Digital Photography and Imaging Final Project - Self-titled

02/06/2022 - 10/07/2022 (Week 10 - Week 15)

WONG JUN ZHE / 0353613
Digital Photography and Imaging / B' Creative Media / Taylor's University
Final Project - Self-titled

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INSTRUCTIONS

MIB: 

Final Project: Self-titled

Week 10 Idea Development

To capture the main idea of our self-titled poster, I am required to answer some questions about myself such as questions about my passion, my motto, my interests, etc. 

Below are my answers to those useful questions that help me capture my main ideas: 

1. Write a biography about yourself

INTRO	Tell us about yourself My name is Jun Zhe, 18 years old this year, likes drawing, gaming, movies, etc. I usually draw characters and a lot of sketches. I am also born with a genetic disorder that affects physicality. However, I like to see myself as a normal person just like everyone else, and also prefer to be treated like everyone else.
PARAGRAPH 1	What is your passion? To create unique and creative pieces of artwork that are valued. If possible, I’d like to work as a concept artist for big game/movie development companies.
PARAGRAPH 2	What’s motivate you to achieve your dream? To be honest, I think my biggest motivation is simply my love to art. I enjoy every single part of designing an artwork, from the beginning to the final outcome. To me, I feel a great sense of satisfaction after I create something that I am satisfied with. At the end, I always feel “It’s all so worth it”.
SUMMARY	How do you want to visualize your dream into an artwork? Despite the chaos going around in the frame, I am focused on myself to leave this place in search for my dreams. The balloons represent hope and innocence. In addition, my body is robotically modified with parts of metal so that I look like a cyborg.

2. Write a statement about your work

INTRO	Tell us about your work In my artwork, I want to show determination and love towards my passion, no matter the circumstance.
PARAGRAPH 1	What is the concept behind it? In the frame, I am holding a paintbrush in an upward position to signify my love to drawing and painting. The paintbrush is then tied to balloons, which are often seen as an object that signifies happiness. On the other hand, the robotic parts are to signify imperfection. But these parts also make me stronger, just like a cyborg. Others’ judgement and criticism are portrayed by the two crashing eyes. This is because I want to follow my dream no matter what others think and say.
PARAGRAPH 2	What is the message you want people to understand it? “If I can do it, so can you.” Through this artwork, I want to encourage others to be their best version of themselves, and to never give up on what they sought for no matter what others think. I hope it can be an inspiration for others to never stop trying and achieve their dreams.
SUMMARY	What is your motto/ quote? Never stop. Dream BIG.

3. Mood Board

POSTER 1	POSTER 2	POSTER 3
Fig. 1.1 Poster 1	Fig. 1.2 Poster 2	Fig. 1.3 Poster 3

Week 11 Sketches

Fig. 2.1 Initial sketch 1

Fig. 2.2 Initial sketch 2

*these are the only sketches I have, which is for the first attempt. I thought that I would not need any sketches for the second and third attempts as I already have a clear picture on the visuals of the final outcome in mind. Another reason is because I am given a limited timeframe.

Week 12-14 Digitisation

This digitisation part is where I spent most of my time. I have three different attempts on my self-titled poster as I do not think the previous ones bring out my intentions clear enough. Mr Martin also gave a lot of constructive comments that are very helpful in my digitisation process. 

Raw photos

Fig. 3.1 Full body photo 1

Fig. 3.2 Full body photo 2

Poster digitisation

Fig. 3.3 Attempt 1

In my first attempt, I used some illustrations in my composition. However, this module is meant for students to practice putting together photographs to produce a good looking composition. Besides, this poster does not really look surreal. 

Fig. 3.4 Attempt 2

In my second attempt, the poster looks slightly more surreal. However, after showing the final video to Mr Martin, it is not very suitable in my case. 

Fig. 3.5 Attempt 3 (Final)

In my third and final attempt, everything just looks complete unlike the previous two. In addition, this composition brings out the meaning behind it the best. 

Process: 

Fig. 3.6 Process 1, Week 13 (23/06/2022)

Fig. 3.7 Process 2, Week 13 (23/06/2022)

Fig. 3.8 Process 3, Week 13 (23/06/2022)

Fig. 3.9 Process 4, Week 13 (23/06/2022)

Fig. 3.10 Process 5, Week 13 (23/06/2022)

Fig. 3.11 Process 6, Week 13 (23/06/2022)

Fig. 3.12 Process 7, Week 13 (23/06/2022)

Fig. 3.13 Process 8, Week 13 (23/06/2022)

Fig. 3.14 Process 9, Week 13 (23/06/2022)

Fig. 3.15 Process 10, Week 13 (23/06/2022)

Week 15 Animation in After Effects

For the animation, my idea is to make the character slowly lift off into the air using his rocket legs. The surrounding environment will be extremely chaotic with lightning, fire, smokes, and ashes around. 

Besides, I decided to insert my message/motto at the end of the video right after I take off. This is so that the words do not interfere with the scene itself. 

The music and sound effects I used are as below:

[Deathstep] Dyroth - Chaos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lJMT0XBoAR8&list=PLP4y4qeUEiB6qmcsHikm9FNUaNNk3JZNl&index=30

Thunder sound effect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOHuT5njtRA&list=PLP4y4qeUEiB6qmcsHikm9FNUaNNk3JZNl&index=31

Fire sound effect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1DKWajEEUk&list=PLP4y4qeUEiB6qmcsHikm9FNUaNNk3JZNl&index=32

Fig. 4.1 'Never Stop. Dream Big. 

For the font typeface, I found an edgy-looking typeface on the Internet called 'Facon', which I think suits well with the atmosphere going on in my poster. 

Week 15 Final Changes

Fig. 5.1

I made some minor final changes which include reshaping the eyes so that they look like fireballs, as well as shrinking the size of the blood moon. I also amended the movement of the character being pulled up by the balloons at the beginning. 

Final Outcome - Self-titled

Fig. 6.1 Final Outcome

YouTube Link: https://youtu.be/F9B7Si7lSDY

ARTIST STATEMENT:

Since birth, my life experiences have been very different from everyone else because I am born with a rare genetic disorder - Marfan Syndrome. Everything feels more…troublesome. Not only I have to focus on my academic as a student, I’d also have to take extra care of myself due to my disability. This means that I cannot do things like sports or other extreme activities. Therefore, it sometimes makes me feel left out. Luckily, I have some amazing people who really care about me in my life that I am truly grateful to have. This is why I decided to design a poster like this, as a reminder of greatness in life. Although I may have less desired things going around, but I shall focus on my goals than worrying about things. Life is too short to not keep going. 

FURTHER DETAILS:

• Paintbrush being held

Signifies my passion and love towards drawing and painting. 

• Cyborg / Robotic body parts

Represents my imperfections and disability, as well as the mechanical valve inside my heart. These robotic parts makes me stronger than before. 

• Balloons

Signifies hope and innocence. Although I am born with a rare genetic disorder that makes my life different, I remain optimistic and hopeful as a person. 

• Rocket legs

Represents the people and things that motivated and encouraged me to become who I am now. 

• A pair of burning eyes

The pair of eyes represent judgement and criticism form the society. They are burning and crashing downwards because I aim to disregard all destructive opinions from others, and focus on my dreams. 

• Lightning

According to Greek beliefs, lightning signifies strength, enlightenment, intelligence and intuition. This can be metaphorically translated to the events in life that seem frightening at first, but those that are also beneficial to my growth as a person. 

• Blood moon

Signifies chaos, disruption, and change. It also symbolizes sudden illumination, hidden information rising to the surface, and shifts in my inner life.

• Smokes

Smokes can easily interfere with vision. Similarly, it represents the things in life that stops me from achieving my goals (procrastination, laziness, not stepping out of comfort zone, etc.)

• Fire

Indicates the sources of smokes. 

• Overall chaotic environment

All the negativity in life that I want to be away from. 

ARTIST STATEMENT (Continued):

In the 15-second video, I can be seen taking off and leaving the chaotic place. This is to signify the mindset of never stopping and constantly chasing my dreams of becoming a successful artist. 

Just a little story about myself… I have actually been through two major heart surgeries in 2012 and 2018. The first one is to replace my aortic root, and the second is to replace my aortic valve with a mechanical one. I immediately associate the mechanical valve with a cyborg, because technically, I am one! 

In the process, judgement and criticism cannot be avoided.  I also developed the mindset to be optimistic, cheerful. Though this dream seems sky high, I must have hope. 

I also feel extremely grateful to have the people who cared about me, especially my family and a couple of close friends. They shower me with motivation and encouragement when I am at my lowest. This is represented by the rocket legs, which help to ‘boost’ towards the direction of my dream. 

In conclusion, the main idea of this surrealistic video is encourage others to be their best version of themselves, and to never give up on what they sought for no matter what others think. I hope it can be an inspiration for others to never stop trying and achieve their dreams. 

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REFLECTION

Overall, this project has been quite tedious at times. From coming up with the idea, catering the visuals in mind, putting them into Photoshop... It was quite a challenge to me. Nevertheless, I am very happy with he end result. 

Throughout the entire process, I have learnt a lot about design. One of the most important things I learnt is idea development. In order to create a meaningful design, the idea must be good and be brought up well by the final video. Thus, it requires.a lot of effort to come up with the great ideas. 

In addition, I was also pretty clueless about the direction of my project at some point, but Mr Martin's feedback and suggestions really helped me to get back on track. I like Mr Martin's way of giving feedback because every suggestion he gives has a good reason behind it. Some may feel like he just wants more and kept on giving suggestions on how the poster would look better. However, personally I feel like his comments are very helpful and also very beneficial to me as a learner. 

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FEEDBACK

Week 12

General feedback: No problem with the biography and concepts of your poster. However, the elements in your mood boards do not really show in your poster (Attempt #1). Illustrations would not help, try and use real photographs. 

Specific feedback: You should wear lighter clothes when taking photo of yourself. Also, if you are going for the cyborg look, you will have to wear shorts and t-shirt to show more parts of the skin. Cyborg edit also not very realistic. Mr Martin then sent me a tutorial on how to create a cyborg in Photoshop.

Week 13

General feedback: You may move on to animate in After Effects (Attempt #2)

Specific feedback: Before that, you might want to have an overall layer to colour correct your objects, so that they are under one same colour theme.  

Week 14

Fig. I Feedback 1

Fig. ii Feedback 2

Fig. iii Feedback 3

Fig. iv Feedback 4