pmeliapham

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Written document (final)

Proof of words count (not including reference and tittle yet)

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PDF (submission file)

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Final Manipulation Images

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WIPs

I added motion blur for this pic for the consitency and connection between all of my image. I think I will have 4 image. This one will be the weakest image in telling story however, the text play an important role in story telling.

This is the first step in processing this photo. This is colour grading. I feel like the colour grading is really tight in these 2 pics together. It helps a lot in changing the mood for the storytelling. I will need to export this photo out then put it on another canvas to do the burning paper effect. This is because after watching a few tutorials, I feel like the image has to be one layer in able to do the outer glow effect.

I failed the experiment unfortunately. Nothing work out as expected. I could not even do the outer glower effect for my photos. So I might change the direction to be ripped paper?

This is because I think I might need another image of mixed feeling. Some image is strong enough to be a turning point of the story.

[pmeliapham]

Written document draft

Her reflection was really well written. We can see here that she really wen tin depth about her idea and how she manipulated each image. She also talks about her inspiration and how she applied it to her work. I don't see her reference here? Probably on the next page, or it was not published. Also, this may be just a (personal) sidenote; she should have separated her paragraph? Furthermore, I dont really see a lot of personal reflection were written in here.

What to write in the written reflection?

Title

Name

Talk about inspiration and research

how to apply it to our own work

talk about photographer's research

work in progress (what works? what fails?)

overall reflection on this project

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Reading research

Man Ray and Lee Miller employed innovative techniques to disrupt conventional perceptions of reality. Photograms—where objects are placed directly on light-sensitive surfaces—and solarisation created images that evoke subconscious thoughts and dreams. This manipulation of light and shadow challenges viewers' expectations and encourages deeper emotional engagement, as these works often embody themes of desire, anxiety, and the uncanny. They manipulated light and composition to evoke subconscious feelings and provoke thought. Techniques like photograms and solarisation added layers of abstraction, fostering a deeper emotional connection.

How can I apply to my prject

colour grading

placing objects in unexpected composition

contrast adjustment: for the soften and sharpness of each emotion

dreamlike asmostphere, fantacising

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Reading Research

There is a blurred line between reality and art. I could apply these ideas by using photo manipulation to heighten the surreal elements of my visual storytelling. For instance, I could manipulate elements like colour or texture of the photos to amplify the contrast between the pink dress and black clothing, intensifying the mood and narrative.

The motion blur for instance. I could use this is the dreamy-themed image. This would help to reduce the sharpness of the object/model, which will create the feeling of floating?

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Work in progress update

I added a small frame of blurriness. The contrast of colours (the whole pic and that small frame) and the extreme blurriness really help to tell the story of the thin line between reality and imagination here. Also, the frame help to cover up the imperfection of object removed on the wall. This would probalbly end up to be one of my finals photos.

Giving me, myself and I. Isolation despite proximity. I could use this as turning point of the story. Overall, the dreamy like images are just the character delusional when she is too much in emotional pain.

The flower was too much in details, i cant really remove it from the BG. So the OG idea cant be work out. Anyway I think I have enough image for the dreamy side of the story

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Photographer research - Azrie

Azrie is a local photographer based in Auckland, New Zealand. He mainly photographs concerts. However, I really like the way he uses colour grading and lighting to make everything dreamy. The dreamy, atirty vibe of his photos is unique to me.

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Photographer research - Erik Johansson

Erik Johansson is a Swedish photographer and visual artist known for creating surreal, mind-bending images by blending multiple photographs and digital manipulation. His work often explores dreamlike, impossible landscapes with precise attention to detail, making the unreal seem real. Johansson’s approach involves capturing real elements and then combining them seamlessly to tell a story or evoke emotion.

I learn from him about his surrealism and storytelling. One of the most important aspects of photography is that you tell your story through images. Also, as I have mentioned above (and a few posts before) in this series of photography, I wanted to do something related to dreamlike and human's emotional explosion

Some of his works

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New Skills testing

This is pretty cool so I wanted to try it out, not sure if it could go well with my assignment. Cause after the experiment I feel like this is abit graphic design more than photography

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Post-production/ Photoshop process

Instead of just focusing on the contrast and lighting. I added len blur. This helps to give the illusion of dizziness while having an anxiety attack. Also, it shows things happening in our heads. We can see it, but it's really unclear. But the line of lighting isn't very clear, I might need to work more on that if I want to use this image for my final

Achieved the goal of a dreamy vibe. However, I need to work on that spot (reflection of light). It isn't an object, so it was quite difference in the process of removing it. I added both Gaussian blur and motion blur

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Post-production planning

This is the photo colour I want when it's the dreamy vibe photos

I also want to try this "concept"? Like there is always a small voice in your head. The only one can actually talk to you is you, type of thing

This is the story flow that I want to tell.

Draft

*I might have spelled a lot of things wrong but I think it's more important that we can see my plan clear.

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Photos

These are the photos which I think I can potentially work with

Proofsheet

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Studio set up/ photograph process

This was my "studio." The photoshoot did not go as well as planned. Unfortunately, the model was not really focused, and we had to change the plan quite a few times (because of both of us). And the bathtub is really small and uncomfortable for posing or to do as many pose as I have planned. Also there were a few pose the model was not prefer to do so we could not done that.

Change of plan

The bathtub turns out to be too small for my model to move + pose into poses in my plan. The posing was really limited; I will need to add a lot of effects in post-production rather than rely on posing and model expression.

[pmeliapham]

researching self portrait (painting)

Van Gogh was famous for his self-portrait painting. Vincent van Gogh's self-portraits, especially those from his later years, reflect his intense emotional and psychological struggles. His use of bold, swirling brushstrokes, vivid colors, and haunting expressions convey not only his physical likeness but also his mental state. The 1889 Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear is one of the most famous examples, revealing his fragile emotional condition after his infamous ear-cutting incident. The backgrounds in these portraits often add to the psychological intensity—sometimes abstract, sometimes turbulent, reflecting his inner turmoil and overthinking.

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researching - photobook research

Found this photobook in the Central Library. This was made from a New Yorker photographer. So basically he has a series of people naked and and doing mirror selfie.