Digital Photography & Imaging // Project 2A

18/05/20 - 15/06/20 / Week 6 - Week 10

Ibrahim Fazal Ahmad / 0337423

Digital Photography & Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylors University / Project 2A

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SELF-TITLED COLLAGE

For this assignment, we have to make a collage about ourself and express our personality or personal ideas through the picture. I wanted to focus on my origins, I am from the Maldives and I'm born in Malaysia. I've done concepts relating to this before but not in the form of a graphic collage like this so I thought it would be interesting.  Firstly I opened up a pinterest board for aesthetics and things of interest. My personal aesthetic is very pastel and muted. I do also like very dark concepts like psychological horror and thriller but I felt it wasn't very appropriate for this artwork. Here are a few of my favourite pins.

Figure 1: Inspiration

Figure 1.1: Inspiration

Figure 1.2: Inspiration

After doing the research I did a very simple sketch for my reference, I had this idea of turning my hair into waves. I draw a lot and I wanted to express the feeling through my idea of the self portrait. I also wanted to include photos of nature and the city. It would add a nice element of contrast and also express myself well since I'm familiar with both. 

Figure 1.3: Sketch for self portrait

In this sketch I drew myself facing towards the right, honestly because I thought it would look cool and more interesting than me staring straight into the camera. Also because it shows my hair very clearly and allows me to draw the waves much nicer. I also have this very simplistic plants coming from behind me and also clouds behind me. Both of which I will draw, I then have some images from both Maldives and Malaysia used as different elements to help with the composition. 

Firstly, I removed the background from my original picture

Figure 1.4: Background removed

Next I digitally drew my ocean hair using the brush tool

Figure 1.5: Ocean hair drawn

Next I drew the clouds and leaves using the brush tool as well. After which I used a picture of a sunset in Malaysia and clipping masked it to the clouds. Next I just added the pictures in my composition that are also there.

Figure 1.6: Other elements added

Next I added a skyline of Malaysia around my neck. I clipping masked it to my neck on one layer and I made another layer above to with only the tops of the buildings poking out.

Figure 1.7: Skyline added

Lastly, I added a background colour and some doodles tracing the clouds and leaves because I felt like it would add more character especially since I am constantly drawing all over things when I'm bored. I also added some emphasis on my facial features using the brush tool to very roughly draw on it.

Figure 1.8: Final details

Figure 1.9: First version of Self Portrait.

FEEDBACK: Mr Fauzi said its already really good, but just to add a filter over it to give it a little bit more cohesiveness, other than that it was good to go and I'm done.

Figure 2: Self Portrait Final Piece

REFLECTION: 

Experience: This was my favourite assignment from DPI so far, as I got to draw and express myself as much as I could through this piece. I got to combine photo editing and drawing into one piece and I really enjoyed working on this piece. Overall it was really fun and not difficult.

Observation: I realise that blending modes are really useful for giving a different feel to a certain part of the piece. Originally the sky in the bottom right was really bright but adding a blending mode allowed me to keep same general but also give it a more interesting depth without just turning the opacity or contrast down.

Findings: I found that pinterest is very useful for finding inspiration, they will give you such accurate and useful inspiration based on what you use.I also found that using the noise filter is really useful, it can give a very subtle effect but can pull your piece together. Same goes with adding a layer of colour above everything and applying a blending mode.