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.