Photography

The following photographs were taken in various locations, such as Bali, Hong Kong and Macau. Collating a wide range of successful images where I have attempted to create a certain atmosphere and mood through subject, matter and composition.

Water Polo Cap Design

I was commissioned by my Water Polo team to design a training cap for the team.

This was my final design, taking the inspiration from tradition Chinese dragon scales. To create this design I drew a rough sketch by hand, then scanned the image and traced it on Adobe Illustrator using the pen tool. I then used the colour scheme of the Team’s logo.

This is the final outcome.

Unit 117 - Surface Patterns (Ongoing)

In the surface pattern making unit I had to explore various methods of producing a pattern.

Before I began experimenting with pattern designs. I drew a couple of observational drawings. This piece is a development from my primary recording of a temple's roof.

Within this unit I was required to create a final outcome consisting of a pattern. I looked towards a quite complex traditional Asian pattern path, looking at dragon scales and Japanese woodblock prints. This journal page looks at one of my development pieces, as I produced a mono-print of a dragon. From which I will grab a small section of scales and attempt to create a pattern from it.

I also looked at traditional Japanese woodblock printing and attempted to replicate the Great Wave of Kanagawa with a lino block. These are my most successful prints ranging between the final outcome and unfinished progress pieces.

I then scanned my prints into my computer, to trace them on Adobe Illustrator. Once I created a vector file from my print, I then used the sublimation printer and heat press to print my design onto different surfaces. I tested this process on acrylic, wood and fabrics.

For this unit I also created a moire pattern, to test on the sublimation printer.

I printed two different offset patterns on separate pieces of acrylic, so the moire pattern could be altered by hand.

Unit 61 - Print Making (Ongoing)

Throughout this unit I explored various print making processes and techniques.

This double journal page, includes my experiments with monoprinting and ghost printing from monoprints. These prints are responses to Ernst Haeckel's drawings.

This journal page presents my exploration of leaf prints, further developing my understanding of the print making processes. In these experiments I collected an array of leaves and printed them using the printing press.

This is one of the final leaf prints, showcasing my understanding of this technique. Combining silhouette, ghost and directly printing from the leaves together; creating this final outcome.

This journal page demonstrates my exploration in polystyrene block prints, where I engraved into a polystyrene block by drawing with a pen and pencil. These experiments were based off of my own primary source photography.

The above work piece shows the development from the original exposure to the final prints. Beginning the series is the primary source photograph. The second is my alterations in photoshop, with the third being the print block and the fourth and fifth being the two final prints.

Another process that I looked into was lino printing, learning about the process of a reduction print. Within these experiments I used four layers.

This is one of my final pieces showcasing the print at different stages of layering.

Unit 41 - Words and Image in Graphic Design (Ongoing)

 The specification of this unit was to look at text in graphic design. I aimed to create a visual poem as my final outcome. I would do this by first researching the fundamentals of graphic design through well chosen examples and then responding to these examples myself, proving that I understand the basics of graphic design.

I presented this unit digitally to showcase my knowledge and understand in graphic design. This page looks at my responses to various successful examples that I researched, so that I could base my responses on the strengths of each example; therefore providing me with a stronger understanding of graphic art.

This response is based on the Constructivist Movement. I utilised Constructivism's dynamic angles and strong structured alignment. Then using Adobe Photoshop, overlaid a photograph that I had captured underneath the original design to provide a grungy texture; similar to an influence I researched, David Carson.

This page presents an experiment that I undertook and highlights the development from the initial collage to my final outcome.

This is my final outcome from my experiment. This piece initially began as a simple collage created from nine words cut out from a newspaper. I decided to construct an extremely structured and linear alignment only using horizontal and vertical lines. I then scanned this collage and overlaid a primary source photograph underneath it in Adobe Photoshop. I then played around with the overlay settings, created more layers of text by cropping sections of my collage and also adjusted exposure settings.

This page illustrates some of the primary source material that I gathered for this unit.

In this ongoing project I created additional experiments responding to more graphic design artists, such as Gert Dumbar and David Carson. I explored the use of repetition to create a texture.

This is another experiment influenced by the work of David Carson. To create this piece I again used repetition to create a texture, but also used brush in Adobe Photoshop to add extra texture.

Unit 38 - Mixed Media Image Making in Art and Design

In this unit I explored various mixed media processes, to eventually arrive at two different final graphic outcomes.

This final piece is my response to my well chosen example. I looked at the texture created by Rotella and tried to replicate a similar effect through the use of decollage.

This double journal page looks at the development of my collograph block design. I chose a theme, then drew four designs based on this theme. My blocks focus on the abstract textures created from the chosen materials, rather than a literal meaning. Once I had chosen my design, I then tested different materials and processes. The two main examples, that I tested was a traditional chinese pocket money envelope and the use of engraving through the laser cutter.

After I had chosen my final design and tested various materials and processes, I made my block. This is my final block after being used for printing. Within my block I used, tissue paper, ink, sandpaper, chinese pocket money envelopes, scrim and used the laser cutter to engrave into my block.

These are my two most successful prints, as there is a perfect amount of ink applied to the printing blocks, allowing the textures of the print to come through.

Once I had created enough successful prints, I scanned them in and began to play around with the design, using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.

The first project within this professional unit was to create a poster, a magazine cover and a flyer, by incorporating my collograph print. To do so I looked at some well chosen examples of each outcome, then began to develop my poster design in Adobe Illustrator. Using vector files, I could ratio down the size, to a more manageable scale.

Once I had created my final poster design, I decided to base my flyer on the poster to create an equilibrium between the two, as many advertising posters and flyers would. However I created a different magazine design, using the same title design.

This is my final flyer design, which is an abstract, close-up view of the poster design. I find it extremely successful, as I use the textures from the final prints within the design to create an interesting surface quality.

Our second project within this unit was to create a Hong Kong Tourism Board poster. I went through a similar design process, beginning with a piece of art, in this case a lino block, then applying reproduction processes to the art piece. Using red and white as my base colours, as they are the colours of the Hong Kong flag.

Within this piece, I decided to go for a more literal meaning, as it is intended to attract visitors. I did this by using the most iconic feature of Hong Kong, its unique skyline. I touched up my original print on Photoshop, creating cleaner block colours and straightening the lines. Then created my own font on Illustrator, based on traditional Chinese ink characters. Then finally overlaid a red pocket money envelope behind the red sections of the print, to incorporate a traditional feel to the poster.

Unit 33 - Lens-Based Image Making Art and Design

Within this unit I explored a lens-based image making process, eventually selecting three pairs containing a contrast within each pair.

(Height: 70cm, Matte finished PP Paper)

This is the first within my photographic series and contrasts with the photo below. This exposure was captured at an ISO of 800, as the location did not have sufficient sunlight. A shutter speed of 1/200, fast enough to prevent motion blur but allow the image to be brighter. Lastly the aperture was set to f/3.5, allowing a larger depth of field. These settings were chosen due to the location and as the main focus of this image was the subject rather than the composition.

(Height: 70cm, Matte finished PP Paper)

Like the image before, this focuses on the subject rather than the composition. This exposure was captured at an ISO of 400, as it was at a brighter location. A shutter speed of 1/160 as it was a cloudy day and I needed a larger intake of light. Lastly the aperture was set to f/5.6 allowing the subject to be in focus.

(Height: 70cm, Matte finished PP Paper)

This photograph contrasts with the image below and focuses just as much on composition as the people. This exposure was set to an ISO of 400 as the subjects were down an alley, thus reducing the amount of sunlight. A shutter speed of 1/160 to allow a larger intake of light, as the subjects were not moving, so no motion blur occurred. Lastly the aperture was set to f/5.0 allowing a large enough depth of field to contain the subjects within. I cropped this image to cut out a bright orange bin diverting attention from the focus of the image; and tightening the overall composition, framing the wall and people on opposite thirds.

(Height: 70cm, Matte finished PP Paper)

This exposure again focuses on the subject and the composition. This exposure was set to an ISO of 200, as this was taken during a brighter day and location. A shutter speed of 1/160, allowing an intake of light. Lastly an aperture of f/4.5 as I wanted a larger depth of field. This is my most successful capture within this series, as the subject compliments the composition. I tried to show the unseen side of Hong Kong, through the market. This older side of Hong Kong is highlighted through the old lady, who makes direct contact with the audience. The composition ascends into the distance, with the market in the background. Using Photoshop I altered the image to be a black and white image, to create a sense of age, which is reflected by the old lady in the foreground.

  

(Width: 70cm, Matte finished PP Paper)

This exposure contrasts with the bottom photo. This exposure has an ISO of 200 as it was an open area, on a bright day. It had a shutter speed of 1/160 to allow a sufficient amount of sunlight to enter the lens. Lastly I used a wide aperture of f/4.5, so that I could have everything in focus. I cropped this image to remove a railing in the foreground. I like this image as it captures an interesting structured subject.

My last exposure had an ISO of 400, as it was down an alley with a limited amount of light. The shutter speed was set to 1/100 to allow more light into the lens. Lastly I used an aperture of f/4.5 for a deep field of focus. I cropped this image to rid it of a window, which contained a harsh reflection. I then made some alterations in Photoshop, making it black and white and brightening the doorway, exposing the man within.