Book: Morgan G. Photography

For the Digital Media Foundations Book (Final) Assignment, I choose to work with images from my gas mask project. I used the basic set up to start with (8 pages, 5x7inches, 300 ppi) but I added four columns to help me with my layout design. I brought my margins in and began placing frames and text boxes on my pages until I had a layout I found appealing. Then I chose my images and dropped them into my frames. I copy and pasted my artist statement into the first text box and used the link option to let the text flow from one box to another over all of my pages. I wrapped the text around a few of the images on different pages to give it a more professional look. I also added drop shadows to some of my images to make the pages more interesting and visually aesthetic.
All photographs were taken by me, Morgan G., I hope you enjoy.

Doll Face

I think that this video speaks tons about the medias influence on the individual and the culture as a whole...I also think that the imagery is very striking and powerful. Kudos to the maker.

Adobe Bridge

Morgan G. Photography


Just follow the above link to view all of the images I have created for my digital media foundations class.

Table of Contents

I created this table of contents based off of the design template on the DMF web site. I spruced it up a little however, by adding images that I felt were more visually interesting. I enjoyed learning how to use InDesign, especially how to place images behind text and changing their opacity. I definitely think that that is a technique I will use for my final project.

Classic Advertising

While working on a project for my Photography class I found myself drawn towards 40's and 50's style advertising. Everything from the models to the text makes these advertisements so appealing. These are some of the images I used to lay down a foundation for my own project.




I absolutely love this ad. It's basic and limited in its color palette but I think that makes it more vibrant and powerful. It also used a wonderful repetitive diagonal line. You see the diagonal in the models pose, as well as the vacuum, and the drawings of the model in three different positions. These lines help move the eye to the GE company logo at the top right corner as well as down to the text at the bottom of the page. They also strategically placed the dark band across the page to separate the text and image, yet this also is what makes them work together.





This is another classic ad. Again you see a somewhat limited color palette and a great use of form. The text and the model almost form the letter T. This set up helps the eye to focus on the most important pieces of the image. The Budweiser text and the drink itself in the hand of the model.

Typography

In photoshop I fiddled around with different text styles and fonts to create these three designs. By changing the orientation, color, and size of different fonts I found that placing them together became much more visually interesting than viewing a single letter on a plain background. Using different background colors and styles I created an image that can be read as both an animal print or the letter K. The letter Z feels very wispy or romantic in nature, while the letter B is simply about random design and the effects that can be created from playing around. I think that by playing with the elements of typography I have a better understanding of the relationship of letters to images and to each other.

Obama's Speech

I am not normally one to speak openly about my political views but I think it's important to share this video. Today the votes have been tallied and it has been decided that Barack Obama will be the next president of The United States of America. The speech he gave tonight was by far the best speech I've heard from every party during the entire 2008 presidential campaign. America is in dire need of change, and I think this is the first step towards change for the better.

Bang

I was simply searching the web when I stumbled across this awesome work of typography. I absolutely love the idea of using letters to create imagery. I found this image at http://rodrigocalves.wordpress.com/2008/08/

Everyone else has had more sex than me...

This poor bunny...adorable yet sad in is realization that everyone has had more sex than him. But they are all bunnies too and that is what bunnies do. Except for him, apparently. I think there are a lot of funny parts of this video but when sad bunny slams his face on the ground repeatedly at 0:46 and becomes angry twitchy eye bunny at 2:09 I bust a gut. Isn't it ironic that he's got the #1 on his chest which is usually an indication of success? And whats with S&M Bunny with the keyboard solo? It's hilarious, minus the tears. Don't worry bunny #1 I'm sure you'll make millions of bunny babies one day...who knows, it might even be with bunny #1718.

Movie Poster

I am really happy with the "movie poster" I have created. I started with an image I took of a dancer in a gasmask in silhouette and in photoshop used contrast function to really make a true black. Then I filled the background layer and choose the radial style and gradient to create the black and white background. I thought that the letter G looked nice placed under the leg of my model so I created a title with that letter. I then choose to use Bookman Oldstyle as my type font. I changed the color of the quote to make a more powerful contrast over the background.
I'm excited to make another poster.




Just to clarify, because I was asked about it...the image of the dancer in the gasmask is a picture I took myself. She's a friend, I own the mask, I love photography. Enjoy :)

More Collage!

I used a bunch of layers and copies of those layers to create this collage. With a copy of a layer of the ballerina I changed the color of her dress by adjusting the hue and saturation. Then I went back over her skin using the history brush to bring back the original colors and tones. I repeated this step with each dancer. I just used the filter tool to put texture into the background. I also used the extract filter to place the cats open mouth at the top of the stairs.

Collage

I was really excited to do a photo collage in photoshop but the actual process turned out to be quite frustrating. I think now that I have a better idea of how to create the images I want my next collage will be a lot more fun and easy to do. To place the ballet dancers onto the picture of the alley I used the extract tool. I then had to carefully go over their outline using both the history brush and eraser tools to define a nice clean edge. I then placed them onto the black and white photo and blurred their outline to soften the image.
I am determined to do more collages now that the frustration has passed.

Self Portrait

I wanted to include this self portrait I took onto my blog because it goes with my current theme. I dramatically changed the hue and saturation as well as the brightness and contrast of this image to achieve a desired effect. Using layers I enhanced the ceiling texture while developing a much softer and less sharp texture to the rest of the image. I absolutely love playing with perspective and felt that the angle of not only the camera, but chain and face really makes this photo interesting. Even though there is a lot of positive (white) space the image still moves upward. The chain really helps the eye to follow a diagonal path up to the top of the frame where the face appears. The negative (black) space and lack of detail is what make both the color and content of the photo so alluring. With such a lack of detail everywhere except the key portions of the photo I feel I'm making the viewer see and experience the photograph in the way I want them to. It is intimate and powerful and holds the viewers attention.

Portraits

I was actually really excited to do this assignment because I'm currently taking Special Projects in Photography and focusing on portrait work. These two lovely individuals agreed to let me take their photographs. With the first set of pictures the lighting was really wonderful. The sun was setting outside and casting this beautiful light through the window. In photoshop I did have to re-tone the photo slightly with using the color balance tools as well as adjusting the levels. I also took out the saturation and adjusted the contrast to create the black and white photo.
The other set of picture were taken at night in a stairwell. The lighting was not ideal but I loved the setting and the lines of the windows and railings. Again I adjusted levels, color balances, as well as cropped to really bring in the form of her figure. I also used the burn and dodge tools to make minor adjustments and enhance their natural beauty.

Gas Mask Project

These images are from a project I did last Spring. It was sparked by the gas mask. I found a gas mask in an army surplus store and knew then and there that I had to photograph it. The project took on a life of its own from there. I wanted to show images where the times and circumstances were questionable. I was hoping that my audience would ask questions about when these photos where meant to have been taken. Did they reflect the past, present, or future? I also wanted to distort the time line through the acts taking place within the photographs. Ordinary and day to day activities were depicted all with the subjects/ models wearing one gas mask or another.


In the end I had many pictures to choose from. I ended up presenting only 20 images and here I have decided to show you only a few of those final photos. I spent a lot of time on this project, so much so that it began to take on a life of its own. What came of it was not only my original idea but also realms of fantasy, humor, and fashion. These images are all those different areas, some overlap and some stand on their own.

Alphabet Soup

The letter "C"


The letter "M"


The letter "O"


The letter "V"


The letter "X"

These are my top five images from the alphabet soup assignment for Digital Media Foundations (DMF). I found the process of finding letters in the environment rather interesting. The letter "C" photo was taken from glass/window art. A random swirl in the design became the letter c simply because I was looking for letter like shapes. I also captures the letter "O" from the same window. The letter "M" actually comes from the legs of a moose on the perimeter fence of a playground. "V" is the shape of the shadow from two trees, and "X" is a ceiling light fixture.

This project really makes an individual more aware of their surroundings. When we pay attention to the sights around us we are more prone to actually see the world.

Ra Album Art

What do you see?

~Hands
~White matter that could represent an atom
~Bright orange, red, and yellow colors
~Print (Ra, From One)
~Faint lines at the top and bottom of the picture

Ra is one of my favorite rock bands. They have a unique style and sound and their album art is both bold and beautiful.

Ra is the name of the ancient Egyptian Sun God. This art could be representative of mythological views where Ra is seen as a creator, here his hands would be cradling the beginning of some form of life. Perhaps this particular color scheme is used to embody the colors of the Sun.
Putting the mythology aside the album art can take on other meanings as well. The hands from this photo look dirty which could possibly indicate a particular lifestyle such as hard labor or artistry, or a feeling of struggle. The position of the hands, with fingers closed, suggest that the object being held is important or delicate. The hands appear to be cradling the object.
The object itself is representative of an atom like structure. It is bold and illuminates the hands which suggests it is powerful. This gives a nice contrast with the hands. Why would they be cradling something that need not be cradled?
The colors of the album are all related through their similar hues and are complimentary to one another. The reds, oranges, and yellows, could suggest strength and control.
When viewed on a personal level this album art will most likely provoke many different reactions. My reactions however are positive. I feel that the work is indicative of power and strength but suggest that both care and responsibility be used in handling it. One must be understanding of the power they possess and accountable for the outcomes of using it.

Seahorse

Photo by Morgan Gaines

What do you see?
~Seahorse
~Blue Water
~Crystal Disc Structure
~Green, Blue, and White Reflections
~Clear Tube
~Reflections from Light or Objects on Aquarium Glass

I took this photo in September while visiting the Newport Aquarium. This seahorse was hanging out by this man made structure of discs. If you look closely you can see that his tale is going through one of the disc so he can hold on while he snoozes. I chose to take the photo because he was stationary minimizing the amount of blur that shooting through several inches of glass, as well as moving objects, can often induce.
The transparency of the discs as well as the openness of the structure was both intriguing and visually pleasing for me. The discs caught the reflections of the light from the glass, my flash, the seahorses, and the water making quite a lovely, and colorful, display. The openness of the structure forms interesting shapes and gives depth to the visual field.

DMF Scratch 2

I started this scratch with a transparent layer to work onto. Using the tablet I drew the eyeball onto another layer. I then learned how to fill in the color of the eye and highlight by drawing in color on a new layer and placing it behind the outline. During this scratch I learned that by using (apple t) I could rotate the color swatches on their individual layers as well as resize them and position them behind the eyeball. To finish I chose a background color I felt complimented my color scheme.

Digital Media Foundations Scratch 1

This was my first attempt at drawing in photo shop. I had a lot of fun using the drawing tablet and creating the black figure in the first of many layers. I used the lasso function to create the color swatches behind the figure. I filled them with the fill function as well as played with the hue and saturation to determine the color palette. Again I drew with the tablet to outline the colors. I felt that this brought the middle layers and background color together.