Gimp 4: Changing Context

Assignment Description:
This assignment was developed to inspire creativity within ourselves as we were instructed to take a picture of the school and digitally add objects to change the context of our photo. By using pictures from the internet and many tools in Gimp we were able to alter the photo in unexpected ways.

Picture:

This was originally a simple shot of the outside of one of the stairwells in our school. I wanted to set the building in a mystical-looking environment by placing it inside a cave thriving with lush rain forest vegetation and ghostly birds.













What I Learned:
I learned how to use layers to create multiple parts of a picture. I also used the scale and perspective tools to change the different elements in an attempt to get a pleasing balance of objects. I messed around with the opacity of different layers to create the allusion of transparency, and used color saturation to make certain hues pop.

Still Life

Assignment Description:
This particular type of photography focuses on displaying an item in a pleasing fashion. The goal is to create a picture that could be used as an advertisement in a magazine. It is essential to consider the elements of composition and to create the appropriate exposure to create a good photo.

Best Picture:

This is a picture of a perfume bottle. I placed green foliage around the product to add additional visual interest to the picture and used a flashlight to create a controlled lighting.In manual mode I was able to self-adjust the exposure triangle, with an aperture of 2.8, a shutter speed of 1/15, and an ISO of 100. I needed these settings to ensure a proper exposure in such a low-light situation.

Slide Show:



What I Learned:
I learned how much time it takes for professional photographers to create an advertisement. Each photo I took required multiple adjustments to the lighting, settings, and positions to finally take a good picture. It forced me to learn a little patience.

Gimp Assignment 3: Panoramic

Assignment Description:
This project was designed to introduce us to a new form of photography. By combining separate pictures with 10-20% overlap, you can create a wide angle view of the environment. We were instructed to take three pictures of the same place, with a 10-20% overlap between photos, then upload them into Gimp where we used multiple layers to seamlessly combine them into one cohesive picture.

Photo:

This is the photo I worked on. I took three pictures of an outdoor courtyard on the school grounds with a slight overlap. (I also used a tripod to ensure minimal differentiation between photos.) Then I uploaded them into the computer, and through gimp altered each to be combined together.

What I Learned:
In this assignment I learned how to create a panoramic view through multiple photos. I learned how to use The shear, scale, and perspective tools that help seamlessly combine these photos. I also learned how to adjust the color levels and sanitation despite the obstacle of multiple layers. I dis howevere have a difficult time getting the overall perspective correct.

Nature Pictures

Assignment Description:
In this assignment we were told to capture on image that expressed something special about the environment in which we live.  We were to tell a story about the outside world through our subject and its surroundings, using the elements of composition to enhance our photos.

Best Photo:

This is a picture of a budding tree in my backyard. I wanted to show the richness of spring through the redness off the buds, and use the darker background to contrast that color. I had the Shutter speed fast, around 1/125, and an aperture at 2.8, for I wanted to counter the lack of light the shutter would let in as well as create a nice depth of field.

Slide Show:



What I Learned: I learned how to see nature in a more artistic way than before. I now look for pictures that display a mood or feeling within viewers, and I pay more attention to compositional elements. Many time I try to off-center a subject, or alter the lighting to get a better photo. I also used gimp to touch up the coloring of the buds to get a little more contrast.

Gimp 2:Car Assignment

Assignment Description:
This project was an introduction to the various tools available in the Gimp program. We learned how to adjust things like color, sharpness, and text, and were shown new tools like the cloning tool and the select lasso. These allow an artist to adjust raw photos to get a more artistic final result.

Before:

After:

 What I Learned:
I learned through this project how to digitally edit photographs using a wide variety of tools. They allow me to insert/remove shadows and highlights, adjust color hues, and transform a normally ok picture into an intriguing one. I learned how to use the cloning tool (which takes a selected area and inserts that color into a different area to remove blemishes) and the lasso ( which selects parts of your photo) to create sleeker looking pictures.

Marco Photo Assignment

Assignment Description:
This project focused on adjusting the camera for marco settings; a setting that helps photographers take up-close pictures. These are often photos of flowers or insects, objects that are small and don't turn out well under normal zoom settings. It allows the photographer to get within close proximity of the subject, creating a crisper image.

Best Photo:

This is a photograph of a flower following the conclusion of a rainstorm. I wanted to focus in on the water collected within the petals as well as the water droplet in the upper right area. Using my own camera, I had to be in auto mode in order to get this shot, so I don't know the exact aperture, shutter speed, or ISO settings. I do know however that it was marginally sunny, thus the aperture was larger (number) and the shutter speed was a little slower in order to compensate.

Photo Slide Show:




Summary:
Because I had to use my own camera with limited settings, I had a difficult time getting the camera to clearly focus in on the subject.  My best photo is admittedly blurry, but clearly displays the water as I wanted it to. I learned that the Macro setting on simple cameras do not produce magazine-quality photos, however they are adequate for everyday use. I also learned how to edit photos within Gimp.

Gimp Assignment 1: Pop Art

This assignment was to introduce us to digital photograph editing. Within the gimp program, we learned how to adjust the size of the image, alter the coloring, and add special effects to modify the original. We were instructed to perform all these tasks, as well as create a collage of multi-colored images in a representation of Pop Art.

I learned how digitally alter images through gimp. I now know how to crop an image, adjust the coloring, and rearrange the image to a position I want. This will allow me to perform the same tasks on other images, creating "better" photographs using digital programs.