Digital Photography and Imaging | Week 5 (Hearst Mansion)

23/10/2023 - 29/10/2023
Yong Zhen Xing - 0359473
Digital Photography and Imaging - Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University
Weekly Updates / Week 5

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Jumplink :

Part 1 : Shazam

Part 2 : My Reflection

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Instructions :

Week 5:

W5 Lecture :

This lecture teaches more in-depth about digital photography.

Notes :

• Exposure is the amount of light which reaches your camera sensor or film.
• Exposure can be splited into 3 parts : 
  
  • Iris/Aperture
  • Shutter speed 
  • ISO/Light intensity
    

• Iris/Aperture is controlling the light into the lens. The larger the number, the less light enters the lens.
• The shutter is a small plastic sheet that opens and closes to allow light onto the film or prevent light from reaching the film. Shutter speed is measured in seconds ; 1/1000s, 1/4s (1/1000s being fast and 1/4s being slow).
  
• ISO refers to the sensitivity / the signal gain of the camera's sensor. The lower the number of ISO the less sensitive your camera is to light and the finer the grain.
• Lens sizes also differ depending on the desired outcome. Its focal length is measured in mm and the shorter the focal length, the wider the angle of view and vice-versa.
• DSLR cameras are far superior in image quality compared to smartphone as it's their main purpose.
  

Tutorial :

Video 1 : How you can make a DIY photography studio at home

 

The tutorial taught me on how to take studio-like photos using cheap objects that can be found in our household no matter if the subject is big or small. Some examples were making a light diffuser/colour filter, using the wall as a background, a DIY reflector and even a DIY softbox. These can help me with taking professional-like photos without spending much.
 

Exercise (Practical) :
In this exercise, we needed to crop out a photo of a subject (Shazam) and then put in into a different picture and making it fit in that scene (Hearst Mansion). We also needed to crop out a photo of ourselves and put it inside the same scene.

Part 1 : Shazam

Cropping and Placing the subject :

First, I cropped out the character using quick selection tool ensuring I don't miss any details on it and then masked out only the character.

fig 1.1, Cropping Subject (26/10/2023)

fig 1.2, Masking Background (26/10/2023)

Next, using the free transform tool (making sure the aspect ratio is the same as original), we were to position the subject leaning on the wall making sure that the size and perspective makes sense.

fig 1.3, Positioning Subject (26/10/2023)

Using match colour, I corrected the colour of the subject ensure it fits the background.

fig 1.4, Matching Colour (26/10/2023)

 

 

Adding Shadows :
I then drew using a brush around the character to create shadows. At first it was too strong, so I lowered the layer opacity and also added gaussian blur to the shadow.

fig 1.5, Adding Shadows (26/10/2023)

fig 1.6, Enhancing Shadow (26/10/2023)

 

 

Adding and Refining the Reflection :
The final step was to add a reflection to the main subject to match the rest of the image. I duplicated the image, flipped it and position the reflection right below the character.

 

fig 1.7, Adding Reflection (26/10/2023)
 

 

Since there were parts that was unnecessary, I first cropped the needed part using the pen tool. Then I masked out the unnecessary part. 

 

fig 1.8, Cropping Necessary Subject (26/10/2023)

fig 1.9, Masking Subject (26/10/2023)

  

Now it was time to add some refining to the reflection. The reflection's brightness/contrast was first tone down a bit. Then I added a small amount of blur to the reflection. Finally, a quick colour readjustment using hue/saturation tool.

fig 1.10, Adjusting Brightness/Contrast (26/10/2023)

fig 1.11, Adding Blur (26/10/2023)

fig 1.12, Adjusting Hue/Saturation (26/10/2023)

 

 

Final Outcome 1 :
The image below shows the final image after editing!

fig 1.13, Final Outcome (26/10/2023)

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Part 2 : My Reflection
Then, we also needed to do the same process with our own picture. So I took a photo of myself and proceeded to photoshop myself inside the mansion.

 

Cropping and Placing the subject :

fig 2.1, Cropping Subject (27/10/2023)

I position myself lightly more the the left so that my image looks more natural.

 

fig 2.2, Positioning Subject (27/10/2023)

 

 

 fig 2.3, Adjusting Match Colour (27/10/2023)

 

 

Adding Shadows :

I tried adding more details to the shadow this time by adding shadows to the left leg and also attempting to draw the shadow of the shoe.

fig 2.4, Adding Shadow (27/10/2023)

fig 2.5, Lowering Layer Opacity (27/10/2023)

fig 2.6, Adding Gaussian Blur For Shadow (27/10/2023)

 

 

Adding and Refining the Reflection :

fig 2.7, Masking Out The Legs (27/10/2023)

fig 2.8, Adjusting Brightness/Contrast (27/10/2023)

fig 2.9, Adding Gaussian Blur (27/10/2023)

This time I also played with the lightness slider as my image still appeared slightly bright.

fig 2.10, Adjusting Hue/Saturation (27/10/2023)

 

Final Outcome 2 :

The image below shows the final image after editing myself in! 

 

fig 2.11, Final Outcome 2 (27/10/2023)

Reflection :
This exercise was so far the most fun one as we get to Photoshop an image of ourselves inside to look like we are in the picture. Although doing it twice was a bit tedious, I learned much better about the process in Photoshop since I get to see how much I recall from the first practice. The addition of making a reflection and shadow for the subjects is what really makes the picture more realistic and I'm quite happy how mine turned out.

 

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My Other Digital Photography and Imaging Task :

Project 1: Digital & Physical Collages

Project 2: Photoshop Exercises

Project 4: Cinemagraphs - Self-Titled


Progresses
Project 1 :
Week 1 (Graphic Design Composition)

Week 2 (Collage Design Elements)

Week 3 (Compositing Collage)

Week 4 (Digital Collage)

Week 5 (Hearst Mansion) [Current]

Week 6 (Recolouring Black & White)


Project 2 :
Week 7/8 (Double Exposure)

Week 9 (Conceptual Product Photoshoot)

Week 10 (After Effects Exercise)


Project 4 :
Week 11 (Self-Titled)

Week 12 (Self-Titled Part 2)

Week 13 (Self-Titled Part 3)

Week 14 (Self-Titled Part 4)