Photoshop for each Series

The breakdown of how I edited the final pictures for each shoot, what I wished I had done differently and what I have learnt: (Some of the images are not included as the photographers edited them themselves)

Catharsis - Due to the lighting in my bathroom, the images came out looking quite saturated which didn't go with the theme of the photoshoot. I used the levels and the burn tool to darker areas of the images such as the eyes, hair and makeup. Using the colour balance tool I made the images have more of a blue and green tone to settle down the orange and red tones on the skin. I also used the saturation tool and toned it done slightly more. 

I corrected some of the skin due to the water taking it off and smudging the lipstick. If I was to do this makeup another time I would change use a more water friendly and oil based product so it stayed on longer and wasn't as effected by the water. 

I am happy with the editing of the images as I think they project the feel of the concept successfully. If I could edit the pictures again I would write down the exact things I did to change them all exactly the same as I feel some of the images look like they have a different tone and colour balance. 

Caged - These images were shot by Hayley who used a particular setting on her camera so the images came out with a blue tone. The only editing I did on this was to brighten certain parts of the body and backgrounds they came out darker. For this I used the level tool and the brighten tool. I added a slight green colour balance to the images to add more character.

I love the tones of these images however if I was to edit these images again I would have increased the saturation as I feel when they have been printed they lost the colour of the lips. This may have been the format of the images though I could have changed this on photoshop too. I also wish I had edited the models tattoos out on her arm as I don't think they go well with this theme and seem unnecessary.

Estrangement - Originally I only retouched the face using the eraser tool and the airbrush tool. I removed the shadows under her eyes which could not be covered with makeup to make her look more fresh and innocent. I also turned down the saturation again to make the lighting more flattering and to bring out her eye colour. I kept the images similar throughout, though after having a meeting with Sharon she explained how I needed to change the images as the series goes on. They should reflect an on going and gradual change throughout. 

I googled how to add a cracked effect on the face and found a youtube video was very helpful. I had ever done this before so I found it quite difficult at first. 

I found an image on google of a cracked texture and then added a layer on top of my images. I merged the two together by changing the exposure of the cracked picture. I then realised that you could see the cracks on the background as well as the face so I selected the background and made a new layer. I then made the background around the face the top layer hiding the cracks underneath.

I think due to this being the first time I have ever edited my images like this before I did quite a good job though if I was to do it again I would get help from someone around me who could show me how to make it more realistic. It would also make the cracks around the eyes and lips look more realistic as I left a few cracks on the eyeball which I was unsure of how to remove. 

Technology - This photoshoot was an added extra into the final edit of the magazine. I wasn't sure if I was going to include in the final edit after having a meeting with my tutors but I thought due to the influence which technology has on modern society and more importantly on our relationships. I wanted the angle of these images to be objective - I cropped many of the images so you could only see certain parts of the body and face. The image above shows how she is playing with the chord of the phone which symbolises anxiety and shows tensions. I cropped most of the images so they would on focus on specific things e.g. an eye, the smudged makeup. The colour was brightened on photoshop which reflects a virtual world. Technology opens us until another reality therefore the colour popping in these images contrasts strongly against all the other shoot within the magazine. I use the colour balance tool, the crop tool and also the levels tool to highlight and shadow specific parts of the images. 

I think now I have cropped and edited these images to suit the theme, they look better as a series. If I was to reedit the pictures I would learnt how to make the background all one colour and remove the shadow as I think that is one thing that lets them down.

Distorted  Memory - This was the first shoot I did, and really it is one of the most important due to it's dark nature. It is all about how breakup can take you to the darkest places you have ever been on an emotional level. It is one which is very personal to me due to the mental health aspect and also taking in what I have heard from others about their experiences with anxiety and depression afterwards. The word distorted matches the editing of this particular image.

Similar to the technology series, I cropped the images so you didn't see the model's full face but you got a feeling and emotion from the cropped image.

With this one I copied the layer and then used a tool to move it slightly to one side. I changed the transparency so it made the image appear blurry. I enhanced the colour of her lips and highlighted the skin and parts of the hair. 

If I was to edit these pictures again I would have played around by merging the images together rather than merging two together so they have more depth and look more artistic. 

Dream - The theme of this series was to create imagery of that represented a dreamlike state that you go in when you through a break up. I desaturated the images and enhanced the colours in the back ground. Due to his skin tone and bleach blonde hair the images came out which dark so I used the levels tool and airbrush tool to make his skin appear a tone lighter. 

If I was to reedit these picture I was merge them together and play around with layers making him blurry, making the background blurry. I would also enhanced the eyeshadow around his eyes highlighting it making it stand out more as I lost of a lot of the colour due to desaturation. 

Lust - I played around with the levels and darkened the eye makeup, enhanced the lip colouring and lightened her hair. Due to the model having quite bad skin on the day, I had to use the airbrush tool and clone tool over her spots around her chin and her forehead. I didn't want to overdo the editing on the skin though as I did want to still be able to see the pores and texture on her face. Like the edit above a cloned the same image and put them together to enhance the sexual nature and femininity of her facial expression and poses. If could edit the images again I would airbrush her arms and boobs. Due to the lighting reflecting off parts of her arms and her fake tan lines, it has caused a significant colour difference which I find quite noticeable.  

Euphoria - These images explore the feelings of Euphoria you feel when you fall in love. I only edited the colour balance and levels on this photoshoot to enhance the pink of the hair. In retrospect I wish I'd have played around a lot more in post production for these images because due to the theme of them, I could have had a lot of freedom with merging and blending images together. I also put a lot of glitter over the skin which the lighting has covered up therefore I could have edited the pictures again I would have added glitter over the face and body to make it more interesting looking. I love the pink colour of the hair and how much it pops against her skin tone. 

Renewal - To go with the theme of 'renewal' I only edited one of these images blurry to symbolise a change which maybe physical or emotional. Physically you may change your appearance, change your hair style or colour, or even after the trauma you may not have cared about your appearance before hand but you become more confident and take more pride in how you look. The other images I used the level tool and enhanced the highlights and shadows on the face and in the eyes. 
If I could edit the pictures again I would have played around with edited the face, maybe using the clone tool to make the head look like it was opened slighty or made her eyes bigger so it was commenting upon the internal changes as well as the external. 

INK - On these images I edited the skin as the model had quite a lot of visible pores around his nose. I also used the level tool against to highlight his tattoos along side the burn tool to make them stand out more against his skin. I changed the colour balance to enhance the colours within his tattoos also making them appear more prominent on his skin. 

If I could reedit these pictures I would play around more with cropping making the focus completely on the tattoos and not so much on the back ground. I would also make the background one block colour as you can see the shadows behind him. I would also edit under his eyes less as you can see it has been photoshopped on his face. 

3 Step Guide - Not a lot of editing went in to these images as the models skin was flawless, I just added highlights using the lighten tool and and shadows with the burn tool. Due to the theme of these images I didn't want to over edit them e.g. make the hair look tidier or take the darkness from under her eyes as I feel it adds character and personality to the series. 

If I could reedit these ones I would made the nail varnish perfect as they look slighting chipped and uneven. Especially because these final images went to print for the front cover. 

All around I have taught myself a lot about photoshop through the process of editing these pictures with merging, airbrushing and highlighting. There are changes which I would make now after seeing them and I would have asked the advice of someone more photoshop savvy than myself, although I am happy with what I have learnt doing them alone. 

W/B 21st April

This week I met up with Aysha the graphic designer, and had a look over the extra things I need to send her as well as the layout and text so far. It was looking good however, all the fonts were the same for each section and I was wanting different typography and layout for each series with coloured fonts and illustrative designs for each title. 
We both decided on a front cover, though when I viewed it this week she has chosen the one she preferred rather than the one I wanted to I have given her a list of things to change before it goes to printing at the end of the week because I start back working on this TV program...

Unfotunately my laptop fan has broken so I am without a laptop for week. That is going to cost me between £50 - £70 so I am having to go into the library to send over the rest of the work to Aysha and I'm currently blogging on my iPhone.  I also have another job working on someone's FMP on a live music project which will take two days off my timetable however it is a really good opportunity.

I need to:
Send her my foreword 
Send her the added illustrations
Find a professional printing list
Invoice my job to get the money for printing
Take laptop into shop to be fixed
Meet with Aysha to get the final PDF file

She needs to:
Change fonts for each series
Add in her illustrations and the one I send over 
Proof read all written work and make sure everything makes sense, spelt correctly etc
Design a spine 

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I met up with Aysha and collected my FMP on a memory stick, though I still haven't received my laptop back yet I'm also working 4 days therefore I am having go to the printers with the final copy without proof reading it. I am sure it will be fine as she said she has proof read it all and changed all the points I made in the previous meeting so I am confident but still nervous!

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Finding a printers
Myself and Olta drove around Southampton and Eastleigh to get quotes on how much our work will cost to print as well as deciding on the type and style of paper.
The first place we went to was called indigo in Southampton which is where Third Floor Magazine gets printed (the uni magazine) which I know is decent quality, however I am aware will cost more than other places. Luckily I am getting paid for this TV job therefore that will pay for my printing and paying Aysha. 
Indigo told us they are not willing to print between 1-3 copies as they are only printing big bulks of 100's or 1000's. We were told to email him over our work so he could look over it though we doubted we would hear anything back.

The second place we went to was on London Road called The Colour Company. First off we went in and described the kind of print we wanted, had a look over paper finishing and their weights. I was told if I wanted it perfect bound it would cost me £4000 which obviously I thought was a joke, but he was being serious. The only other option we were given was stapled down the side and I was quoted around £200 for that. 

The third place we went to was also on London Road but called Southampton Design and Print. As we walked in we saw other students had been there previously as there was a collection of projects on the table. We looked through the work and thought the quality was good, however the books had been glued together therefore over time some had started to come a part. This was the best quality we had seen all day though were not sure about the binding. I was quoted between £180-£200 for three copies. 

The final place we drove to was called Diguru in Eastleigh. We had heard about this place from other students, so we drove there with our final copies of our work. The showed us their previous work, we spoke out papers etc. We were there for just over 45 minutes until we were both completely happy with our choices. We were told we would get a quote via email the morning after and to leave a PDF of our work. All together we came away feeling more confident and satisfied with getting our work printed there. 

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The final quote from Diguru was £225 for three copies which I am happy to pay due to the quality and they will also be ready to collect on the 2nd of May at 4pm which is good due to other submissions and working on top on other projects. 

W/B 14th April

Here are two other photoshoot I did which I am have decided not to include in the final print. 

The first one shows possession. I started with a classic beauty look and through out the shoot the makeup became darker and more gothic eventually making the model look like she was possessed. There was a time in my breakup where I thought I was going crazy. This is an extreme version of this experience. 

This symbolises how the break up can make you feel out of control and unhinged. 

Here are a couple of examples after editing...

I was happy with the beauty looks at the start though I did not give myself enough time to develop the makeup throughout the shoot. If I was to redo this shoot I would have different lighting, not as exposed as I had to change the lighting on photoshop quite a lot. I think the standard of makeup for possession isn't as good as I could have done if there was more preparation in the final look of possession. I would want to redo this shoot however, for the final edit I don't feel I have enough time to add it in. 

Changes:

• Change studio lighting and photography style
• Use a different model with a less 'classic beauty' look - someone with an unconventional face
• Draw up makeup - face charts, moodboard

Shop for styling and props 


The second shoot I did was a bare makeup look which would represent the a complete stripped back appearance uncovering raw emotions and symbolise the final break down and hold of the girls life. 

I had a period of time where the world around me felt like it had stopped. I had gone through the whole going out, drinking, keeping myself busy, however before the shoot I did with Dan memory, I had to completely stop and have a few days where I needed to be alone and think. 

Here are a couple of examples of the final edited images that I made.

All round I think the model looks beautiful, however I think if I was to reshoot this look I would use a different model with larger facial features and a quirkier face. I love the colour of her hair though I would have done more with it i.e. a messy up do. I would have also done this shoot on location in a light bedroom making her look alone and giving more depth to the series. 

Changes

• Lighting and location - natural lighting from large window in a bedroom
• Model- messy hair same colour, different model with larger facial features for more emotion
• Less photoshop editing and more of a change from shot to shot 

S.E.X

S.E.X 11th April 2014

This shoot is inspired after a break up when many people have a phase of having many sexual partners. In a way this can a way they think they will cope if they have sexual relations with many others to lose themselves for a while and to experience pleasure. 

This phase can be extremely damaging and in fact cause you more pain than pleasure. 

I wanted to use a model which had sex appeal, with striking face and hair cut.

Below is the moodboard I created for the makeup and hair

The whole idea for this series is to show a strong sexual female presence, having her blonde hair straight and slick over one of her eyes. The eye makeup will be dark and contrasting against the pale skin of the model.

The lips and eye were the main focuses for the shoot, with the makeup being overly defined, striking and glossy.

Here is one of the final images I was sent by my photographer. The shoot took place in the makeup studios at uni with a white background on an afternoon. My model arrived at 2pm and I was to have the makeup ready and set up by 3pm latest. The photographer was due at 3pm, however turned up 2 hours late without a cable to attach the camera to the light. Luckily I had a friend who could lend me the cable, however I was disappointed due to the fact that the makeup and hair wasn't fresh and styled ready to shoot, and I had to wait until 5pm that evening for her to come. 

I was extremely happy with the images as the model looked stunning and it was very hair orientated which I felt I needed in my magazine. The photographer has taken the pictures home with her and said she would edit them and send them over ready for printing. 

I'm now just waiting for them to be sent over and I need to find the text to go with this series.

To do: 

• Find appropriate quotes and text for each shoot done so far
• Write my own for the shoots which have been inspired by my memories and experiences 
• Import these images into inDesign and meet up with graphic designer

W/B 7th April

My back is on the mend and I am finally able to move around the flat comfortably. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get back to work although I have only missed one days filming and I will hopefully be back and able to work in two weeks time (when they have next scheduled the filming dates).  

I have been emailing Aysha, the graphic designer and she had laid out the file onto inDesign and is working on my typography. So far we have been communicating everyday and working well together. She had sent me 6 examples of front covers which she has designed with different layouts, fonts and images as the cover so we have been discussing which we both think works the best. 

I have found a friend who has created an illustration for my magazine which will add a more artistic and personal flare to the magazine. She has sent me a large copy of the image via email and to the correct format.

I have written my acknowledgments to put in the back of the magazine before the final credits thanking those who have been involved and helped me along the way.

I have taken diary entries from last year and as inspiration and written the final drafts for all my own sections within the magazine. 

I have paired up the best writing I have been sent over to the matching and similar editorial images so the magazine flows better as a whole. 


To do:
Proof read all writing, write up foreword for magazine and send over all finished face charts and product lists to Aysha to put on the final file

W/B 31st March

I am currently working as a wig specialist for a production company making a documentary called 'Briton, The Road To Modernity', therefore I have been busy working with this a few days a week on top of editing my images, researching and writing this reflective journal. The days which I am filming have to be completely dedicated to that project however, my evenings and days off I focus on my website and final major project. 
Having a schedule had been so important for me to be able to organise myself and my work load. 

I sent out an email last week about finding a graphic designer and she has sent me her portfolio which looks really good, and due to my work load with this job I wouldn't have been able to complete things to the standard I am hoping to get. We have spoken over email and I have sent her over a brief along with a PDF of my layout and images. 

This Saturday evening my back went very badly and I had to get an ambulance sent to my flat therefore I have been off work this week as well as on high doses of medication making it hard to create any work which is of a good standard and makes sense. The recovery rate is between 4-8 weeks therefore I will run over my deadline however, thankfully I have sent a brief over to my graphic designer and to my friends who are writing their pieces for my magazine. This week I am concentrating on recovering and trying to piece together my website. 

To Do:
Keep on top of the work which my graphic designer is doing
Proof read and read over each piece I have been sent by friends and people I know 
Find illustrations which I want to include in my magazine

Ink

Ink 31st March 2014

This shoot shows the reflection stage after the break up, where some people may decorate their bodies in order to commemorate loved ones or to symbolise their strength in life.

The model who I am waiting to use had many tattoos all symbolising people in his life who have meant a lot whether he has unfortunately lost them of they are still in his life, he uses his body as a canvas and decorates it in a way he wants to.

Here is the moodboard I created below which will show the kind of theme and style I want to create for my magazine. This one will contrast to any other as I will be using a topless male model. I don't want a sexual vibe with the pictures, I want it to look intimate and personal showing emotion and art. 

To do:

• Edit these images with the correct tone and lighting 
• Write a piece to go with this series - interview the model?
• Send them over to the graphic designer 

Here are the final images below. I am happy with the model and the simplicity although i wish I had done that on location for a more intimate feel e.g. a bedroom or a living area which had natural lighting. I also wish I had more a range of angles to chose from, though I will only use two images from this shoot in my final copy. 

Renewal

Renewal - 29th of March 2014

This shoot was created to represent the renewal period after the breakup. The makeup is designed show to the shedding of any anger, bad feeling where you feel like you have developed within yourself during the heeling process. 

Below is the face chart of the makeup and hair I will create to represent the renewal stage. On the side of the face I will either use latex and gelatin or tissue paper and PVA glue. 

The melting of the skin on the side will look almost like she is shedding her skin, removing all the negative from the break up and moving on in a positive way. 

The black eye with a tear symbolises the removal of the pain and dark memories within yourself, moving on to a happier place.

This makeup has been created based on a piece of writing which was sent to me by a close friend who shared her experience with me on the pain of her breakup and relationship but also how she felt she has developed a person. She speaks about the positives which she has taken from her experience...

Below is a behind the scenes image from the shoot, I wanted the whole vibe of the shoot to be very avant garde looking, with dark styling and a clinical background.

Changes:
If was going to change this shoot at all I would make the styling more prominent, matching up with the makeup and setting better. I would add fake nails giving more of an edge and link between the styling and the makeup. I would also get more a variation of angles taken so each shot would be more contrasting.

3 Steps To Wake Up From A Breakup

2nd April 2014 

I wanted to create a light, classic beauty shoot to go with the column which Imogen Coleman sent me. The article is lightweight, fun but still speaks the truth. I think it is the best article to end to magazine on as it ends on a positive and relatable not.

I chose the model Darcy as she has a laid back appearance. Her face is a beautiful but she has charisma and you can see her personality through her facial expressions.

The bright colour of her eyes also adds character. 

Because of the theme of the article, I wanted to mirror that laid back and relaxed approach through the images. The styling is all white and represents her personal rebirth and innocence after the breakup with a fresh feel.  

The oversized white shirt bright a sexual vibe to the images which related to the theme of the article too.

 The makeup looks simple, with slight contouring and shading to add character and shape to her face. I have also used a highlighter and used three shades of foundation to create a fresh look.

Her eyebrows and hair is slighting messy and rough to reflect she has been through a breakup but this contrasts against her flirty poses and facial expression. 

The whole aura of this shoot is 'the calm after the storm' and that was I was hoping to reflect the whole magazine at the end with this photoshoot. 

Below is a face chart that I create prior to the shoot to show the hair and makeup.

I used Hayley Rorrison for her photography as I wanted a stylish and simplistic style. The shoot went well though due to the small size of the studio in the makeup room we were unable to get the full length shots we planned to get as there was a shadow from the models hips down.

Changes:

If I could reshoot I would use the larger basement studios for more freedom with poses and lengths of shot. I would also put a gloss on her lips for a contrasting texture compared to the matt of her clothing and skin.

All round I am really happy with the makeup, hair and styling and the images as a whole. They project the emotions and feelings I was aiming to create and will go well with the article.

Here is an example of one of the unedited pictures on the camera from the day.

Memory

Memory - 26th March 2014

I created this shoot idea as a way to show how, after a breakup, you can experience a period of time where you are just getting on with day to day life. Just living. Not really existing. I wanted the location and look of the pictures to come across like the model was living in a dream. 

I found the location just down the road from me, and I wanted this particular chapter to be modeled by a male. I have found a model who suits the kind of style I am wanting, a very strong face but with a pixie style with bleach blonde short hair and a brown eyes. He is also a stylist which kills two birds with one stone in a sense. 

Below are you images I found online which inspired me to shoot this with photographer Sammie Emmott, who is a photographer (contrasting to the others who specialise in fashion photography).

Here is the face chart I created, I want the makeup to be subtle and have tones of pinks and purples to contrast against the styling and location but compliment his skin tone and hair colour. 

The styling of the shoot will be textured clothing to, again, contrast with background.

I have had a meeting with the model/stylist and spoken about the kind of feel I am wanting to create with the shoot so he will be organizing different looks. 

I also met with the photographer to discuss lighting, location and set up for the shoot, we are possibly going to be using fairy lights in the background around the trees to create more mood and feeling. 

All round, from what I saw the images looked beautiful on camera. However, during the shoot, the sun did go down earlier than we planned to finish therefore we were using Phones as extra lighting. Next time we should take out a lighting kit in case, or to give ourselves more time. 

I loved the styling of the images and it look a lot of pressure off my back so I could focus for on his poses, the makeup, placing within the location and how they were being photographed - so giving sammie guidance on what I was wanting to create. 

Sammie was brilliant and the pictures looked really good - I also found I prefer working on locations because it gives you more depth and feel to the images- also I think it effects the mood and vibe of the shoot as a whole.

To do: 

• Edit these images, get them sent from Sammie to my dropbox
• Add them onto inDesign 
• Look at the order which I wanting each series to go in

Here is one of the final images before my editing - I think I am going to de-saturate them and make them have more subtle colouring...

Behind the scenes images from the shoot