Digital Photography and Imaging
Weekly Lectures & Exercises
Lectures
Week 1
[Introduction to Basic Composition]
1. Basic Composition
- Focal point — helps viewers' eyes naturally settle on what's important.
- Scale & hierarchy — draws attention towards and away from certain elements.
- Balance — each element have visual weight.
- White space — balances out complicated and busy parts with empty space to help the design to breathe.
The process of dividing an image into equal three quadrants, with two lines on the X & Y axis. The intersecting lines will then be hotspots that attract the eye of the viewer, creating a more natural image if important elements are placed there.
The rule of thirds is a way to:
- Create a naturally pleasing image.
- Use negative space creatively.
- Create a conversation between the subject and the background.
3. Golden Ratio
Commonly found in nature and when used in a design, creates organic and natural-looking compositions. It creates harmony and proportion, and provides a sense of artistry. It is a useful guideline for determining dimensions of a layout by laying things out in proportion to 1:1.618.
4. Composition (Framing & Cropping)
Types of Framing:
Single
- a single character is the primary focus
- show isolation
Two Shot
- show the visual relationship between two characters
Over The Shoulder
- make viewers feel like they are a part of a story
POV
- see what the character sees/hears what the character hears
Insert
— is tight on a detail
Week 2
[Introduction to Photoshop]
1. Lasso Tool
Lasso tool is similar to pencils, so they're perfect for use with a graphic tablet.
- Lasso
- Polygonal Lasso
- Magnetic Lasso
2. Pen Tool
A pen tool is used to create a path from scratch. The fewer points the smoother the path.
- Straight Paths
- U-shaped Curves
- Simple S-Curves
- Complex S-Curves
3. Lasso Tool vs Pen Tool
Lasso Tool
- Raster math
- Can be easily precise with high-resolution images
- Natively a "selection tool"
Pen Tool
- Vector math
- Always mathematically precise, but that may not translate into accurate edges because of subpixel interpolations.
- Not natively a "selection tool", but used commonly for selections anyways.
4. Layering
Use layers without affecting another one to make adjustments.
Week 3
[Blending Mode]
Screen: Black=Transparent / White=Opaque
Multiply: White=Transparent / Black=Opaque
Softlight: Black=Darker / White=Bright / 50% Gray=Transparent
Screen
Multiply
Softlight
Double exposure photography refers to merging multiple images. The goal is to make them surreal, emotional, or humorous. They usually feature silhouettes.
1. Tilt-Shift Effect
To be extra creative, we can blur one of the photos instead of the entire image. Besides, we can blur everything except for one important detail. To add this feature, go to Filter > Blur Gallery >Tilt-Shift.
2. Create fake reflection
The use of double exposure created the character's reflection on the window, with raindrops and bokeh. This help to add interesting textures to multiple exposure photography.
3. Converting results to black & white
A lack of colour will strengthen the emotions in your double-exposure images. If you want to express your work in a vulnerable way, experiment with this. It gives them a unique depth and allows you to experiment with something interesting just like film photography.
4. Simple portraits and details textured
Adding something detail effect on a plain design will add interest to it. By doing so, the image will achieve a sense of balance.
5. Work with Silhouette
It would give you a fun and doable challenge to show our creative sides. Anything that is eye-catching can create unique composite images.
6. Pick two random photo
A random process doesn’t mean it’s not meaningful. Your results might create a story of their own, one that others will find encouraging. Shoot interesting textures, shapes and forms instead of thinking double exposure ideas.
7. Make simple objects look fascinating
Take photos of everyday objects you usually take for granted. Use your imagination to make them look like something else. For example, a silhouette of a dull-looking building could become the outline of a starry sky like the photo below.
8. Use Shadow
Outlines of any kind are fantastic to work with for double-exposure photography. Shadows are as effective as silhouettes in this genre. They’re fascinating to work with. Take photos of a few shadows, and turn them into something beautiful.
PHOTOSHOP: Blend Modes
Commonly used
- Multiply
- Screen
- Overlay
- Soft Light
Week 6
Exposure
- In photography, exposure is the amount of light which reaches your camera sensor or film.
There are only two camera settings that affect the actual “luminous exposure” of an image: shutter speed and aperture. The third setting, camera ISO, also affects the brightness of your photos.
Iris
- Iris/Aperture is control the flow of light entering the lens.
- It is measured by f-stop, indicated by sequence of f-number: f/1, f/1.4, f/2 , f/ 2.8, f/ 4, f/ 5.6, f/ 8, f/ 11, f/ 16, f/22 , f/32.The lower the f-number, the larger the lens opening.
Shutter
- The shutter is a small plastic sheet that opens and closes to allow light onto the film or prevent light from reaching the film.
- It is measured in seconds: 1/1000 s,1/500 s,1/250 s,1/125 s,1/60 s,1/30 s,1/15 s,1/8 s,1/4 s,1/2 s,1 s, 2 s, 3 s…
ISO
- Originally referred to the sensitivity of film—it's "light gathering" ability. For digital photography, ISO refers to the sensitivity—the signal gain—of the camera's sensor.
- The common ISO camera settings are: 100, 200, 400, 640, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400….
- The lower the ISO the less sensitive your camera is to light and the finer the grain.
Lens Perspectives
- Wide angle lens, standard lens and telelens.
- Different lenses, different purpose and define by focal length
- Shorter focal length, wider the angle of view and vice versa
FOCAL LENGTH
Focal length is the measurement (in millimeters) from the optical center of a camera lens to the camera’s sensor.
DEPTH OF FIELD
The proportion of the image that is reasonably sharp and in focus.
The smaller the aperture you use, the greater the depth of field.
DSLR
- Capture image much larger lenses and sensors
SMARTPHONE
- Very limited size of lens & sensor
Week 9
Adobe After Effects
- Adobe After Effects is a 2.5D animation software used for animation, visual effects, and motion picture compositing.
- It is used in film, TV, and web video creation.
- This software is used in the post-production phase, and has hundreds of effects that can be used to manipulate imagery. This allows us to combine layers of video and images into the same scene.
- It takes a different approach for creating movement.
- Motion graphics animation works by manipulating vector and rasterized art to create and tell a story.
- We can integrate physical based media as well through photographs and videography.
- It is used in film, TV, and web video creation.
- This software is used in the post-production phase, and has hundreds of effects that can be used to manipulate imagery. This allows us to combine layers of video and images into the same scene.
- It takes a different approach for creating movement.
- Motion graphics animation works by manipulating vector and rasterized art to create and tell a story.
- We can integrate physical based media as well through photographs and videography.
Compositing Layers in Photoshop
Basically Photoshop is a platform to compositing the layers. All the layers need to be arrange and rename accordingly so that it will be organize and easy to be animated in After Effects.
Compositing Layers in After Effects
- Adobe After Effects is a digital visual effects, motion graphics, and compositing application.
- Basically we can import elements such as images, video, vector and more into After Effects.
- All the layer elements need to be organized and synchronized to the external software platforms such as Photoshop & Illustrator.
- After Effects files does not embed its media, it links to it.
Week 3 Project 1a
Part 1 Hearst Mansion
1. Quick Selection tool
Subtract background for masking.
2. MATCH COLOR Adjust color correction to fit in Hearst Mansion. Image → Adjustments → Match Color
3. Filter
To match image quality by adding Noise filter to Shazam.
4. Shadow
Use Brush Tool to draw a black shadow on the background of Shazam's layer and then apply Gaussian Blur effect and adjust opacity to 66%.
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5. Reflection
Duplicate Shazam's layer, change the height to -100% then adjust hue and saturation and apply ripple filter.
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| Layers of Hearst Mansion (23/9/2022) |
Final Outcome
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| Shazam (23/9/2022) |
Part 2 My Reflection
In this exercise, we have to prepare a full body photo of ourselves at eye level to replace the Shazam in the previous exercise. I went outside and found a white wall to take pictures at a suitable angle in order to fit in Hearst Mansion.
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| My Reflection (27/9/2022) |
Week 4 Project 1b Recolouring Exercise
Exercise 01
In the tutorial session, we learned how to use the brush tool and soft light to recolor black and white photos.
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| Before- Black & White (23/9/2022) |
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Exercise 02 After that, we were required to complete Exercise 2 and pick colors from specific references to recolor. We learned to use a more advanced Quick Selection tool and "Select & Mask" to recolor more accurately and refine the selections we make.
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| Reference Skin Colour (23/9/2022) |
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| Reference Hair Colour (23/9/2022) |
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| Before- Black & White (23/9/2022) |
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| After- Recoloring (23/9/2022) |
Week 6 Displacement Map
In week 6, we learned displacement map and the tool of convert to smart objects. In the first and second exercises, we were taught by Mr. Martin step by step during tutorial sessions and then applied the skill to complete the third exercise.
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| Exercise 1 |
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Week 7 Photo Manipulation and Cyborg
In week 7, we learned how to use healing tool to erase defect of photo as well as create a cyborg self by using our manipulated portrait.
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| Exercise 1 |
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| Exercise 2 |
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| Exercise 3 |
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| Exercise 4 |
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| Exercise 5 |
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| Exercise 6 |
Week 9 After Effects
In week 9, we learned basic animation in Adobe After Effects, specifically set keyframe animation using position, scale, rotation, opacity, and masking paths. We were provided a collage in PSD file format, which we have to open with Adobe After Effects.
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| Process in AE |
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| Keyframe Layers |
Week 10 Photoshop video and gif
In this week, we learned how to make parallax in Photoshop. Firstly, we have to mask the character or object by using quick selection tool. Then, ctrl + click the layer mask to apply load selection, go to select > modify > expand around 5 to 7 pixels. Next, click on background layer and go to edit > fill > content aware. Following by converting to smart object all layers before creating video frame or animating with the Photoshop timeline.
Exercise 1
Exercise 2
Exercise 3
In addition, we also learned to use puppet control tool to make GIF in Photoshop. The GIF was made using a background and 2 yoga girls' images to warp with puppet control.
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| Exercise 4 |
Week 11 After effects
In this week, we learned to make parallax in After Effects. Basically, adjust the layer's position, scale, rotation and opacity. We learned new skills like using the puppet tool, creating clipping masks with the pen tool, and applying the camera lens blur effect.
Exercise 1
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