Digital Photography & Imaging/ Project 1: Collage Design

on

31.03.2022 - 28.04.2022 [ Week 1 - Week 5]
Janaan Ahmed (0353333) 
Digital Photography & Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media
Project 1: Collage Design

Lectures

Instructions



Ex 1: Physical Collage

  1. Choose and identify your collage's design elements to be cut out and compose it into your own concept & story
  2. Pre composite your collage's design elements into a composition.
  3. Take 3 photos of your collage pre-compositions.

MATERIALS
I didn't really have any magazines or newspapers on-hand so it was a bit of a challenge getting some good graphic elements. I didn't really like the royalty free images online. Luckily after some extensive google searching, I found some old magazines with some promising images.

PRE-COMPOSITE 1

Fig. 2.1 : Pre-composite #1 (07.04.22)

The first of many variations. The idea here was to create a poster for a period drama. The text cut-outs I had were quite random, so I got a good laugh from putting them together. I think it somehow works though. I tried to keep everything compact with a minimal colour scheme, and visual hierarchy in mind. I believe the white space really helps in making it pop. 

PRE-COMPOSITE 2

Fig. 2.2: Pre-composite #2 (08.04.22)

I wanted to experiment by expanding the colour scheme a bit more. Contrast is an important factor here, both in terms of colour and aesthetic. The idea was to add a bit of whimsiness to the otherwise graceful, and royal portraitures. I guess I may have subconsciously been inspired by Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas or even Corpse Bride for the scary-in-a-charming-way aesthetic. 

PRE-COMPOSITE 3

Fig. 2.3: Pre-composite #3 (08.04.22)

Personally, I think the narrative is strongest in this composition from the 3. Additionally, the symmetrical balance and visual hierarchy created adds to how this image may be interpreted. The general movement of the eye based on the arrangement of visual weight would be from the top to the bottom. The contrast in colour could also add visual interest, and even a sense of tension, and play a further role in establishing a story. Overall a strong sense of unity is present linking all elements to each other in a possibly linear manner in terms of narrative. For example, it raises the question of the relationship between the woman on top and the girl at the piano. Is there a power hierarchy between the two? Or perhaps they are one and the same person in different periods of time. But I suppose it's up to the subjective perception of the viewer to determine the story here.

*I went on to make a few more compositions, however the ones featured above are what I liked best.

Fig. 2.4: Extra pre-composites (08.04.22)


After receiving feedback for my pre-compositions, I realised that I wasn't too happy with any of them since I didn't feel like there was any meaning or story to them. I remade  completely new compositions keeping in mind some things I learned from the feedback given to me and my peers. 

FURTHER ATTEMPTS:
I made 4 variations using a some new collage elements I had already cut. This time I was also more mindful of design principles. I tried to incorporate the Golden ratio into my composition.

Fig. 2.5: 1st variation (25/04/22)

For the 1st one, I kept it extremely minimalistic by intentionally using a lot of negative space to convey the mood and message clearly. I also used a light blue background to complement serenity and peace.

Fig. 2.6: 2nd variation (25/04/22)

Feeling like it was too minimalistic for a collage, I added in the 'mask' to further support the narrative.

Fig. 2.7: 3rd variation (25/04/22)

Added in the camera to balance the composition better.

Fig. 2.8: 4th variation (25/04/22)

Replaced the mask with a triangular cut-out of a picture of the sea to experiment with the movement within composition. I'm not sure it is very relevant to the overall message though so chose to opt it out.

Fig. 2.9: Comparison between the variations (25/04/22)

After seeing all of them side-by-side I decided I like variation 3 the best.

NOTE:
I struggled to replicate subtle angles and positioning when glueing the elements for my final composition :( 

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FINAL OUTCOME:

Fig. 2.10: Final Outcome in JPEG (25/04/22)

Fig. 2.11: Final Outcome in PDF (25/04/22)


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Ex 2: Digital Collage

  1. We are all given the same set of images which are to be downloaded from Google Classroom.
  2. From the downloaded set of images, we are tasked with creating 3 different compositions on Photoshop.

PROVIDED SET OF IMAGES:

Fig. 3.1: The provided image set (14.04.22)

PROCESS
  • Exported all the images into Photoshop.
  • Used the quick selection tool, magic wand tool, and polygonal lasso to make selections, and then made clipping masks to separate each individual image from their backgrounds. 
  • Copy-pasted everything into the same page for easy access.

Fig. 3.2: Putting all selections into the same page (19/04/22)

  • I went into it without any particular story in mind, and just kinda experimented with different things until something good began to emerge.
  • Played around with different arrangements by varying the sizes, flipping, rotating, and layering.
  • I also experimented with blending modes and hue adjustments, colour balance etc.

Throughout my trial-and-error experimentation, I found myself leaning towards certain collage elements (the shark, mountain, fencer, and tv set). I incorporated those into all of my compositions.

Parts of my process are shown below:
1) First Comp:

Fig. 3.3: Result of masking the shark (19/04/22)

Fig. 3.4: Changing hue/saturation of mountain image to emulate water (19/04/22)

2) Second Comp:

Fig. 3.5: Using polygonal lasso to remove certain parts (19/04/22) 


PRE-COMPOSITE 1

Fig. 3.4: 'Intergalactic Broadcast' 

PRE-COMPOSITE 2

Fig. 3.5: 'Planet X, Year 3XXX' 
PRE-COMPOSITE 3

Fig. 3.6: 'Shark Soup'

FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS
We are required to make use of adjustment layers and filters to our chosen composition as part of Week 4's practical. 

Based on the feedback received from Mr. Martin, I chose pre-composition 2.

Fig. 3.7: Pre-Comp #2 Before adjustments (28/04/22)

In all honesty there weren't many changes that I wanted to make since I had already used adjustment layers in my collage elements to fit my theme when building the composition. 

However to tie all the elements to each other and create a sense of cohesion I figured I could make some slight changes.

Fig. 3.8: Using Curves to fade image (28/04/22)

Fig. 3.9: Changing vibrance and saturation (28/04/22)
To further emphasise the futuristic-dystopian vibe I was going for, I used a photo filter with cyan as my colour.

Fig. 3.10: Applying a photo filter to image (28/04/22)

Fig. 3.11: Reducing opacity of photo filter layer (28/04/22)

Fig. 3.12: Result so far (28/04/22)

I then grouped all my adjustment layers and reduced overall opacity to 77%.

Fig. 3.13: Opacity settings for grouped adjustment layers (28/04/22)

Here is the before/after comparison:

Fig. 3.14: (left) Before adjustments, (right) after adjustments

FINAL OUTCOME:

Fig. 3.15: 'Planet X, Year 3XXX'  in JPEG (28/04/22)

Fig. 3.16: 'Planet X, Year 3XXX'  in PDF (28/04/22)

Feedback

Ex 1: Physical Collage

From the 3 pre-compositions, Mr. Martin pointed that the 3rd collage was a bit too simple and had too few elements. My peers helped out by voting on which one they liked better from 1 and 2, and the majority preferred 1. Mr. Martin preferred 1 over 2 as well, noting that there was a better depth of field from the layering of the elements to create a foreground, midground and background.

Ex 2: Digital Collage

Mr. Martin commented that for the pre-composition 1, more repeated elements would be needed to balance the giant shark. This would mean putting more of the fencers.

Pre-composition 2 seemed to be good while having more of a narrative. He didn't comment on the 3rd one.

After seeing all 3 of my designs, he said that 2 was hands-down the best option to go with. 


Reflection

While collage is definitely not my strongest suit, I think this was a really fun project to test our creativity and compositional skills!

For part 1, I quite struggled to choose the graphical elements for my composition, and felt lost trying to create something interesting.To be perfectly honest I felt very overwhelmed coming up with good ideas because there are just so. many. ways. to craft something from a set of elements. This kinda caused me to lose track of applying an interesting and thematic narrative as I got lost experimenting. I did however manage to settle on an overall futuristic, space-like theme in the end for part 2 of the project.

I was very much in awe of the beautiful compositions my friends were able to come up with! I loved how surrealist they were, which I observed was definitely a lacking quality in my own work. I've learned a lot from them though and will try to apply any new knowledge gained in the future :)

Overall, this project has been a great learning experience for me!

References

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