Digital Photography & Imaging Project 2B (Mr Martin)

Week 5
Chan Meiling 0337771
Digital Photography & Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Hons) in Creative Media / Taylors University / Project 2B

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Photo Manipulation: Turning Yourself Into A Cyborg

If I were a cyborg, the first thing that I would want is having the ability to have visual powers. I would want to have Chrono vision. I would want to see any point in time whenever I want to, from only a few seconds or minutes into the future or past, up to events all throughout time. This is because having this power allows me to know what is going to happen and hopefully I will able to avoid bad things happening or allowing me to be more mentally prepared if the situation can't be changed. Besides, having the ability to see my past will be able to remind me of the mistakes that I've made from time to time and also to remind me things I've experienced in the past.

At the beginning of this project, I started off by doing some visual research on the internet about cyborgs with laser eyes.

Visual Research Image:

Then, I continued by doing a rough sketch out and to show sir my idea before proceeding to take pictures of myself.

Sketch idea 1

After seeing my sketch, sir said that it would be better if I have a full-body sketch so that it will have a better composition. 

After doing more visual research, I saw some pictures of 5G technology screens and I thought it will be cool if I am able to put a screen that is projecting out of my eyes instead of just having the laser eyes.

Sketch idea 2

Then, I proceeded to take pictures of myself in the balcony to get the best lighting possible. 

Chosen picture of myself

After watching Mr Martin's demo, I wanted to try adding more elements for my cyborg instead of just having laser eyes and a technology screen. I started off by cutting out part of my skin first since I have watched the demo videos and I thought it would be good for me to practice more. Then, I went on the internet to search for images of optic fibres to be placed underneath my skin.

Image of optic fibres used

Progress of cutting out skin

Besides, I have also decided to amplitude my amputate one of my legs as well.

Progress of amputating leg

Since my main idea is about having laser eyes, I did not make the synthetic skin and amputation leg part too complicated. Then, I moved on to turn my eyes into laser eyes.

For my eyes, I have chosen an image of a red laser eye and cut out the eye from it.

Laser eye image used

After exploring various blending tools, I found myself liking the image of the laser eye on exclusion blending mode the most which have a turquoise colour.

Progress of photoshopping laser eyes

Completed edits on cyborg

After completing turning myself into a cyborg, I moved on to make a technology screen that is projected out from my eyes.

I then started off by finding images that I think is suitable. Moreover, I decided to add more elements to it so it would not look plain and unsophisticated.

Images used for technology screen:

Before masking out the picture of me from the screen texture, I have tried out many different images and blending modes to find the one that I like the most.

Applying different images/ blending mode before masking:

Finally, I have decided to use linear light for the blending mode and proceeded to make myself out.

Final cyborg jpg

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REFLECTION

Experience: For this assignment, I think like how we are not limited or restricted to turn ourselves into cyborgs that we want to and how we are allowed to use different ideas or approaches. Even though my idea of having laser eyes and technology screen wasn't in the cyborg demo, I am able to do it by using the knowledge that I have gained from the previous exercises which got me quite surprised that I am able to do it even though I was clueless on how to start at the beginning.

Observation:

I noticed that in this assignment the storytelling of our cyborg idea is important. I realised sir always question us what is the reason behind what we are trying to do and give us feedback not only regarding the technical part but also the concept and story behind it. I have read a quote saying that designers should be a good storyteller through the visuals of our work which makes quite a lot of sense to me in this assignment.

Findings:

I found that it is quite hard to find examples of cyborg images that are subtle like the examples that were shown by Mr Martin. I realised that most of the cyborg edits on Pinterest used a lot of strong blue lights which looks more futuristic.