Digital Compositing - Mock Up

As I had booked the greenscreen room for the 29th of October, I had a bit of spare time in between to create a mock up of my idea, to see if it would likely work when I went to shoot it.

To do this, I search for a random computer game character off the internet, and merged it with my photograph that I had taken previously. The first thing that i had to do, was ensure that I had fully got rid of the green backround on the character. I did this by using the quick selection tool, the mask edges tool, whilst also using the eraser tool just to get rid of any extra green pixels that were still left. This is not the usual way of getting rid of greenscreen backrounds, as usually you would despill the image to ensure that there is no reflective green light upon the image, but as I was only creating a mock up, I therefore decided to do a more simple a quicker way just to create an example.
The two images that I had used, are the ones below.

Image From The Internet

My Original Backround Image Shot With A Canon EOS 1100D

A Mock Up / Rough Example of How I'd like The Final Composition To Be

Digital Compositing Assingment 1 - Semester 1

Semester 1 - Assignment 1 - Big Me, Little Me Project

After having around 5 weeks of learning the digital compositing module, we were given our very first assessed assignment, which would consist of us using various skills on photoshop that we have learnt, using layers, masking, colour correction and matching, whilst also displaying our techniques of taking photographs, by using lighting and green screen.

The title we were given for this assignment, is Big Me, Little Me.
In basic terms, we were asked to create a composition, containing only images and photographs that we had produce ourselves, to make it seem like we are larger or smaller than everything else in the image! We were given this image as an example...

This is a composition/illustration by Emilia Dziubak, and what we can see is a little girl sitting on what appears to be a can of pop, in a very secluded area. The image has a brilliant use of lighting and colour to create a dark, sad and lonely place in which this girl is sitting in. In the foreground we can see very familiar objects such as the cassette tape which is blatantly larger than the girl, which in turn creates an image that is associated with the famous novel 'The Borrowers' by Mary Norton.

With that image in mind, It was time for me to think of how I would create my own very Big Me, Little Me. This was not something that was going to be done overnight, therefore I slept on the idea, and decided to carry on with the work the following day!

I decided the only way I would be able to create my idea's is to put them onto paper initially. Therefore i began sketching out rough drafts of certain idea's that came to mind when I thought about 'The borrowers'.

Bearing in mind, that I am no artist when it comes to drawing, meaning my sketches, were indeed very sketchy!

The very first idea/sketch that I had created was this one... 

This sketch basically is to show a group of people who are attempting to steal some Pringle Crisps that are conveniently left above on the desk. As it is a little out of reach, the so called 'People' would be seen climbing the drawers, and helping each other reach to the top of the desk.

Practicality-wise, this image would be a fairly challenging one to complete. Although I believe it's a strong idea, and has the possibilities of creating humour, It is indeed one that would be difficult to make when it comes to using the green screen and lighting. This composition would require much thought on the direction of light, how it travels, and how it would affect the people in it, and as Im currently not fully confident with using the lighting in the green screen, I believe that this image is possibly a little out of my reach. I would be a little out of my depth to try and create this. Perhaps later in the year when i'm more familiar with the camera, and more confident with the lighting.



Here is the second Sketch that I came out with as an idea...

This sketch's purpose was to show an army of small people who are bravely helping a full sized human being get to the hospital. The scene is set in a grassy environment, which in the foreground you'd be able to see a full sized worm, with the intention of emphasising how small these 'people' are.

Practicality-wise I believe that this would be a challenging image to create, with a definite use of multiple layers and masks to seamlessly make the images match up with each other. Lighting is also a major factor that I would have to consider. I would have to intentionally use backlighting on the images, to create the sense of light that would be coming through underneath the leg of the human. I think it would be a challenging task to create this image, but definitely one that I am considering. I believe it is a challenge that would test my photoshop abilities greatly, and push me further to better myself.


The Third Sketch of and idea I came up with is this one...

This currently is my personal favourite out of the idea's that i've been working on. The image is to show a small couple who are having a romantic sunset date with each other, without the knowledge that it's being taken place in a pub. I believe that the image contains an element of humour, but is also keeping on track with the original assignment which is to display our skills on compositing.

This image again, is another one that I would have to concentrate highly on lighting, to ensure that the lights would be hitting the correct area's on the two people, whilst also ensuring that light is being correctly reflected through the gaps that exist in the pack of cards. Although challenging, I believe that it's do-able, and within reach of my capabilities. My only criticism at the moment with the image as it stands, is that Im not creating many layers which is definitely a skill I would like to demonstrate in my work. I would have to alter this image slightly before going about it practically to contain this. I believe this image would also display the use of the golden ration very well, with the positioning of the little people.


The Fourth Idea that I had Sketched was this one...

This unfortunately is my least favourite so far, and I definitely feel I could've spent more time thinking correctly on what I wanted this sketch to demonstrate. For an unknown reason the title 'Bad Hair Day' had popped into my mind, and I decided to incorporate that into a sketch. I decided to show a group of small people playing around with a hairdryer that eventually turned out to be a bad idea, resulting in them flying around off the table to the floor below.

Practicality-wise I believe that the image is do-able. It would require multilayers, and a various use of lighting to ensure that the images would fit seamlessly with eachother. If I were to recreate this image using photographs, it would indeed test many of the skills that I have been learning on photoshop during my tutorials. It could also possibly contain good use of the golden ratio rule.

Digital Compositing Tasks

Digital Composoting Photoshop Trial

After doing some of the Photoshop tutorials on the Lynda Website, I decided to find some images on the internet that I liked, and composited them into a one single image.

The original picture that I decided on, was this image of a big old mansion. My intentions were to create a dark and mysterious scene, combining multiple images. The multiple images that I used can be seen below. I decided to composite images of a dark cloudy sky, an old looking tree, along with a textured looking picture of rain.

Having previously never using photoshop other than on the Lynda Tutorials, I was setting myself up for a challenge.

I began the editing process by opening up all the photographs into layers on photoshop. I decided the first thing I was going to do, is change the backround sky. By doing this, I had to create a layer mask, of the mansion, to ensure that I would be able to bring it to the front of the sky!

I did this by using the quick selection tool. After selecting the area of the Mansion, I then went on to use the mask edge tool to soften the edges, then contrast & the shift edge tool. After doing this, I was fairly happy with how it turned out, and made it into a new layer. From this point I used the magic eraser tool to try and get rid of some of the rough edges that were still included within the image! 

Now it was time to re-order the layers, to make sure that the new image of the sky went behind the mansion. I did this by having the sky picture as the very bottom layer. Above this, I had the 
original image of the mansion, and using the soft light option, allowed the sky to come through as the backround! 

I used the same steps with the other two images, to add the tree and aslo the rain to the image! 
I used the Hue + Saturation Tool, the contrast tool, as well as the curves, to help blend the image of the tree into the rest! 

Although it is far far far from perfect, I am relatively happy with the overall image! I feel that I managed to create the dark and mysterious scene that I was hoping to create, by using the different saturation and contrast levels, with the layers combined. 

To improve, I would most definitely spend far more time on the edges of my layer, such as the mansion and the tree, to ensure that they fitted the backround seamlessly. I think doing this would ensure it looked more realistic. I would accomplish this, by spending more time on the edges tool, along with erasing some of the patches that still exist within the image! Overall I'm fairly satisfied with my composition.

Post Production Task - WindSurfing Video

Surfing Film - Basic Edit... REALLY BASIC. from Sion Campbell on Vimeo.


As a part of one of our first Post Production Tasks, we were given the challenge of editing various clips into a sequence which lasts 45 seconds. The clips included a man windsurfing, doing various stunts and tricks. The task was to create and interesting flowing sequence, with continuous motion which went together seamlessly!

Although up for the challenge, I was completely out of my depth, as I was totally unaware on how to edit on the video software, meaning that learning the basics took more time that I would've liked it to!

It's safe to say, sadly this is by far one of the worst video clips I have edited, and look forward to being able to create something far more interesting. There is definitely a lot I need to learn!

Storyboard Task - Small Creation

For the second week of Production Technology, we were given the task of creating and shooting a 12 shot film. The task was given as follows : 

Production Technology Week 2 Task

Individually write/design and plan a storyboard a 8 - 12 shot film lasting approx. 45 seconds at the max.  No dialogue is required. You could add some sound if you really want to but we advise you to concentrate on visual only.

The aim is to demonstrate you have understood the fundamental skills of cinematography and picture editing.  Think about the 5 C’s as much as possible.  Remember the key fundamentals of the rule of 3rds, symmetry and single point perspective.

The topic is ‘an event’ and can be designed around anything you wish.

You should create a storyboard of the key parts of the process.

Then shoot the process! 

Examples could be

This could be making of a cup of tea, a person getting out of bed and preparing for their day, a person getting into a car and driving off into the distance etc.

But remember that the images need to implement the following skills.

Focus eye piece

Focus camera

White Balance

Set exposure

Set shutter (film like shutter is 1/180d setting)

Turn Zebra’s on

It should all be shot on the Panasonic HMC151.  Edit the clips into the sequence for review in the lesson next week.  You are free to help each other but one piece is needed per student.  If you complete them before next week you can if you know how render the clip out as an mp4 and send it to me.

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From this point onwards, I had to think of a way of presenting a 45 second video that would be able to portray an event. As I'm personally a fan of thriller/horror movies, I decided to go down this route and create a scene that portrayed a psychotic woman, whose intention is to kill. I wanted to create a rather dark and bleak image for this film, with only hints of light, to keep the sense of eeriness.

Moving forward with the idea, it was time for me to think of storyboard. Bearing in mind, I had to make sure that I only had 12 shots to create the whole scene. As I had a rather clear image in my head that I wanted, thinking of each shot became rather easily when putting it down on paper, if only It had been as simple when shooting.

Here is the working progress of my storyboard...

After finishing the storyboard, and being happy with it, it was time for me to move on and plan ahead, and make sure I had all the equipment I needed to make the shoot. As it was a fairly simple scene I chose to do, the only equipment that I desperately needed, and of course the Camera itself, and a tripod to go with it! This all had to be arrange over SISO, which is Staffordshire Universities Media Stores. Before booking any equipment out, I had to make sure that I had done a Risk Assessment, which can be a rather tedious task to do, but is indeed vital to ensure that every possible risk has been checked. Once doing that, I was able to book the Panasonic HMC151, along with a tripod. The Booking system SISO can be seen below!
  

Information displayed on your bookings, and what time/date you have booked them for!

Filming Day! With the storyboard complete, and the equipment booked, it was time to collect it, and get ready for shooting! As I had issues at first booking on SISO, it had to try and film the sequence and edit in the same afternoon, as the task had to be handed in the following day!
Once we got to the location, It was time to set up the tripod and attach the camera. Having done that I had to ensure that

Before being able to start filming, we had to ensure that everything was correct on the camera itself. We checked various things such as the White Balance, Iris, Focus and the Zebra Lines to ensure that the sequence would be perfectly lit, and would be as clear and as visible as it could possibly be on it's playback.




The Killing from Sion Campbell on Vimeo.

Avid Media Composer - Lesson One

This week we received our very first lesson on how to use the software AVID Media Composer. Having never used a major video editing software before, this was an entirely new kettle of fish, and it required me to be aware and concentrate on everything that was being said.

The two hour session included the simple basics of Avid, such as the creation of BINS and how to put them into order, by importing the correct media into each one. For example :

After understanding the creation of BINS, We went onwards to importing media into these, and then adding to the timeline. As we had no media to use, we managed to get some off www.lynda.com, for us to use.