'Sci-Fi Fantasy' Image Analysis 2

Similarly to the previously analysed image with planets in it, this one most likely achieved its effect in Photoshop. However, differing from the previous one, this image is rather dark and features a silhouette of a tree as the focal point. In the background, a blue planet can be seen -- this can be achieved by either taking a photograph of a globe/planet-looking object, or creating it in Photoshop, then using the 'quick select' tool to cut out the focal point and "layering" it on top of the planet's 'layer'.

The clouds that are in this image could have been added in Photoshop. If this is the case, the photographer merged multiple images to make one fantastical one, much like what I am experimenting with.

'Sci-Fi Fantasy' Image Analysis

Embracing the 'Sci-Fi Fantasy' genre, this image shows an effective use of saturation and contrast to make the planets in the sky, which are the fanastical elements, "stand out".

This image, which I found on Shutterstock.com, has given me an idea. I now want to create an image in which I will try to create the illusion that the shot was not taken on Earth. To do this, I will use my globe, and I will take a photograph from atop a nearby hill.

Photo-Shoot #1

For this photo-shoot, I used low-key lighting in my school's studio, and used my necklaces as the subjects. I felt as though the pendants would fit the 'Fantasy' genre quite well, with one of then being two dragons twisting around eachother, and the other being a chunky cross. I also used physical filters to change the colour of the images in this shoot -- this was purely experimentation.

To capture the images in this shoot, I used a macro lens instead of a regular one because the pendants are relatively small, which makes it difficult for a regular lens to focus on them.

Image #1 (Original Unedited)

I liked the simplicity of this one, in terms of the background being a solid black, and the lighting being clear and not too bright to the point of causing glaring reflections. The pendant is also in-focus, so I chose to edit this one.

Image #1

I used one of the images from Photo-Shoot #3 for the fire in this image. To achieve this effect, in Photoshop, I used the 'quick select' tool to 'cut out' the pendant from the black background. After that, I increased the scale of the pendant before applying an orange 'colour overlay'. I then proceeded to import the image from Photo-Shoot #3, duplicate it, increase the scale of both, move the duplicate into a different position, then increase the contrast and change the 'hue' of the original fire image to red.

 The inspiration for this particular image came mostly from the image of the 'Terminator' skull being engulfed in flames. I thought that it would be interesting to see how a more 'Medieval Fantasy' subject would look in a similar situation.

I like this image, and the concept of a subject being engulfed in flames. I will most likely try to develop this further.

Image #2 (Original Unedited)

The green filter used for this image caught my attention mores than the other images from this shoot.

Image #2

I imported a frame, which I rendered as a '.jpg', from a video I captured during Photo-Shoot #10 of fire. When in Photoshop, I duplicated the 'layer' of the fire, then positioned one to the left of the pendant, and the other to the right. I added a green 'colour overlay', and then changed the 'hue' to a green colour as well, thus making the colors match the ones of the pendant image. Then, I set the "layer modes" of the fire images to 'screen'.

Overall, this created an abstract-looking effect, with the cross also being rather distorted behind the flames. The green flames could be a sorcerer's magic, and the cross behind the flames could represent a falling knight. I really like this image, and might develop this style further in the future.

Image #3 (Original Unedited)

I chose to edit this image because of the physical filter I used when capturing the image; the orange tint of this image already gives it the look of being surrounded by fire. On top of that, the pendant is out-of-focuas, which means that I have the focus on the fire instead, as I will be combining this image with one from Photo-Shoot #10.

Image #3

Oe of the images I captured during Photo-Shoot #10 shows a burst of flames rising upward, and this particular burst of flames resembles a creature/skeleton such as a dragon. With this in-mind, I decided to combine it with this Photo-Shoot #1 image of the dragon pendant, as though to imply that the pendant gives one the power to summon a dragon made of fire, or something of the like.

In Photoshop, I used the 'eraser' tool to remove most of the background from the pendant image, and put the fire image on top of it. Then, I "erased" the fire that was covering the left side of the pendant in order to make it look as though the "fire dragon" is wrapping itself around the pendant.

Overall, I quite like this image as the fire, resembling a dragon, and the pendant of the two dragons work really well together. The colours already matched due to the filter I used when capturing the image of the pendant, and the framing leaves the bottom-right corner empty as "looking room", making the image not seem too hectic.

Artist Research - Stokkete

In this image, we see a man with a bow, aiming an arrow at something with trees and smoke surrounding him. The man is wearing a gas mask, and modern clothing, thus implying that this is not in the past, but in the present, or perhaps even in the future. I found this set of images whilst searching for 'Post-Apocalyptic' themed photographs on the Internet, so it could be that the man is fighting for survival in a dystopian world and is aiming at his prey or an enemy. The things I really like about this image are the colour filters that will most likely have been added in Photoshop, and the smoke, which will also most likely have been added in Photoshop. These two factors make the image very atmospheric; the smoke implies "destruction", "decay", and "ruin", whilst the orange and turquoise colours imply "fire", and "emptiness". Together they create a 'Post-Apocalyptic' atmosphere.

Similarly, this image uses smoke and 'colour correction' to create the atmosphere. With this image, however, one does not get such a sense of hostility when looking at it as he/she does with the first image. The reasons for this are that the camera angle is different and is now not a mid-shot from in-front of the model, but it is now a full-body-shot from the side of the model. Due to the shot being taken from the side, we cannot see the model's face/mask as clearly, nor is he/she aiming his/her bow near to the camera. We feel less threatened when looking at this image because the model is aiming upwards and away from us (the camera), whereas in the first one he/she is aiming very close to the camera as well as the view being closer to him/her, thus making the first image more intense. This is much like the work of Dmitrijs Bindemanis, wherein he completely changes the way his images are interpreted by slightly changing one or two small things, such as lighting, whilst keeping the shot practically the same.

In drastic contrast, we feel as though the model is now the one at risk in this image, as opposed to being the all powerful hunter(ess). The 'colour correction' is quite different in this image as it is a mix of yellow/orange and green. The model also isn't in the smoke, but he is instead surrounded by it. The framing of the image puts the model to the left side of the image, instead of being central like in the others, thus furthermore implying that he is now vulnerable. On top of that, the model's posture is different; he/she is no longer standing up-right, but is hunched forward slightly, which suggests that he/she is being cautious and might be somewhat fearful.

Photomontage

Using my knowledge of merging images together to create a completely new and different one from my Foundation Portfolio, I am going to experiment with capturing several different images and merging them to create a fantastical piece.

I will be using this technique to create the 'Terminator'-inspired image, and most likely others after that. The reason I am doing this is because 'Fantasy' sets can be quite complex and difficult to build physically altogether as one set. Doing this will allow me to be more imaginative, and practice my skills in Photoshop.