alexmoua

[alexmoua]

Theme Project 2 - Final

Following my last project, I want to continue creating more figurine photos. Keeping up with the same formula of setting my figures up, and using Photoshop to help with editing.

Although one thing that I wanted to do is to create a type of small art aesthetic. I want to incorporate more art into my photos in some way. Using Photoshop to create more effects. I would also like to create some type of comic panel style on a few photos maybe.

This project focuses more on implementing more art into my photos. Mixing reality and fiction for a couple photos. Although only just a small use of this concept. This would be quiet interesting for me to figure out.

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Theme Project Slide

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Theme Project Pics

This are the 10 I have chosen to display as ones that I like the most, although I also include the rest I took (including this 10) in a slide. Which will be in a different post.

A surprised Naruto watching Goku stuffing himself nonstop, who may not even pay the bills too.

As Link went outside, he got ambushed by a flying person with wings, who yelled out his name as Pit.

As the sun was setting, Kirby got himself a big muffin to chomp on before night falls.

Link had found a small little cave, that housed a chest and a pot. Opening the chest, he found some items that might prove useful to him for the future.

Team 7’s effort was beginning to catch up with their sensei. But Kakashi was still able to evade their great efforts to beat him.

Bulma found a Dragon Ball that was nested with a great dinosaur. Grabbing it, she had awoken the slumbering beast, whose name is Rex.

Training day with the Captain. The three focused on doing pushups as the Captain watches. Doing 50, to 100, to as far as they can go. Naruto has given up his arms, with the other two wanting to keep going further.

The hero, Link, readied up to go out into the wilds with his trusty steed, Epona.

Goku and Vegeta was interrupted suddenly from their break. The raging saiyan ready to battle the two heroes with the sinister Frieza behind him watching in amusement. The atmosphere begins to turn slightly green from his great aura.

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This was a pretty old drawing project for an art class, that I had to dig up from 2019.

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RotoScope animation test I made this year. Music from: Fire Emblem Engage. This one is more recent, created this year.

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Music is not owned by me. Music from: Dragon Ball Z Dokkan Battle.

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This is a group art project that I was given last year. Where we were given a first frame drawing from a classmate randomly, and we were to animate it.

[alexmoua]

Art 30 Project Proposal

My project that I want to focus on is action figures coming to life. I'm unsure of a unique title as of now… as of this moment this is a rough plan on what I wanted to create.

I want to take pictures of scenes of a variety of figurines that I have in possession, and create small, multiple dynamic moments.

I wanted to take photos similar to many photographers like Hot.kenobi and Jared Middleton. Having these figures be displayed in the outside world and "living" within it. 

Plan

Simply, it's to take these figurines and pose them outside. I would want it to take place in a more natural setting, like a park. I need to think of ways to make these figurines feel at least unique in their actions with each photo scene. Since I may have to use repeated characters, due to limitations of how much I have. I also wanted to do small edits by using Photoshop to give the photos some oomph.

Learn

This is my first time I plan to risk my figures out in the wild. Although, I see this as a way to learn how to create dynamic shots. Which could relate to even drawing them as a short of reference.

I want to explore this child-like wonder, a type of high energy and nostalgic feel. To create a scene for my audience to get a hold of. 

[alexmoua]

Artist Research #3

The photographer artist that I am researching is Jared Middleton. Jared Middleton is a toy photographer that is currently using many social medias, such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram to publish many of his dynamic works. Jared uses many of his figurines, and takes them outside to give it a more lifelike feeling. One a little hobby, to know a profession, he takes his collections outside, utilizing sparks and fires to give it more intensity and action. Even using Photoshop to edit and finalize his works. At this moment, Middleton is still active in his social media and still producing amazing photographs of his figurines.

One quote I like and one that I want to follow is, “As children we all grow up having massive cinematic scenarios planned out in our heads when playing with our toys. My goal is to bring those scenarios to life in Toy Photography.” - Jared Middleton. I enjoy how he created such cinematic looks with the many tools he has to make it feel unique. His use of lighting and focus makes all shorts of attraction to many of his pieces. I would like to look into his progression and maybe produce something similar to his works. Implementing my own collections and giving them a sense of life and action. Although I do feel a bit concerned about endangering my figures, I’ll just have to be more cautious with them. Here is some of his works that I have enjoyed.

[alexmoua]

Artist Research #2

“In the Sunshine of Neglect” by Douglas McCulloch

Published by Inlandia Institute, 2018

The artist that I will focus on is Will Connell. Connell was born in Mcpherson, Kansas, 1898; but soon moved to California. Connell passed away in 1961, but had done tremendous and influential things before his passing, as a photographer, teacher, and an author. He was a self-taught photographer; who took pictures of people, such as Myrna Loy. Many of his photo works were for magazines as his job, although he spent the rest of his life teaching, judging other’s works, producing commercial works, and writing. 

The book holds only a few of his works, which these photos are not particularly his style in a way. He generally takes pictures of people, with a black and white style. Although Connell took part in this request to take pictures of Kaiser Steel. Within the book, there is a small documentation of the photos he took in Los Angeles. 

The book has multiple photographers and their works compiled into this book. Having all of them discover new directions and uses of the environment in demonstration.There were multiple subjects that each photographer took in relation to it; Will Connell's subject was on “Fires, Floods, and Faultlines”. 

I really liked these two photos Connell took, the dark values and the hard, vibrant colors really catches my eyes. It gives me this ominous feeling looking at it. Having thoughts of eerie happenings within the factories he took. The lighting and how it was utilized, is something I might want to consider in my works.

Sources: https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_1339235

[alexmoua]

The Principles and Elements of Art

For my next assignment I have to define the forms of both elements of art and principles of art. There are multiple interpretations and many elements and principles within the listings. Although in this case, I have only chosen and defined ones that I would use for my next project.

Elements of Art:

Line: A path that is defined by a point moving. Used to express width, length, and direction. Lines can be curved, straight, freehanded, vertical, or horizontal, and so on.

Shape: It can be geometric or organic that is two-dimensional, flat, or limited to height and width. Such examples are circles, squares, and triangles.

Form: A three-dimensional surface of shape, having volume and depth. It may also be free flowing. Such examples are cubes, spheres, and cylinders.

Values: Lightest and Darkest of tones or colors. White being the lightest value; black being the darkest value. Having gray as the middle tone.

Space: Focusing on positive and negative space, that also defines space and depth within the work.

Color: An element made of three values: hue, value, and saturation. Hue is the name of the color. Value is the lightness and darkness. Saturation is the brightness or dullness.

Texture: Refers to ways of what things feel, or look as if it can be physically touched.

Principles of Art:

Proportion: Refers to the relationship of elements as a whole or to each other. Can be used to compare the size of an object, or the whole amount.

Composition: An arrangement of visual elements within the composition; such as balance, contrast, motion, pattern, proportion, unity, and so on.

Movement: Used to create the look and feeling of an action that can guide the viewer’s eye throughout the composition.

Balance: Way of combining elements to add a feeling of stability and equality. It can be symmetrical or asymmetrical.

Emphasis: A combination of elements to stress the differences between them. It can also imply a focal point for the viewer to focus specifically on.

Rhythm: A design indicating movement, by using carefully placed and repeated elements in a work of art; causing a tempo or beat.

Perspective: Representation of three dimensional objects or space in two dimensional art. Can be used to create a realistic feeling of depth by using the foreground, middleground, and background.

Unity: Separate parts working together in harmony and wholeness by using similar elements and placed in a form as one. Variety can be added to create interesting contrast within the composition.

Pattern: A repeating object or symbol all over the composition. It can be natural, man-made, and irregular; creating a visual aesthetic or enhancing composition.

Contrast: Arrangement of elements and effects that are opposite of each other. It can be shown by light and dark, smooth and rough, large and small, or colors. It is used to create variety and visual interest in the composition.

[alexmoua]

Artist Research

"Promising Waters", by Mila Teshaieva.

Many of her photos in her book was about the documentation about the change in Soviet republics, mainly in the Caspian Sea. This book was more special, since this book was the result of her winning the Photolucida's Critical Mass 2012. Being awarded first place and being able to have a book of her photos as an addition. Which I thought was very interesting to know that this book was made by this reason.

The book shows the more depressing state of what it happen in the republics in her documentation. The environment mainly results with gray and dull colors, representing the state of the environment she was in. Although there where some bright colors that stood out within some of her photos, which I thought was moving in a way.

Mila Teshaieva is a photographer born in Ukraine. Her works focused on forms of storytelling and an understanding of many subjects that she was passionate to delve into; in this case, her work was about the former territories of the USSR.

These are the few photos from the book that I took that appealed to me.

[alexmoua]

My Weekend Photos - Project #1

Photo #1 - Bed

Where I usually spend my time. To sleep and to actually use it as my work area... During this cold weather, I prefer being close to my bed, so this is just convenient. Keeping myself warm and comfortable whilst I spend my...normal days really.

Photo #2 - Drawing Tablet

My way of drawing, of course. Enjoying this form of art for its convenance of colors and especially ctrl+z. Since then I've been learning animation, learning and self teaching myself a bit.

Photo #3 - Sketchbook

As much as I have transitioned into digital art, I still prefer the old form of paper and pencil. I've kept a collection of sketchbooks, many of them having lots of empty paper.

Photo #4 - Figurines #1

Team 7, my most recent figures in my collection. I used them to test colors, scaling the saturation and light. I'm a bit annoyed with some of the blurs. But this at least came out well in the end.

Photo #5 - Figurines #2

Smash Bros, a more simple one compared to the others. This is just really testing some other settings with the camera. I tried to work on the focus of this picture. It didn't pan out as crisp due to the weak lighting in my room.

Photo #6 - Figurines #3

Overwatch, using them for testing perspective and depth. I tried to work out dynamics and angle with them. Setting Tracer closer to the camera, and Widowmaker further away. I may use many of my figurines to take some interesting pictures with them throughout.

Photo #7 - Laptop

It is actually a new laptop I have gotten. A gaming laptop in specifics. I can now deal with adobe eating up all my data. Plus using this for gaming of course. This was a very, very pricy one though. Fortunately I got it last Black Friday, although the discount was rather little still.

Photo #8 - Games

I still prefer the old school way of playing games in a way. It was and still the type of playstyle I'm more comfortable with. Fortunately, I was able to get my hands on a PS5 a while ago, a bit after the whole scalping situation. Having help with my family.

Photo #9 - Lego

This was a gift from one of my cousin. It took me about 2 hours or so to finish it. I tried to play with the angle and contrast in colors. Using a more gloomy look for the Batman aesthetic. Although since this one is Adam West version, I kept a bit of color to keep a bit of the cartoony feel.

Photo #10 - Monopoly

For this picture I've actually just quickly set this up myself and alone to take a picture... But, I did played it with my siblings previously. I lost in the end; but before packing this up, thought the colors and depth would look somewhat good. Which lead me to this...moment

[alexmoua]

Camera Test Pics

Photo 1: 1/160, 20, Auto ISO

Photo 2: 1/60, 10, Auto ISO

Photo 3: 1/60, 10, Auto ISO

Photo 4: 1/100, 20, Auto ISO

Photo 5: 1/80, 13, Auto ISO

Photo 6: 1/125, 14, Auto ISO

[alexmoua]

About me...

My name's Alexander Moua, a senior in Fresno State; and majoring in 2D Animation.

A couple of my hobbies is gaming, drawing, and potentially some other stuff that I've forgotten...

My experiences with photography is mainly with my phone. But, now having to buy a pretty expensive camera as of late for a class, I need to make use of this some how.

In which this camera could help me in figuring out new forms of art. With the likes of taking pictures of compositions for me to draw. If ever my lazy self gets to it.

This is just an old photo I found of myself. :/