Layering images

Photo layering and development with tools. 

I used this mosaic style cat silhouette that I drew with fine liners to capture all the intricate detail and uploaded it to Photoshop. I used this image because of all the vivd coloring and thought it would look good as more of a graphics piece. I am planning to layer up the image and then use some affects and tools on photoshop to create something new. 

 I really like the idea of using clockwork, and or cogs in the background of my image, I like the industrial feel that the cogs give off and believe when worked correctly they'll compliment the fore ground. I also feel the cogs have a particular pattern in them, that suits the patterns on the cat silhouette subtly. I'm going to layer these images and work them into each other in a way that blends them into one smooth final image.

I then layered the two images and altered the opacity so that you can see both of the images in equal measure.

I then used the "Mixer brush tool" and chose  pale pink color which I worked gradually over half the image harshly and then faded into a lighter shading as the image progresses. To accentuate the colour and add a sharpness to the cogs I then used the filter "Hard mix". I feel this adds more depth to the color and adds a small portion of the primary color through, which is a nice affect. 

I like the image here but I feel like some of the elements have lost their definition and the color of the cat silhouette has been darkened due to the added contrast of the whole image, next I will aim to use lighter color and enhance the foreground so it remains the vivid colors that I depicted to begin with. 

After my experimentation, I extended my full image and displayed all the cogs vertical to create a longer frame, I created a broader use of colour and ranged from blues, to purple to a pink centre, to  create this I used a gradient affect and then used the "Hard mix" affect again and then finished by highlighting my foreground image of my cat, this allowed both segments of the image to stand out from the page and I really like the final outcome. 

Enter Shikari album cover evaluation and research.

  Enter Shikari - A flash flood of colour.

Enter Shikari are an English Rock band, who are currently working on their fourth album, this album: “A flash flood of colour” is their newest, and it discusses social and political issues throughout; specifically the struggle of the working class and government corruption.

The inverted triangle in the left centre of the cover represents an inverted social hierarchy, or a change in power. This relates directly to the genre of music that Shikari deliver, and allows the viewer to have an insight as to what they’re about as a band – it’s a clever and powerful message. Due to the fact that the triangle is a notorious symbol for a social hierarchy, or a food chain, it is easily recognisable and therefore, easily interpreted.

The idea that the location is in a forest subtly tells us a little more about the meaning behind the band. The forest shows us that in a peaceful, mundane, environment, there is a “flash flood of colour”. This could be a representation again for a change, reverting away from idealisms and introducing a powerful new perspective on things in amongst normality.

Due to the fact that Enter Shikari are a highly political band that sing about current affairs and issues amongst the world, the positioning of the triangle on  the album cover (left), could be a subtle hint at their political stance being left wing. This is an intricate detail that is more personal than anything.

Photography presentation.

Photography in advertisement.

 I produced a photography presentation on how and why photography is used in advertisement, and what affect this has on the consumer. I will be looking at different places that we see photography in advertisement and, why it is important, and what skills and qualification you would need in order to become a photography advertiser.

Firstly I looked at why photography is used in advertisement and how it is affective. I produced bullet points of what I believed were some of the key attributes to using photography in advertisement, these include; Image is everything which basically means that the image is where the eye is centred, it's the first element of the ad that people will see. This then leads to memorable, an image is more likely to stick with you that a whole bunch of text, if you see the same image again somewhere else you will be able to recognise what it is advertising, because you've remembered it. This is due to multiple elements like vivid colour, it separates the image from the rest of the text and allows it to stand out. Lastly the image can convey a message, something subtle but powerful, perhaps about manipulating the landscape to make it appear more idyllic to viewers.

A photographer in advertisement must have a wide skill set that includes time management, clear communication and creative thinking. A photographer in this department will need to produce very specific briefs with clients in order not to create something totally unexpected, these must include points like colour, layout, features, a message, location, props etc. Once a brief has been decided on and cleared the photographer is then in charge of managing these logistics and setting a target shooting date which is essentially their deadline.

Photography is one of the most, if not the most broadly used media in the advertisement industry, you can see examples of this everywhere you go from: Billboards, newspapers, magazines, internet, TV and many more. These advertisements can be used to sell a product, for example Heinz ketchup. Influence our lifestyles, for example a "Change for life" poster encouraging us to live healthier. Or convey a message, for example an ad for water aid sending us the message about giving and why our help is needed.

There are multiple career options for an advertisement photographer, however these generally are split into two main sub categories which include Commercial photography and Advertising photography. Commercial photography is solely taking photographs of objects, models or landscape for retail and sales purposes; these could include: Cereals, make-up and holidays. Secondly there is Advertising photography which focuses mainly on conveying messages about products, lifestyles and services in an innovative way, this means the message is displayed in a more creative way and it holds a meaning, and a purpose.

Here are some examples of advertisement photography, and commercial photography. All of the displayed advertisements are creatively developed with a message behind them, the book advertisement is insinuating that you can get 'lost' inside their books, and become someone else. The image here is very clever because its positioned the  skull on the front cover in line with the models heard, showing a contrast between the two different people inside and outside the book. The batman movie trailer is clearly featuring a day and month outlining the infamous Batman signal, which has been obliterated into the sign, showing the viewer subtly what genre of movie this is, and what type of action to expect from watching it. Lastly is the Artist's colouring pencil brand, which creatively tells the viewer that their pencil colours are truly accurate to their name, for example: here is an aubergine coloured pencils which smoothly follows the shape of an aubergine and reverts into one. This is a clever way to display a message, but is also a good example of commercial photography due to the fact that there is a clear background, a main centre point on the product and a clear indication in the bottom right corner about who the company is that sells these products.

Overall, a photographer in the advertisement industry must have an eye for detail, they must be able to pinpoint certain important aspects of a design that other people might not necessarily pick up on, for example colour highlight and tonal work. Good communication skills are also essential, as to create the most specific brief possible, there must be no hidden surprises and the client should have a clear idea of what to expect. Displaying ideas creatively is also a key skill in order to make your clients adverts stand out from the rest, they must be unique and affective to purpose. Solid computer skills are necessary, as photo editing software will need to be used to finalise images, this includes use of programmes like Photoshop or CAD. A photography doesn't necessarily need qualifications if they have a solid portfolio that displays their skill set and what they can offer, but it will help.