During this week, we learned about “Double Exposure” and were introduced to this project, Project 2. Click here for Week 7 blog.
WEEK 8
There are no classes during ILW. We continued our progress with the MyTIGER competition poster.
WEEK 9
We were introduced to a new topic about digital surrealism and to our final project. We continued our progress with the MyTIGER competition poster for submission. Click here for Week 9blog.
INSTRUCTIONS
PROJECT 2A: Digital Imaging
In Project 2A, we completed the double exposure exercises. Double-exposure photography refers to merging multiple images. They usually feature silhouettes. We followed a video tutorial for "Exercise 1", and used our own self-portrait for "Exercise 2".
Exercise 1: Double Exposure Tutorial
For Exercise 1: Tutorial, we followed this YouTube tutorial on the basics of double exposure using the following pictures.
Fig. 1.1 Tutorial Video, Week 7
Fig. 1.2 Provided Photos for Double Exposure Tutorial, Week 7
I then created my double exposure following the tutorial. My first outcome was a black-and-white image. I then added and experimented with different filters.
Fig. 1.3 Black, White, Gray Outcome, Week 7
Fig. 1.4 Outcome with Filter, Week 7
Fig. 1.4 Final Double Exposure, Week 7
Exercise 2: Double Exposure Portrait
For Exercise 2: Double Exposure Portrait, we have to use the knowledge and skills learnt from the tutorial video and make our own double exposure photo. We have to use our own portrait photos and use high-resolution background images online.
Fig. 1.5 My Portrait Photo, Week 7
Fig. 1.6 Background Images, Week 7
I first converted the images to become black and white, repositioned the portrait and used the portrait orientation layout (1080x1920).
Fig. 1.7 Black and White Portrait, Week 7
Fig. 1.8 Double Exposure Progress, Week 7
Fig. 1.9 Double Exposure Progress, Week 7
I did a few versions with black and white, a filter, and colour.
Fig. 1.10 Double Exposure Portrait - Black and White, Week 7
Fig. 1.12 Double Exposure Portrait - Color Variations, Week 7
Fig. 1.12 Final Double Exposure Portrait, Week 7
PROJECT 2B: MyTIGER Poster Design
In Project 2, we have to use our skills in photo imaging to create a poster and submit our work to Maybank Foundation MyTIGER Values Art Competition 2023. We have to create a poster using Adobe Photoshop that interprets the project aims, with the theme of MyTIGER Values.
Fig. 2.1 Life On Land, Week 8
1. Topic Research
Maybank TIGER's core values are Teamwork, Integrity, Growth, Excellence & Efficiency, and Relationship Building. In support of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) - a collection of global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all” by 2030 - Maybank’s MyTIGER will focus on 12 of the 17 goals.
No Poverty - End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Zero Hunger - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture
Good Health and Well-being - Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Quality Education - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Clean Water and Sanitation - Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Affordable and Clean Energy - Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Decent Work and Economic Growth - Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Sustainable Cities and Communities - Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Responsible Consumption and Production - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Climate Action - Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Life Below Water - Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Life on Land - Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and stop biodiversity loss
Life On Land
Fig. 2.2 Life On Land, Week 8
The overall gist of this goal is to conserve life on land. According to the United Nations, Goal 15 aims to restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Human activities have profoundly altered most terrestrial ecosystems: around 40,000 species are documented to be at risk of extinction over the coming decades, and 10 million hectares of forest are being destroyed each year, leading to many species losing their habitats. (The Global Goals, 2023).
The Malayan tiger is a symbol of strength and bravery among Malaysians, even being noted as the country's national animal - represented in emblems of the Royal Malaysian Police, the national football team and the Jata Negara. Yet poaching of these endangered species is relentless and the country has lost many of their wild tigers. The Malayan tiger is a critically endangered species, at a real risk of extinction. This is mainly as a result of loss of habitat due to rapid development, illegal poaching and overhunting in Malaysia. It is estimated that are less than 200 Malayan tigers left in the world.
Fig. 2.2 Life On Land Targets, Week 8
This is the main target I have decided to focus on:
TARGET 15.5 PROTECT BIODIVERSITY AND NATURAL HABITATS
Take urgent and significant action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats, halt the loss of biodiversity and, by 2020, protect and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
2. Visual References
Fig. 2.3 Visual Reference #1, Week 8
I liked the use of contrast between a peaceful nature, and a destroyed world. The contrasting colour palette of red and blue; red symbolizes the burning flames destroying the trees and dark barren ground, meanwhile the blues and greens show the calmness of an untouched, and unpolluted world.
Fig. 2.4 Visual Reference #2, Week 8
Once again the contrasting palette has captured my eye with complementary colours of bright greens and burning red. This visual reference shows the skeleton of a deer when it steps into the burning world. This design represents the extinction and death of wildlife as deforestation and human actions take over a green world.
Fig. 2.5 Visual Reference #3, Week 8
This design looks very magical. A dark city contrasts against nature with blue skies and greenery. I like how the animal looks protected against the city life in this magical portal/paint stroke. In there, it feels safe and unharmed from the actions of mankind.
3. Sketches
These are my ideas and sketches of my mock-up poster.
Idea and Sketch #1
Fig. 2.6 Idea and Sketch #1, Week 8
My idea is to have a tiger protect the remaining land's natural landscape from pollution and deforestation. The landscape would be a dark grey, and the only colour would be the bright tiger and the nature it is protecting. It would look small in the corner, as though it was being surrounded and unable to win this "battle" against mankind.
Idea and Sketch #2
Fig. 2.7 Idea and Sketch #2, Week 8
My second idea is similar to the first idea. This time, the tiger takes a form of a mountain and blends in with the background. After thinking about it, I decided to not use this idea as it would be too difficult to digitize. While it is a good idea, I do not have the necessary skills in Photoshop to do the design justice.
Idea and Sketch #3
Fig. 2.8 Idea and Sketch #3, Week 8
Inspired by visual references #1 and #3 (Fig. 2.3 and Fig. 2.5 respectively), I combined the two ideas into one. A tiger walks into a doorway portal into a new world and leaves this world behind.
Idea and Sketch #4
Fig. 2.9 Idea and Sketch #4, Week 8
I developed my idea from Idea and Sketch #3. This sketch will have a dark polluted landscape with lots of chopped trees. There is a portal in the last remaining tree that leads into a new world. The tiger walks towards this portal and leaves this world behind. I think having the tree have a portal will make more sense and not look so out of place.
4. Digitization
I started to digitize and develop Sketch #4 (Fig. 2.8). These are the main photos I used to develop the main elements of my design.
Fig. 3.1 High-Resolution Photos Used, Week 8
I first removed the background for the trees, city, and door. The image of the door had watermarks. I learned how to remove those watermarks by following this YouTube tutorial.
Fig. 3.2 Watermark Removal Tutorial, Week 8
Fig. 3.3 Removing Background and Watermarks, Week 8
I then started to digitize and develop my work in Adobe Photoshop. I started off with the background, by blending the dark sky and barren land image. I adjusted the brightness and saturation of both images. I also added the Kuala Lumpur city landscape into the background.
Fig. 3.4 Background, Week 8
I placed the tree in the centre of the design and added the pathway to start with the layout of the poster. I removed the background of both images using the quick selection tool alongside the refine edge brush tool.
Fig. 3.5 Laying Out Design, Week 8
After the road was added, the whole design immediately looked way too bright and out of place. To tackle this issue, I used the burn tool to darken some parts of the road, as well as the gradient tool on a mask layer. Once this was dealt with, I placed the sunny landscape into the archway and added a small glow. Furthermore, I added the tiger, which walks towards this archway portal, and gave it a shadow.
Fig. 3.6 Progress, Week 8
It was a last-minute decision to place dead trees in the background. I did not know how to after developing my design with so many layers. I tried my best to make it look as realistic as possible without getting in the way of the other major elements.
Fig. 3.7 Progress, Week 8
To finalize my design, I added some cut trees next to the side of the road, and use the tree image as the leaves of the big tree. I went on to add some shadows and adjusted the lighting and colour of the piece. When I tried to export my work, some of the cut trees did not show up and was just a black object(?). Not sure what was the reason so I had to redo some parts of it. My laptop also crashed while exporting the file.
Fig. 3.8 Finalizing and Touch-Ups, Week 8
Final MyTIGER Poster Title: “A New World”
This poster is about “Life On Land”. Specifically based "Target 15.5 - protect biodiversity and natural habitats", which aims to stop the degradation of natural habitats and prevent the extinction of threatened species.
The Malayan tiger is a critically endangered species. According to the Maybank Foundation, the population of the Malayan tiger has dwindled from 3,000 in the 1950s to between 250 and 340. Yet deforestation in Malaysia is relentless, and the country has lost many of their wild tigers. In this artwork, a tiger flees the ruins of its past home into a new world to start its new life. Humans require constant growth and strive for excellence and efficiency, however, we must not overdo it. Malaysians must work together to end deforestation and restore the lost forest to protect our wildlife and endangered species.
Fig. 3.9 "A New World" - Final MyTIGER Photo Imaging Poster, Week 9
This was a very fun project to do. I learned quite a lot about the tools in Photoshop, and about composition, lighting and layout design. For the first part of the project, Project 2A: Double Exposure, it was very interesting to learn about this new technique. I have seen in multiple times around the Internet and never knew how an artist achieved that. The poster design in Project 2B, was quite the challenge but nonetheless a very enjoyable one. It was great to push myself to see what I could create using the skills I have learnt.
Observations
I observe that my compositions and designs get better the more I experiment and plan out. I realize that by practising and learning from the given tutorials first, I am able to create my own design and add my own elements on top of the skills I just learnt. I also observed that, while we were all given the same picture for our tutorial work, everyone came up with very different compositions and have their own unique style.
Findings
I found that there are lots of tools in Photoshop that I am still not yet familiar with. I learned about many new tools through YouTube tutorials and looked back at the tutorials provided by our lecturer. Some tools are much better at selecting an object and removing the background, compared to others. I also found that composition and lighting are very important in design.
Fig. 1.8 Double Exposure Progress, Week 7
Fig. 1.9 Double Exposure Progress, Week 7
Fig. 1.11 Double Exposure Portrait - Filter, Week 7 
Fig. 1.12 Double Exposure Portrait - Color Variations, Week 7
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Fig. 2.8 Idea and Sketch #3, Week 8
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