4. Production Experiment FMP

1. Experiments
By Libby Whitehorn

2. Tutorials
Before I started experimenting with photography, I thought
it would be a good idea to research into tutorials so that I
had a basic understanding of lighting and how to create
different depths and shadows on the model. When It came
to doing this, I found it difficult because I had different
resources to use from what they used on the video. For
example, they have a filters light, which helps concentrate
the light in one place. Where as, when I used lights they
weren't filtered, which lead to me using reflectors to block
and reflect different coloured lights.
The tutorial was helpful with understanding how to position
the lights, but I found it difficult to put it into practice.
In this tutorial they were using one light to help gather
shadow and depth. The lights i worked with were classed
as three point light system. This meant i had more lights to
reflect and work with. This is why i struggled with getting
shadows for my work due to how well lite the room was.
Due to this, i experimented with turning different lights off
which made my exposure for my photos both negative and
positive. This will come in handy for my final project
because i am wanting to create a horror dvd cover and
poster. This is why i need to understand how to create
different shadows on my models faces. This is so when it
comes to photoshop, i can darken and create a more
thrilling effect.

3. Photography Experiments

4. Photography Experiments
Within the experimenting stages, I practiced with lighting
and photography. These are two photos which I got
good exposure with. This made the photo clear but also
added depth and an interesting shadow effect. The first
photo was a basic and clear photo. You can see some
depth within the white screen, which shows the lights
should have been brighter to make the overall photo
brighter. However, the slight shadow creates some
depth and makes the photo look more detailed. With the
lighting I used the three point light system. These
consisted of three stages: key light, fill light and back
lights. The key light lights the scenery, which for both of
the photos I should of increased the brightness so the
background was bright for both. This would of caused
the overall photo to have less shadow. The better
exposure picture is the one displayed at the top.
However, the background could of done with more
lighting due to it showing a few shadows. The photo
displayed at the bottom is well lit. However, the exposure
isn't the best on the left hand side. This causes the shadows
to look too dark which makes the photo less clear. There is
also a slight shadow on the background. This should of been
lit better again. This will help me in my final project due to
understanding how to use the lights for the best exposure, as
well as how to create a slight shadow. This will come in
handy due to the film I'm making being a horror which means
the photos need shadows and depth.

5. Photography Experiments

6. Photography Experiments
With in this experimenting stage i explored how to
use the camera and looked into which would be
the best way to gather different exposures on the
camera. As you can see from these two photos,
these were the photos that gathered too much
exposure and cause the image to be unclear and
not effective. From the top photo you can see
every aspect has been lit too much. This has
disorientated the image by over exposing the top
and the face. This makes the model look like they
haven't got a clean and crisp out line. For the
bottom photo, i tried to experiment which adding
shade in. However, in the process i managed to
cause a overlap of over exposure. The shadow
works well on the right had side, due to it making
the image clear and adds depth in her facial
features. However, the left hand side of the photo,
it has overexposed on her neck which again,
disorientates the image. This again makes the
model not look clear and crisp. In my final project,
i will make sure to make sure the lights are at the
accurate level, so when it comes to production it
wont cause any issues. It will also help with time
management.

7. Photography Experiments/Photoshop:
With this section, i experimented with both
photoshop and photography. As you can see the
first photo was the original. The first photo wasn't
well lite. This was because i was trying to use the
reflector so tried to dim the lights, to create a golden
shimmer on the model. From the lighting been bad, i
though i would experiment with changing the lighting
on photoshop to see what would happen. As you
can see the photo that was taken was clear, but
after brightening the photo, it create a really well lit
and good exposure picture. This will work for my
final project, because if i take a over exposed or
under exposed photo, i can edit it on photoshop to
make it clear. After making the photo lighter, i
decided to create a black and white effect. This was
because i am creating a horror genre film for my
final major project. I felt like dark colours and colour
scheme would help display a more gothic style. I felt
like the black and white worked well, which i feel like
would apply to my final project better.

8. Photoshop Experiment:
With in the experimental stage, I have tried to create
different gothic styled photos. This is because I am
wanting to create a horror film. This is why I am
experimenting with gothic styles. In this photo, I have
changed the main image to black and white so that it
would make it easier to darken and add depth. I feel
like I could of made the image lighter, so that the
model wasn’t as dark. In the future, I will play around
with lightening the image more. This would make the
piece more effective. I also, cut the main image out of
the model using the quick selection tool. I feel like I cut
the model out well, due to making the edges smooth
and less robotic.
This is because I adapted the hardness of the brush, which gave it a soft after effect. I then found a
background, which I lightened in colour. This was so the model didn’t blend into the background as much,
causing the image to be disorientated. Even though I brightened the background, I feel like this still needs
improving so the overall effect is smoother. Another tool I used on the model, which helped with the bruised
and beaten effect was the burn tool. The burn tool was used to contour different aspects of the models face,
hair and clothes. What this tool does is darken the shadows that are already present. What I did is contour the
face and collar bones so that it gave a zombie like effect. This creates a scary but effective appeal about the
model. It makes the model question whether to feel sympathy for her or if she was the bad guy in the first
place. The burning tool would work well with my final production project due to wanting to create a horror film.
With this tool, It helps give the model a look of starvation and horror which would be a great tool to hinder
whilst I create my final major project. This is one aspect that would be worth developing further so that is adds
more depth and interest into the photo.

9. Editing Photography/Using Photoshop:
With this experimenting stage, I have been practicing with Photoshop to
create gothic styled pieces of art. I've also been using Photoshop to
experiment with my photography I took. To start with I used the quick
selection tool to cut the model out. I feel like I could improve the cutting out
skills. This is because the edges could be smoother and softer. In the future, I
will make sure to take care with editing the edges so that it makes the overall
image clean cut. This will make my project more effective and accurate due to
making the mistakes in the experiments. I then changed the image to black
and white due to it blending with the background more. It also added a scarier
effect to the overall image, rather then leaving it coloured. This helps link into
the gothic style which will help hinder my final project due to it being a horror
genre. With the black and white, I adjusted the black and white so that it
became darker in places. I used a tool known as: levels. What this does is
hinder shadows as well as lightens the bright parts. It varies in what you
choice to adapt, which in my case was the shadows. I also darkened the
shadow, using the burn tool. This was so I could darken one half of the face
so that it created a dark and terrifying effect. After editing the main photo, I
added a background to blend out the body of the photo. This is because the
photo has been taken as half a body shot.
With wanting to place the image central, meant I had to include a background and blend the main image and the scenery
together. With the scenery I had to use the clone stamp, so that I could place the image more central. What this did is spread
the fog around and helped spread the black background further. This was so the main model image looked more central, which
added a mysterious effect with making her look smaller. From this I had to make sure the smoke went over the body. I did this
by using the masking tool. With this I used the brush tool and created other layers which required me to bring different layers
forward. This was a useful tool, due to the image I used not being ideal. However, I made it work with the smoke which created
a interest concept. This added a nice gradient effect which blurred the bottom, which was needed due to the shot being a
shoulder to head shot. I will apply this to my project by using all these tools to create a gothic and scary effect. It will make my
production effective. In the future, i will make sure i cut out the main model better. This is so it looks more accurate.

10. Editing on Photoshop to Practice Texture:
With this experimenting stage, i thought i would
practice adding texture to photos. This will be a
good skill to do for my project, due to the
disintegrating look adding a creepy ora which will
link with my horror genre. To create this effect i
found a photo online because i didn't have any
photos that i could use fro my experiments that
would make this effect effective. I then researched
into a background, which so happened to be
cracks. I then inserted both the images onto
photoshop. I then changed cut the main model out
so that she didn't have a background. This time i
took my time and made the edges less robotic and
more smooth. I did this by changing the hardness
of the brush i was using.
After cutting get model out, i clipped the photo so that the cracks became transparent on the models face/shoulders.
This gave the whole photo a layered effect, but after this i began to masque the photo. This was so i could add the
disintegrating effect to it. After masking the photos, i began to rub out the picture using different types of brushes. I
experimented with angling the brush and widening the width sizing. I feel like i could improve on where i placed the
brushed so that i could work with shading different areas,which would help add different depths to the photo.
However, for my first time experimenting with this effect, i feel like i did a effective job.
In the future, i will make sure to be more patient when it comes to erasing sections of the photo. This is so i can add
more depths and create a piece of work for my final major project, that will be scary but will include different types of
texture. This will add interest to my overall project, making it appeal to my target audience better.

11. Typography Experiment:
With this part of my experiments, i thought experimenting with
different typography would be useful for my project. This is
because i am creating a lot of different posters and dvd covers,
which contains a lot of font and different effects. To start will i was
looking into different font types which would suit a horror genre film.
This is why i have added a few spiky and disorientated texts. This
is because they add mystery as well as imply violence with the
sharpness. I’ve also included a bone looking text, which will add to
the murder or death side of the horror film i am creating. I
experimented with flipping the text upside down, so that it gives a
mirror effect. Even though this works effectively, i don't feel like it
will work with my genre film. This is because its too physiological
thriller rather then horror.
I also experimented with putting a masque onto the text. This is the
photo of ‘Libby’ with the spaghetti picture clipped onto it. What this
does is adds effect and texture to the text. This gives the text more
interest which makes it stand out more. However, i don't feel like
this would work for my final major project. This is because i am
creating a horror based film and i feel like adding a photo under the
font would make the DVD cover/poster too busy. This would
distract the audience from the overall image and suspense. I also
practiced masking with text like i did with the images previously. I
decided to used a sharp font with powders coloured paints. I felt
like this would be interest concept to work with, due to it adding a
eaten away text. What this does is adds texture but doesn't make
the don't look too busy. I felt like this worked really well so i feel like
i will include the masking aspect in either the font or text. This is
because it causes a nice disorientated effect which helps add to
the horror/mystery side of my final major project.

12. Bibliography:
1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwv7WuJOCkU (25th Of April
2018)
2) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p13FqFdgDc (25th Of April
2018)
3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_O6pbT7Ovw (25th of April
2018)
4) https://creativemarket.com/KerMod/818768-Old-Factory (25th Of
April 2018)
5) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRxcwMAdKD4&t=101s (25th
Of April 2018)
6) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4xgOWWfurpU ( 25th of April
2018)
7) http://bybarber.com.au/the-winter-beauty-edit/ (24th Of April 2018)
8) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8TytlP7ObLA (26th Of April 2018)