1. HOW EFFECTIVE WAS YOUR CHOICE OF IMAGES AND THE RETOUCHING TECHNIQUES USED IN YOUR IMAGES? WHY?
Throughout my portfolio, I ensured to include a variety of subject matters. I knew that it would be viewed by multiple people and tried to include something that everyone would like. In my original portfolio images, I had a few studio shots, so this time, I tried to illustrate the difference between studio and location photography, which alters the lighting. As a result, I feel that I show a variety of strengths across different areas of photography.
I kept editing to a minimum. I was afraid of overediting, plus, I didn’t want to ruin my images either. Keeping minimum editing meant that I was forced to like my original images and be critical on them with editing, and ensure I use correct camera settings.
2. HOW EFFECTIVE WAS YOUR CHOICE OF PRESENTATION AND LAYOUT OPTIONS WERE IN CREATING VISUAL IMPACT? WHY?
When it came to creating my canvas, I kept a consistent layout - I had aligned all my images to almost an identical size. This is with the help of the portfolio template found on my city. Majority of my canvases were portrait, with the one exception of a landscape. I didn’t have any triptychs or diptychs because I wanted to remain this consistency across my images. My images have a stroke around them, of 6px and black in colour, which is much more evident in the studio shots with a white background - it centres the photo better.
3. HOW EFFECTIVE WAS YOUR CHOICE OF PRINT PROCESS USED? WHY?
In imaging in block one, we were slowly introduced to Bridge, Lightroom and Photoshop, to create a work flow. For my portfolio, I have found myself to use all three softwares, for different purposes.
To select my final images, I used bridge. I had created a folder with all my potential images, then viewed them on bridge. This enabled me to zoom into my images to check for sharpness and compare them, and then use the star rating system to rate them.
To edit, I used Lightroom. I prefer editing them in Lightroom than camera raw because I find that the software is laid out neater and I can navigate it better. Here, I played around with saturation, sharpness, contrast, highlights and shadows, and exposure where necessary. It also has an option to view your before and after images which helps compare the two images.
Finally, I used photoshop. This is where I create the canvases for print. I downloaded a portfolio canvas template from my city and I used this - it made positioning the photos easier because it meant that all the canvases were almost identical. I also sharp further for print. Under Nik Collection, there is the option to sharpen for output. This function helps increase the sharpness of the image so that no detail is lost post-printing.
I went to Deadly Digital for my final prints. They had been recommended by the college so I took onboard their recommendation. I printed my A3 prints onto permajet gloss paper which has a beautiful finish, and images appear sharp and colours pop.
4. HOW WOULD YOU IMPROVE ON ANY OF THE MANY STEPS/CHOICES YOU MADE IN RETOUCHING, LAYOUT AND PRINTING OF YOUR IMAGES?
Reflecting upon my portfolio, I think I would include more portraits. At first, I didn’t want to include too many, however, looking at it now, I only have 2. I feel I maybe should’ve included another studio portrait shot to portray my ability to work with lighting - I have a 45 degree lighting but apart from that, my other portrait was taken in natural lighting.
With my Nardinis shot, I wish that I had increased the saturation. Whilst being printed, it lost some of its original bright, vibrant colours so my saturation must not have been high enough.
Overall, I am quite content with my final images. Since beginning NC, I have seen quite a leap in terms of my progress, and believe that some of my images are quite strong. I have been able to identify my strengths and weaknesses, which has enabled me to select my final images.
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