DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY & IMAGING | EXERCISES

30/03/18 - 08/06/18 | Week 1 - Week 11
Yeoh Xiao Shi (0331577)
Digital Photography & Imaging
Exercises

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INSTRUCTIONS

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EXERCISES

Week 1 
(30/03/18)

In the first class, Mr Hafiz and Mr Jeffrey started it by briefing us on the module's outline and what we will learn in today class. Then, we were given a warm up exercise and we completed it under Mr Jeffrey's guidance. For this exercise, we need to add the character into a Heart Mansion by using both of the images provided in Google classroom. I faced a lot problems when doing this exercise as I'm still not familiar with photoshop. I found out it was hard for me to follow the step as it took me lots of time to find the tools and using it. Luckily, with the help of my friend I'm able to catch up. After we editing the character into the Heart Mansion, we were told to edit ourself into the Heart Mansion as well. I done it by editing myself and my friend into the Heart Mansion.

Fig.1.1: Heart Mansion.

Fig1.2: The character provided in Google classroom.

Fig1.3: Final Outcome of editing the character into Heart Mansion.

Fig1.4: Final Outcome of editing myself and my friend into Heart Mansion.

In summary , we learned Interface Overview, Shortcut keys, Quick Selection, Layer, Masking, Opacity, Free Transform, Filter > Gaussian Blur, Filter > Distort > Ripple, Using Brush, Saving PSD by the end of the class.


Week 2
(06/04/18)

This week, we were taught by Mr Hafiz on exposure, colour and tone correction, brightness and contrast, raw, levels, doge and burn tools as well as HDR. Two exercises were given and we need to adjust it with the techniques taught.

Fig2.1: Original photo provided in Google classroom.

Fig.2.2: Photo after editing.

Fig.2.3: Original photo provided in Google classroom.

Fig.2.4: Photo after editing.

After that, we had a workshop on photography with Mr Vinod. He gave us the lecture on the basic of photography like aperture, shutter speed and ISO.


Aperture
- control depth of the field ( whether you want clarity for foreground or background)
- control the amount of lights that entering the lens
- 3 clicks = 1 stop

Shutter Speed
- the duration of time that the shutter is open for the light to enter
- any shutter below shutter speed, will looks shaky if holding with hand
- fast shutter speed = freeze, slow shutter speed = blurry, shaky

ISO
- number indicating a digital camera sensors sensitivity to light
- the higher the sensitivity, the less light is needed to make an exposure
- lower ISO require more light than higher ISO
- lower numbers ISO result in image with the least visible noise which is desirable

The Zone System
- use to determine a framework or more systematic approach for determining exposure and development (in film) that can be replicated and also that represents the scene as the photographer visualised.

Fig.2.5: Zone System.

Week 3
(13/04/18)

In this week class, we were introduced to blending modes. We were taught to create a zone system by using the rectangle marque tool. Unlike the previous exercise, we were told to create a films and video canvas for this exercise. After this, we move the zone system that we created to the photo that we chose and blend it with blending mode.

Fig.3.1: Greyscale Zone System.

Fig.3.2: Photo blending with Zone System.

Then, we moved on the next exercise which we need to edit the photo of the kampung house during daytime to night view and adding a person as ghost by using blending mode.

Fig.3.3: Kampung house during daytime.

Fig.3.4: Night view.

Fig.3.5: Final outcome of the ghost house.

Besides that, we also learn about recolouring in this class. We were told to choose a vintage portrait and colour on it. Overall, it was fun to do recolouring exercise.

Fig.3.6: Vintage portrait before colouring.

Fig.3.7: Vintage portrait after colouring.

After the tutorial class, Mr Vinod gave us a lecture on the lighting in photography. There are few lighting used in photoshoot such as main light, fill light, rim light, hair light and background light.

Main light 
- illuminates a portion of the image
- look at the best angle and placed the main light
- always start with the main light
- other lights are constructed around this light

Fill light
- relieve the shadow areas created by the main light, thereby reducing the contrast
- light produces detail in the shadow area
- can just be reflector bouncing off the main light

Rim light
- gives form or structure around the object or subject being photographed
- from the back of the person highlight the certain sections of the person
- most often acts as a highlight

Hair light
- small light but powerful
- illuminates and gives texture to the hair

Tips for photoshoot
- the more light used in studio, more complicated to set up
- the distance between people and background is important
- always keep the background in 5,6 feeds away


Week 4
(20/04/18)

For this week class, we were taught on how to add texture on the flag by using blending mode. Before blending, we were taught to set the displacement map. Basically, we edit the image with texture using curves and desaturate it at first. Then, click blur and gaussian blur to smoothen the image. Save it as displacement map in PSD and close when done. Open back the original image of texture then adding the image of flag on top of it. Click filter, distort and displace next. Lastly, change the blending mode.

Fig.4.1: Image of flag provided in Google classroom.

Fig.4.2: Image of texture provided in Google classroom.

Fig.4.3: Outcome for first attempt.

After we complete the first exercise under the guidance of Mr Jeffrey and Mr Hafiz, we were told to choose another flag and texture to  blend it using the techniques taught. To familiar with the tools and step, I tried it two times. So, here are the outcomes below.

Fig.4.4: Image of Malaysia flag.

Fig.4.5: Image of texture chosen.

Fig.4.6: Final Outcome.

Fig.4.7: Image of Selangor flag.

Fig.4.8: Image of texture chosen.

Fig.4.9: Final Outcome.

After tutorial class for photoshop, we went studio for photography workshop. We were taught on taking photo with the lighting set up in studio. I got the chance to take photograph of my classmates with the set up lighting. Here are some of the photographs I took in the studio below!

Week 5
(27/04/18)

In this week class, we learned about adding texture on the human face with blending mode. Just like last week, we need to set the displacement map first but this time we have to rasterize the layer and burn some parts of the human face with burn tool to darken the shadow and highlight. We were given an exercise and completed under the guidance Mr Hafiz. Then, another exercise was given which we need to use our own photo or others photo to add texture on it.

Fig.5.1: Image of portrait provided in Google classroom.

Fig.5.2: Image of texture provided in Google classroom.

Fig.5.3: Final Outcome for first attempt.

Fig.5.4: Image of portrait chosen.

Fig.5.5: Image of texture chosen.

Fig.5.6: Final outcome for second attempt.

Week 6
(04/05/18)

Before we were taught on something new, we were given an exercise to recap what we learned last week. Previously, we learned on adding texture on a human face and this week we were told to add texture on a animal.

Fig.6.1: Photo of animal chosen.

Fig.6.2: Texture used.

Fig.6.3: Final Outcome.

After completing the exercise given, Mr Jeffrey proceed the class by teaching us texture wrapping and we were given another exercise. For this exercise, we need to add texture of zebra stripes to the image of pebbles provided in Google classroom. We were taught on how to tile the texture to create a pattern with offset tool. Then, we learned to merge and smoothen the line between by using content aware tool. To save the patterns, we were told to use define pattern option.

Fig.6.4: Zebra Stripes

Fig.6.5: Tiling the texture to create pattern.

Fig.6.6: Image of pebbles used.

Fig.6.7: Final Outcome.

Week 7
(11/05/18)

No class due to Public Holiday.

Week 8

(18/05/18)

In this week class, we were assigned to our first project and the exercise was given to support the project. To complete this exercise, we were required to recreate the image by applying all the techniques that we learned previously. We will need to find similar image to replace the original one for this exercise. So, Mr Hafiz had recommend Pixabay and Pexels this two website where we can use the photo freely.

Fig.7.1: Magritte Rene - The Castle of the Pyrenees ( Original Photo).

Fig.7.2: Images used.

Fig.7.3: Progress at photoshop GIF.

Fig.7.4: Final Outcome.

Week 9

(25/05/18)

This week, we were introduced to perspective wrap which we can use to change the perspective of the objects. Two exercises were given and we completed it under the guidance of Mr Hafiz. For the first exercise, we need to wrap the building and change the perspective of it.

Fig.8.1: Original image of the building.

Fig.8.2: Final Outcome. 

Move on to the second exercise, we were told to edit the truck to the image of highway. We need to change the perspective of the truck so that it matches the highway.

Fig.8.3: Image of the truck.

Fig.8.4: Image of the highway.

Fig.8.5: Final Outcome.

After the tutorial class, we had a photography workshop with Mr Vinod at the studio. We were introduced to the new tools for photoshoot and we were taught on the common portrait lightning patterns. There are four common portrait lightning patterns which are spilt lightning, loop lightning, Rembrandt lightning and also butterfly lightning. Mr Vinod had showed us the different set up for different lightning patterns. I was only able to take photo for the set up of butterfly lightning since I forget to take photo for the others set up. Here are some photos I took in class below:

Fig.8.6: Butterfly lightning set up far away from the wall.

Fig.8.7 : Guidance from Mr Vinod for the set up.

Fig.8.8: Butterfly lightning set up near to the wall.

Week 11

(08/06/18)

We didn't not have any photoshop class this week. However, we were told take some photographs with green screen for our next class exercises. We were required to took it in multiple shots and also taking the photo within the green screen. Here are some of the photos I took during the photography class below.

Fig.9.1: Photography session.

Fig.9.2: Photography session.

Fig.9.3: Photography session.

Fig.9.4: Photography session.

Week 13

(22/06/18)

In this week class, we were introduced to new software which is Adobe After Effects. Exercises were given for us to be familiar with it. For the first exercise, we were taught to create a simple box with rectangle tool and duplicate it in different colours then change the toggles switches to screen. Later on, we got to learn how to animate the shapes by changing its position, scale, opacity and rotating,

Fig.10.1: Creating the shapes and duplicate it in different colours.

Fig.10.2: Change the shapes to screen and animate it.

Fig.10.3: Outcome of the exercise 1.

For the second exercise, we move on to animate the photo that we took in the previous class. The step is basically same as the first exercise but we were also taught on something new. We were introduced to keying effects to key out the background of our photo and import the elements that we want into the project and combine it. After that, we tried to explore with the animation on the elements.

Fig.10.3: Photo used.

Fig.10.4: Photo used.

Fig.10:5: Photo used.

Fig.10.6: Photo used.

Fig.10.7: Background chosen from imagery stock.

Fig.10:8: Key out the background of the original photo and combine it.

Fig.10.9: Outcome of the exercise 2.

Week 14

(29/06/18)

This week, Mr Jeffrey began the class by teaching us some ways to animate the text by using pen tool, path and mask in After Effects. We were given some times to explore with it and here is the outcome for my explorations below.

Fig.11.1: Make an attempt with mask feather.

Fig.11.2: Another attempt with mask feather.

Fig.11.3: Explore with motion tracking of text using pen tool.

Fig.11.4: Outcome of my explorations.

Besides that, we were also taught on how to use the puppet tool to animate the image. For me, it was a bit hard as I keep distort the image when using the puppet tool. After few times of practicing, I slowly get use to it but more practice is still needed.

Fig.11.5: Explore with puppet tool.

Fig.11.6: Explore with puppet tool.

Fig.11.7: Outcome of the exploration.