PHOTOSHOP PROJECT
October 3, 2014
October 3, 2014
The question proposed through the three postcards exhibited is: What makes my backyard such a treasured space? This question can be answered with a few statements about what makes my backyard special and unique. It can also be answered through the use of creativity. The three postcards demonstrate a spectacular and unrealistic view of my backyard in attempts to relay my feelings about the treasured space that is my backyard.
Many creative approaches were used in response to the above proposed question. For example, in Postcard 1, a version of Tom Bamberger’s techniques is applied. While the horizon is not extended as in many of Bamberger’s works, the use of repetition to create a more “perfect” view of nature is applied through the cloning of numerous moons in lieu of only one. Additionally, through the supplement of a night sky into a daytime viewpoint, the lines are further blurred between fiction and reality. The alterations to the original landscape propose an answer to the underlying question. My backyard is a treasured space because it is unique and surreal.
Another creative approach to problem solving is displayed in Postcard 2. By adding an unlikely group of “nature’s visitors” to my backyard, it is transformed into a world where all of the creatures I treasure the most are celebrating the wonderful place that is my backyard. Through this transformation, reality is altered and the line between fantasy and reality is skewed. Just as Sandy Skoglund transforms common settings and makes them uncommon, I transformed my daily view of my backyard and created an altered, fantastic view. Further, to highlight the vision of fantasia, I modified the color scheme of the photo from dull to bright, changing the yellows to bright oranges, the dull greens to bright greens, and the dark blues to bright blues. “What makes my backyard such a treasured space?’ It is a fantasy-land in my eyes.
A third creative approach to problem solving can be viewed in Postcard 3. The third and final postcard is a dream-like vision of my backyard. A “spacey” night sky is added, and the colors on the land and water are diluted and altered to create a distinction between the earth and sky. The phrase “life is but a dream” is added to elaborate on the dreamy vision while providing information to the viewer. The altered photo conceals the average skyline and normal color schemes typically seen in a conscious state, and reveals a picture that can be found only in the mind of a dreamer. The third postcard responds to the question of why my backyard is such a wonderful place through a dream-like view of the place I treasure in both hours of wake and hours of rest.
The design of each postcard allows the viewer to explore my backyard through my eyes. By providing visual examples of an altered version of my treasured space, I have provided the viewer with a level of understanding and comprehension about my vision. The creative strategies I used involve repetition, skewing, color alteration, transformation, fantasy, addition, and concealment/revealing. The strategies were used in attempts to cross the boundary between what is normal and what is not, or what is real and what is fantasy. The strategies were used to provide insight to others about why my backyard is such a special place to me.
Postcard 2
Postcard 3
Works Cited
Bald
eagle. (n.d.). In True-wildlife.blogspot.com. Retrieved September 7,
2014, from
http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=eagle+images&id=D99E2AD8FC1AA8F95C3A0EC9308B8504BC097847&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail&id=D99E2AD8FC1AA8F95C3A0EC9308B8504BC097847&selectedIndex=0
Dolphins
jumping. (n.d.). In Bablotech.com. Retrieved September 7, 2014, from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=dolphin+images&id=1CF77D355D6904A329706E6F4BBA3CA035E5E4E8&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail&id=1CF77D355D6904A329706E6F4BBA3CA035E5E4E8&selectedIndex=0
Sarus
cranes. (n.d.). In Indianwildlifephotos.com. Retrieved September 7,
2014, from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=crane+bird+images&id=51B062E11C0FC70771699295D14EDC774E81AB44&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail&id=4A59FC0B032BC0AF287C123531C277CB76497070&selectedIndex=79
Snowy
owl. (n.d.). In Hdwallpapers.in. Retrieved September 10, 2014, from http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=snow+owl+images&id=82A5F64091B29A67C07A21C1CA9DEF92BB897A99&FORM=IQFRBA#view=detail&id=82A5F64091B29A67C07A21C1CA9DEF92BB897A99&selectedIndex=0
Spruce
knob night sky stars wallpaper. (2012, October). In Stars-beauty-places.com.
Retrieved September 25, 2014, from http://beauty-places.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/Star-Blue-Sky-Wallpaper.jpg
You clearly communicated through your work and your statements the reasons why you love your backyard. Seeing as this was the goal of the project, you've done well to accomplish it. It's great that you were able to pick up the photoshop skills necessary to complete this project so quickly.
ReplyDeleteI think that you definitely grew in your technical ability in photoshop by looking at your postcards I can see your progression of understanding as well as ability. I think that the idea that you started with does indeed come across clearly, I can tell from the postcards how much you do love your backyard and your reasoning why. As you said you are a swimmer, so obviously the water is one of the main reasons that you love it and therefore it makes sense that it was so central to your designs. A critique that I would have for you is about your first postcard. I think that the idea is good but I just think the transition of the night sky to the daylight on the ground could have been done in a more subtle way to fully get across the idea of whether or not it is night or day.
ReplyDeleteMelissa, I think you did a great job explaining the things you did in your postcards and why you did them. The technical aspect of things correlated well with what we learned in class. I would love to hear a little more conceptually about the reason you did things and you may have explained that in the paper above (haven't read that yet :) ) Like I said, I loved number 2. The colors were so great for the space and it made it look so inviting. Really good job!
ReplyDeleteNice job!
ReplyDeleteVisually: Very playful and reflects your appreciation for your backyard. I loved the use of color (especially in #2)
Conceptually: Well thought out and thoroughly explained in presentation.
Technically: Great use of photoshop tools-- manipulation, cloning, color enhancement.
I think you did a really great job of experimenting with a ton of different ideas and photo manipulations. I'm impressed with what you were able to do in photoshop. As far as concept, the only one that confuses me a bit is the idea of Postcard 1 being a depiction of "perfect nature." The focus on the moon and the night sky makes me think that that is the emphasis of the photo, rather than the backyard and lake, and that it is perhaps more important. I'm not sure if you meant this, but perhaps repeating something that is usually in your backyard at all times of the day (something that you look at that reminds you of your backyard) might be less distracting and contribute more to the idea of the backyard being this "perfect space."
ReplyDeleteYou articulated your strategies for creating these postcards very well. I really enjoyed how you chose to showcase your backyard as the place you treasure the most. The first image is really creative in how you incorporated nighttime and daytime in the same image. The second postcard is really vivid and full of color and I think best represents how you see your backyard. The text in the night sky in the last image makes it really dream like and makes take a step back and relax under the stars.
ReplyDeleteI felt you used good strategies to manipulate your photos. In regards to your first post card I was a little confused as to how many moons in the sky makes your backyard surreal. I was very impressed with your second post card especially the way you made the second photo more vibrant, this also greatly helped with conveying the concept that your back yard is a fantasy land. I also felt this same way with your third post card. The only thing I would change was i felt the text was too subtle, but I did very much enjoy the color you used for your lake water and the way the overall post card turned out.
ReplyDeleteI loved your first one the most, I really enjoyed the difference between the light and the dark environments. You have a really great handle on the photoshop program! And the postcards are personal and beautifully done. Good job Melissa
ReplyDeleteExcellent job. Your presentation was good, I liked that you chose such a personal space. I'm really impressed with that last postcard, it has a great texture.
ReplyDelete