Revision of Assignment 9

The world of graphic design is a continuous creative process; whether it be through branding, publishing, or advertising, good design is essential to conveying important ideas and information. Visually graphic elements, typography, and interface design are the core foundation of what makes the use of graphic design successful. There has been a growth of graphics throughout the industry within the past years and new communication mediums have allowed graphic design to play a huge role in how information is communicated. A company will never be fortuitous with out a strong graphic design concept as the backbone behinds its advertising. 

Advertising relies solely on how the consumer interprets a company’s image or product. It is essential to capture the consumer’s attention in a way that not only promotes the companies image in a positive manner but leaves a lasting impact in their mind. It used to be that advertising involved scientific models of consumer research. Now, individuality and creativity through strong graphic design concepts are injected into advertising campaigns. That being said, the graphics used in advertising and marketing needs to be easy to understand as well as attention grabbing to the eye. The marketing campaigns that are successful are the ones that perfectly incorporate both of these characteristics.

There are several types of ways graphic design can be used in advertising. One of the most essential parts is the creation of logos. The established logos must convey the meaning behind the company and be easily recognizable in the public eye. Logos used to demonstrate the functional benefits of products but now are solely used for symbolic association. One simple logo holds the key to identifying the brand, conveying the intended meaning of the brand and reflecting brand value. 

Also, branding incorporates different types of graphic design in a variety of ways. Branding is how a corporation is emotionally perceived by the consumers. A company does not have a “personality;” it must earn it. The brand must be easily identified and must establish a sense of brand loyalty with the consumers.This is done by using different aspects of graphic design when conceptualizing products and packaging, signage, marketing collateral, or visual and audio communication. These techniques are all types of communication that rely on the power of brand association. 

The use of graphic design in direct relation to advertising and marketing is a strong interest to me. I know that I want to work in the artistic field that concentrates on creating identities for companies through good use of graphic design. Right now, I’m minoring in business because I know that one day I’d eventually like to work in the business side of the art realm as well. Art has always been my first love and I’ve known that I would like to work for a major corporation one day. The world of graphic design is one that will allow me to mesh both of my passions and pursue a job that deals with creative processes in corporate environments. 

Viz Topic of Interest

        The world of graphic design is a continuous creative process; whether it be through branding, publishing, or advertising, good design is essential to conveying important ideas and information. Visually graphic elements, typography, and interface design are the core foundation of what makes a graphic design piece successful. A company will never be fortuitous with out a strong graphic design concept as the backbone behinds its advertising. 

Advertising relies solely on how the consumer interprets a company’s image or product. It is essential to capture the consumer’s attention in a way that not only promotes the companies image in a positive manner but leaves a lasting impact in their mind. The graphic design used in advertising and marketing needs to be easy to understand as well as attention grabbing to the eye. The marketing campaigns that are successful are the ones that perfectly incorporate both of those characteristics.

There are several types of ways graphic design can be used in advertising. One of the most essential parts is the creation of logos. The established logos must convey the meaning behind the company and be easily recognizable in the public eye. One simple logo holds the key to identifying the brand, conveying the intended meaning of the brand and reflecting brand value. 

Also, branding incorporates different types of graphic design in a variety of ways. Branding is how a corporation is emotionally perceived by the consumers. A company does not have a “personality;” it must earn it. This is done by using different aspects of graphic design when conceptualizing products and packaging, signage, marketing collateral, or visual and audio communication. These techniques are all types of communication that rely on the power of brand association. 

The use of graphic design in direct relation to advertising and marketing is an interest to me. I know that I want to work in the artistic field that concentrates on creating identities for companies through good use of graphic design. Right now, I’m minoring in business because I know that one day I’d eventually like to work business side of the art realm as well. Art has always been my first love and I’ve known that I would like to work for a major corporation one day. The world of graphic design is one that will allow me to mesh both of my passions and pursue a job that deals with creative processes in corporate environments.  

Short Sequence Analysis

                              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wo-3x2khwZ0&hd=1

War Horse is a movie well renowned for its stunning use of cinematography. I remember sitting down in the theater to watch this movie and being blown away by the visual components in it. The scene I chose to analyze is one where the war horse is being chased, gets tangled up in barbed wire, and ends up in “no man’s land.” Camera movements, distance, scene editing, and time compression will be addressed in this analysis. 

Throughout this entire scene, the majority of the camera movement changed its position to keep up with the occurring action. All of the shots that compose of this scene have the horse as the main focal point. Since the horse is constantly moving, up until reaching the barbed wire, the camera is consistently moving as well. For the majority of the scene, tracking was used as the camera followed the horse horizontally through the obstacles it encountered. There were a couple shots that involved using a dolly as well; being when the horse was in the barracks with the soldiers and it moved towards the camera to make the audience feel as though they were part of the scene as well. Once the horse became tangled in the barbed wire, the scene became static to help emphasis the importance of the horse being trapped. 

Two camera distances were used for this sequence; a long shot and a close up shot. As this scene concentrates on the action of the horse, the long shot was used for most of it. This long shot allowed the entire body of the horse to be seen throughout, helping to build the momentum up until the horse becomes ensnared. A full close up shot was used when the horse was caught in the wire, allowing the audience to feel near the horse.

A master shot combined with smaller fragments of the scene was the style of film editing used in this sequence. The main shot involved the horse running haphazardly throughout obstacles up until the very end. Much of the camera shots stayed true to keeping a consistent feel of having the whole scene shown throughout. In order to keep in interesting, several smaller shots were intertwined that moved the camera in front of the horse instead of directly parallel to it. A good example of this is the very beginning of the sequence. The smaller shots of the front view of the horse help introduce it to the viewer before the main action begins. 

This sequence was indeed effective. It meticulously combined both fast paced action with a deep level of emotion. In order to improve upon this sequence, I would include more variety of shots when the horse is actually running. Along with having full shots and close ups, including medium close up shots would allow more detail of the horse to be shown in the middle of all the action. 

Creating a 3D Model

         3D modeling is a tedious process that requires preparation before it can actually occur. The model I’m analyzing is a set of oil bottles that were modeled for a previous class using Blender. In order to make these, reference images and concept sketches were used. Once the oil shakers were conceptualized, the actual creation of them began. 

To begin the modeling process, I placed a reference image into the 3D space in order to accurately model the bottle with the correct proportions. Next, I used a flat circle as my original shape to build on. This idea of using this circle came from the concept of box modeling, in which a simple cube provides the basis from which the object is formed. Once the circle was created, vertices were given to it. These vertices were then extruded upwards to give the shape of the bottle. Throughout this process, difference vertices were manipulated through extrusion and scaling on different axis’s in the 3D space. 

         Before I began modeling this oil bottle, I added a mirror modifier to it. This modifier allows anything modeled on a specific axis to be mirrored. The mesh of what is selected is replicated across its center point. Any changes made to the original oil bottle that I applied the modifier to would be mirrored on the bottle next to it. Once this option was in place, the different structures of the bottle were planned out. The components needed to form this oil bottle were the base of the bottle, the neck, the angular funnel part, and the container used to hold the bottles together. These components were structured in a hierarchy. The base of the bottle was defined first, followed by the neck and funnel. Once these basic shapes were all in place, horizontal and vertical loop cuts were used to help give it a more defined oil bottle shape. By continuously messing around with the vertices and loop cuts, the model took on the bottle shape I had envisioned. To give it a clean and smooth surface, a modifier was used. The subdivision surface modifier was applied to even out the choppiness and give the effect of smooth glass that would eventually be complete with the appropriate texture added. This particular modifier defines the mesh of a model used a control cage. The more subdivision levels used, the smoother the model will render out to be. 

All of these decisions were made with the intent of creating an accurate representation of an oil bottle. From conceptualization to the actual creation, each step in the process was important in producing the finalized product. 

Analysis of an Image Composition

     

       This iconic image, Raising the Flag On Iwo Jima, is one of the most celebrated photographs of all time. Visual imagery and historical culture are uniquely meshed together, making it a long standing symbol of American pride. The composition of the image projects powerfully into the mind’s eye.

A simple line, the flag pole, is what effectively unites image. The composition of this diagonal line directs the eye from the soldiers to the flag, connecting the two different focal points. When first glancing at this photograph the group of soldiers is seen first. As the eye reads the lower portion of the image the particular angle of the pole leads it up to the American flag. All attention is then placed on this flag, helping to complete the story being told. The diagonal line used indicates dynamic motion. The forward energy of the soldiers is channeled through this line and helps the audience grasp the movement in this image.

Positive and negative spaces are prominent in this photograph. The vast, empty terrain in the background, as well as the open sky, provide a negative relationship with the foreground. The shape composition in this image is well conceived. The use of the soldiers and the flag as the foreground contrast nicely with the placement of the negative space. The background provides a barren stage for the conjunction of compositional elements and historical representation.

The lighting in this composition also helps to place emphasis on the subject matter; the foreground has a deep contrast with the background. The negative space serving as a backdrop is filled with a white light that is centered in the composition. This is the lightest tonal value in the photograph. The placement of this white light nearest to darkest tones of the image transform the image and enhance its the black and white photographic style.

Visual weight is achieved through the balance of the foreground and background. The heavy and densely weighted soldiers are placed in a way that balances with the open space behind them on the horizontal axis. The open negative space behind the foreground is much bigger than the soldiers. Because it is so much bigger, a sense of equilibrium is created and this equilibrium of the horizontal plane creates balance by position. If the heavy placement of the soldiers was in the center of the image, all sense of balance would be thrown completely off. The position of the heavy and lighter weights are what effectively balances the photograph.

Revision of Assignment 3

Few artistic works are recognized worldwide like Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. It is an iconic painting that captures the emotions of all who observe it. Created by Van Gogh in 1889, this painting inspired a new style of artistic representation and fully embodied the post-impressionism style of art.

When first glancing at this painting, the denotative meaning of it is a starry night sky. The audience immediately sees a sky of whirling clouds, shining stars, and a bright crescent moon. The colors are visually appealing; the texture of the painting and the contrast of colors help captivate the eye. The swirling sky directs the viewer around the painting, creating a sense of fluidity. Once you look past the literal representation of the painting, this stylized depiction is meant to convey Van Gogh’s deepest thoughts and emotion. The connotative meaning of it depicts the unstable mentality Van Gogh was in when Starry Night was created. The dark colors contrasted with the brightly lit windows emphasis the opposing states of his mentality. It is widely speculated that Van Gogh was bipolar; he would constantly switch between violent rages to more subdued states of mind. In fact, he was quoted saying “it is good for me to work hard. But that does not keep me from having a terrible need of—shall I say the word—yes, of religion. Then I go out at night to paint the stars.” Van Gogh threw himself into his paintings to help cope with the constant battle of his mind. Starry Night represents his ongoing struggle with overcoming his mental illness. The haunting night sky was his way of immortalizing his constant hallucinations onto a canvas for all time.


This painting is iconic. Not only is it one of Vincent Van Gogh’s most renowned works but it is extremely valuable as well, giving it important cultural value. The artistic style of it is original Van Gogh; it is widely accepted that this painting helped end the era of Impressionism and was one of the first Post-Impressionism paintings. It also greatly influenced Expressionism and Fauvism styles of art. Due to the immense popularity of it, it is widely reproduced. When I was a younger, I remember going to an art museum with my family and purchasing a copy of this image at the end of the tour. The emotions pouring out from it captivated me. The value of this image is increased by its availability for popular consumption.
 

Not only is Starry Night an iconic painting, but it has a deeper meaning of overcoming emotional struggle. Individuals from all cultures and backgrounds can come together and feel the passion and struggle evoked in this image. Van Gogh created something that is universal and will stand the test of time.  

Manipulating an Image

In order to manipulate my original image, I used the histogram, curves, and contrast manipulation. The goal was to increase the intensity of the image and change the original color to a vintage inspired style. 
The first order of operation I used was to change the levels in the histogram. The original image had little intensity and contrast between the colors. It was lackluster to look at. The histogram was chosen as the initial operation because the pixels in the image have a specific luminosity value that serve as a good starting point to be manipulated. In this case, the horizontal scale of the histogram was manipulated; the absolute value of the original image was changed. The value of the black tones was set to 54. The middle grey tone value was set to 0.86, and the value of the white tones was set to 221. This served to better distribute the intensity values in the image.
The next operation chosen was to change the color components in the image by applying independent point transfer functions. To do this, the curves option was chosen. First, the RGB channel input and output levels were changed. The input level was set to 60 and the output level was set to 54. This helped provide more of a variance between the pixels. Now that there was a more pleasing contrast in the image, the color components were manipulated. The color was chosen to be changed after the levels in the histogram because color is seen differently when there is contrast between the chroma. To begin manipulating the color, the red channel input level was set to 120 and the output level was set to 148. This helped to bring out the warmer colors of the image and decrease the cooler tones. Next, the green output level was set to 86 and the input level was set to 72. This provided more of a yellowish-green tone to the image, which began to give it the vintage feel that I had desired.  The last color channel manipulated was the blue channel. The input level was set to 44 and the output level was set to 88. The changing of this color component gave the image a complementary contrast of blue and orange. Each of these independent point transfer functions modified the color components of the image.
The last operation chosen was the contrast manipulation. This was picked last because the intensity of the color components in the image that were just manipulated needed to be modified. The intensity values are distributed from 0 to 255 over the output range. In this case, the brightness was set to 3 and the contrast was set to 25. The contrast manipulation used a piecewise linear transfer function to change the intensity values and further enhance the image. 

Analysis of an Image

The image I chose to analyze is Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh. It was created in 1889 by Van Gogh in the south of France. This is one of his most iconic paintings and it embodies the post-impressionism style of art.

When looking at this painting, the denotative meaning of it is a starry night sky. The audience immediately sees a sky of whirling clouds, shining stars, and a bright crescent moon. The swirling sky takes the viewer’s eye around the painting, creating fluidity. However, when looking at the connotative meaning of it, there is more than meets the eye. Once you look past the literal meaning of this picture, the stylized depiction is meant to convey Van Gogh’s emotion. The dark colors contrasted with the brightly lit windows create a sense of hope. It is widely speculated that Van Gogh wanted the true meaning behind the swirling night sky to represent his struggle with overcoming his illness. His illness was really a battle over social anxiety that began with him cutting off his ear about a year previous to the creation of this picture. This battle was a battle of madness that he struggled with his entire life and that is perfectly represented in this image. All of the strokes and colors used show the thoughts going through his head at that time.

Along with having a deeper meaning, this painting is valuable as well. Not only is it an authentic Van Gogh, it is probably his most well known painting as well. This factor alone gives it an important cultural value. The aesthetic style of it is original; it is widely accepted that this painting helped end the era of Impressionism and was one of the first Post-Impressionism paintings. It greatly influenced Expressionism and Fauvism styles of art. One more thing that lends great value to this image is it’s ability to be reproduced. When I was a little girl, I remember going to an art museum with my parents and purchasing a copy of this image at the end of the tour. It was hung in my room. The value of this image is increased by the availability of it for popular consumption.
Starry Night is an iconic image. Not only is it a painting, but it has a symbolic meaning of overcoming an emotional struggle. Individuals from all cultures and backgrounds can come together and feel the true meaning emoted from this image. All members of society have the same types of feelings and can universally look outside the individual components of this image and understand the true emotional meaning of it that Van Gogh created. 

Film-based vs Digital Photography

Both digital and film-based photography are widely used in the world for both similar and  very different reasons. Both of these types of photography can be used as an art form or, putting it simply, to capture moments. While both are alike in having the same goal at hand, to take pictures, they differ greatly as well. When comparing them, differences in image quality, expense, film speed, range of light, as well as other characteristics prove to make digital based photography the more superior of the two options.
The strengths of digital photography include film speed. When compared to the film-based camera, digital cameras have a much greater speed. The higher sensitivity in the digital camera ensures that digital photography should be used when photography high motion action or low light situations. Not only does the digital camera have fast speed, but you don’t have to change the film in a digital camera as you would a film-based camera to enhance the film speed. Also, digital cameras are much easier to keep clean. They are environmentally sealed. Dust easily settles on the film placed in film-based cameras, which can ruin a picture. Also, digital cameras are more cost efficient and convenient for the modern day age. Film-based cameras are expensive, due to the constant cost of film.
The negative aspects of using a digital camera consist of a lack of dynamic range when compared to a film-based camera. The lights and highlights of an image are lost when using a digital camera. Light captured in a digital camera are not as soft and authentic compared to the use of film.
Strengths of film-based photography include a higher image resolution, more leniency with overexposing a photograph, and a better capture of highlights and shadows. Film-based cameras typically use medium or large format files. These files record much higher resolution than the typical digital camera. Not only do these cameras have better quality of photographs, but they also allow leniency if a photo is accidentally overexposed. For example, you can overexpose the film by two or three f-stops, and the picture will turn out okay. You have better control over the light released by the f-stop and can make the photographs customized to fit your vision.
The negatives of film-based photography are, as stated above, the expense of it. Also, you must have a lab to develop your film. The convenience of developing the film quickly is not there with this type of photography. One last negative aspect of this is that you can only take a limited number of pictures on a roll of film before it must be changed. This is drastically different when compared to the digital camera.
When looking at the strengths and differences of each type of photography, the positive aspects of digital photography outweigh those of film-based photography. Thus, digital based photography is superior. However, both methods are effectives ways to permanently capture time.

http://digital-photography-school.com/film-vs-digital

http://www.markcassino.com/b2evolution/index.php/film_vs_digital_photography

Representational Picture

This particular picture, while maybe appearing funny to look at by the viewer, has more meaning and depth behind it then when first seen. Before I explain why I chose it as a representation of myself, a little background history on it is needed.

The selected image is of my friend Ethan and I. This was taken in fall of 2009 when we were both first year freshman Visualization students here at Texas A&M. The very first day of class, Ethan sat down right beside me in our studio class. He had crazy colored hair, a giant hook through his nose, and listened to music that involved someone screaming like they were dying every three seconds. To put it lightly, I was terrified of him. We didn’t speak for three weeks and every day we would sit by each other, making our silent judgements and secretly wanting to get to know each other. Around the end of the first month, we slowly began talking. As time went on, I began to really get to know him, and cherish his friendship. He became one of my best friends here in College Station.

This representational picture of me was taken during one of our crazy allnighters where we were supposed to be working on a project but apparently decided running around Target and posing like a dog was a much better idea. (I like to think we were completely delirious from lack of sleep). I chose this image because it embodies not only my freshman year of Visualization, but my entire stay here at Texas A&M. Being in college has given me the opportunity to meet so many wonderful people whose friendship and presence in my life has influenced me as a whole. An example of friendships formed in college are the people who are in my major with me. We are all diverse and unique individuals, thrown into each others lives through common interests. I’ve made some of my closest friends in college through this major which has allowed me to grow as an individual, both on a work/school level and on personal level as well. All of the people I have been blessed with meeting in college have truly shaped me into the individual I am today. I’m constantly learning, changing, and growing as I pursue my degree in Visualization, which is why I chose this picture as a representation of myself.