Parallax
[Inspiration]
Fig.1 Inspiration
[Sketches and pictures]
Fig1.2 Photo
For the photo, I tried to dress a bit formally so that it would go well with my theme. I wore a black top so that the color of the top was not too distracting. I tried to pose as if I was in painting. I knew I was going to cut up my head so I tried not to do anything much with my hair and just let it flow. In the background, I dropped a white curtain so that when masking the selection would be easier.
Fig.1.3 Sketches
[Design Elements]
 |
| Fig.1.4 Design elements |
[Progress]
Fig.1.5 Draft 1
I tried to design the composition with an astronaut's idea, but with the reverse effect where the unbreathable is inside rather than outside. So with all the fish swimming around me and all the aquatic plants growing on the sides, I put my head in a fishbowl. In the end, I didn't really like this composition, so I decided to start from scratch again.
Fig.1.6 Draft 1
With the notion of 'creative ideas' as a theme, I tried another composition. I did not add any elements, and I tried to build the background and picture's basic layout first. Then I used this as a guide and attempted to build on this concept further. So I looked for elements that would go with this backdrop, and I found angles and clouds (Fig.1.4) with similar color tones in keeping with the inspiration of Renaissance art.
Fig1.7 Progress
I started with a very strong background with vibrant colors and large clouds. I masked out my image and then color-matched with the background so it looks like I was actually there.
Fig1.8 Progress
As this design was more about how my creative ideas and daydreams were pouring out from my head, I cut out the top proportion of my head using the lasso tool.
Fig1.9 Progress
I added all the elements after that. I repeated the clouds because in my design I wished to have harmony. I thought that the background was intense and that it was too distracting. So I decided to make it white and black, so it was more subtle than that. Next, I made an eclipse to give more emphasis on myself and added color as a blending mode.
Fig.2.0 Progress
When I was done with all the editing on Photoshop I exported to after effects and began animating. For the animation, I tried to keep it simple and I had the moon rising from inside my head and the clouds floating around.
Fig.2.1 First draft animation
Fig.2.2 Progress
I changed the compositions after receiving feedback from Mr. Fauzi. I took his advice and relocated the elements behind my head and added my full face. I noticed my concept, which was to show my creative ideas flowing out of my head, was not really displaying in the new composition, so I decided to cut out just the tip of my head and place the flower there. I also felt this went more with the surrealism theme.
Fig.2.2 Design reworked
Fig.2.3 Progress
I transferred it to after-effects once again and started with the animation. I tried something new this time, I tried to part the clouds to the sides and have them hovering. Then animated the moon rising from my head and finally I animated the moon to become bigger and smaller again.
Fig.2.4 Video draft
I added the music 'No words' by Crush. I tried the part where the moon gets larger to match with the music. If you listen carefully you will notice that there is a small pause in the song and that when the moon bets bigger.
Fig.2.5 Progress
I told Mr. Fauzi during the feedback session that I wanted to animate the wing and he demonstrated for us how we could do that with the anchor points and the 3D effect.
Fig.2.6 Progress
Following Mr. Fauzi's demonstration first in photoshop I had to separate the two wings into new layers. Then in Aftereffects, I had to center the anchor point to where I was going to animate. Then using the 3D tool I changed the orientation of the wing to make it look like it is flapping. Finally, in Premier Pro I added the music and this time, at the beginning of the music I added Constant gain an audio transition and Exponential fade at the end of the music.
Fig.2.7 Final Design
Fig.2.8 Final Video
[Feedback]
[week 12]: I thought since you've managed the great photo shot, might as well show the whole picture of yourself. Then all the animation can be put at the top/ back of your head. You may try to do this second version. Don't forget to put some good audio to reflect your great concept. You may loop the current animation into 15 seconds.[week 13]: Mr. Fauzi looked at my work and said it was good, he then showed me how to animate the wings on one of my angles.
[Reflection]
Experience: This project was difficult because after effect and premiere pro were new. I had a lot of learning to do, and I was faced with many tech issues. I had to google how to fix the issue each time and go back to editing again. This has delayed my progress, but I am happy with it when I look at my result. Of all the projects, I like this one the best. I improved with each project, and although I did not use very complicated effects and techniques, my composition improved. This made project 4, I feel, much better than my previous work. I never thought I would be able to make animation, and it was so much fun to press play and watch my animation come to life.
Observation: I often think, in design, keeping it simple can be more impactful. I put way too many elements in my first draft, and it didn't make any sense. Then in my second and third drafts, when I tried removing the element and emphasized myself more.
Findings: If you make a good composition on photoshop and try to design each layer keeping in mind how you will animate it, the animation process in after effect becomes much easier.
Fig.1.5 Draft 1
I tried to design the composition with an astronaut's idea, but with the reverse effect where the unbreathable is inside rather than outside. So with all the fish swimming around me and all the aquatic plants growing on the sides, I put my head in a fishbowl. In the end, I didn't really like this composition, so I decided to start from scratch again.
Fig.1.6 Draft 1
With the notion of 'creative ideas' as a theme, I tried another composition. I did not add any elements, and I tried to build the background and picture's basic layout first. Then I used this as a guide and attempted to build on this concept further. So I looked for elements that would go with this backdrop, and I found angles and clouds (Fig.1.4) with similar color tones in keeping with the inspiration of Renaissance art.
Fig1.7 Progress
I started with a very strong background with vibrant colors and large clouds. I masked out my image and then color-matched with the background so it looks like I was actually there.
Fig1.8 Progress
As this design was more about how my creative ideas and daydreams were pouring out from my head, I cut out the top proportion of my head using the lasso tool.
Fig1.9 Progress
I added all the elements after that. I repeated the clouds because in my design I wished to have harmony. I thought that the background was intense and that it was too distracting. So I decided to make it white and black, so it was more subtle than that. Next, I made an eclipse to give more emphasis on myself and added color as a blending mode.
Fig.2.0 Progress
When I was done with all the editing on Photoshop I exported to after effects and began animating. For the animation, I tried to keep it simple and I had the moon rising from inside my head and the clouds floating around.
Fig.2.1 First draft animation
 |
| Fig.2.2 Progress I changed the compositions after receiving feedback from Mr. Fauzi. I took his advice and relocated the elements behind my head and added my full face. I noticed my concept, which was to show my creative ideas flowing out of my head, was not really displaying in the new composition, so I decided to cut out just the tip of my head and place the flower there. I also felt this went more with the surrealism theme. |
 |
| Fig.2.2 Design reworked |
 |
| Fig.2.3 Progress |
I transferred it to after-effects once again and started with the animation. I tried something new this time, I tried to part the clouds to the sides and have them hovering. Then animated the moon rising from my head and finally I animated the moon to become bigger and smaller again.
I added the music 'No words' by Crush. I tried the part where the moon gets larger to match with the music. If you listen carefully you will notice that there is a small pause in the song and that when the moon bets bigger.
 |
| Fig.2.5 Progress |
I told Mr. Fauzi during the feedback session that I wanted to animate the wing and he demonstrated for us how we could do that with the anchor points and the 3D effect.
Fig.2.6 Progress
Following Mr. Fauzi's demonstration first in photoshop I had to separate the two wings into new layers. Then in Aftereffects, I had to center the anchor point to where I was going to animate. Then using the 3D tool I changed the orientation of the wing to make it look like it is flapping. Finally, in Premier Pro I added the music and this time, at the beginning of the music I added Constant gain an audio transition and Exponential fade at the end of the music.
Fig.2.7 Final Design
Fig.2.8 Final Video
[Feedback]
[week 12]: I thought since you've managed the great photo shot, might as well show the whole picture of yourself. Then all the animation can be put at the top/ back of your head. You may try to do this second version. Don't forget to put some good audio to reflect your great concept. You may loop the current animation into 15 seconds.
[week 13]: Mr. Fauzi looked at my work and said it was good, he then showed me how to animate the wings on one of my angles.
[Reflection]
Experience: This project was difficult because after effect and premiere pro were new. I had a lot of learning to do, and I was faced with many tech issues. I had to google how to fix the issue each time and go back to editing again. This has delayed my progress, but I am happy with it when I look at my result. Of all the projects, I like this one the best. I improved with each project, and although I did not use very complicated effects and techniques, my composition improved. This made project 4, I feel, much better than my previous work. I never thought I would be able to make animation, and it was so much fun to press play and watch my animation come to life.
Observation: I often think, in design, keeping it simple can be more impactful. I put way too many elements in my first draft, and it didn't make any sense. Then in my second and third drafts, when I tried removing the element and emphasized myself more.
Findings: If you make a good composition on photoshop and try to design each layer keeping in mind how you will animate it, the animation process in after effect becomes much easier.
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