Far Away
24 x 36 in Digital Collage October 2022 Exhibition Text: The original intention of this piece was to focus on the object in a landscape. The piece was inspired by Somali culture, the deserts in Axla, China, and Henry Hargreaves's piece “ Marilyn Manson, Gummi Bears”. The piece was made using a collage of images retrieved from the internet and images taken to be later edited in photopea. |
Inspiration
When I began thinking of what to do for this project, I wasn’t really sure until I saw my unsi holder(Daabkad) in my room. I started taking photos of it and decided that I really liked how it looked on camera and wanted to do a piece on it.
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One of the many inspirations for this piece was the desert in Axla, China; The Badain Jaran Desert. I saw a picture of this and it really helped me put an image together for my piece. I was able to put a picture together in my mind. I was also inspired by Henry Hargreaves's piece “Marilyn Manson, Gummi Bears”. This piece also helped me create an idea of what to do for my project because I really liked how there was an object in the foreground and the background was blurred. I believe that I will incorporate this in my piece.
Planning
The planning process of this piece begins with making sketches and drawing ideas down. I first wrote down all of the ideas I had and sketched some of them as well; the rest are in the experimental process. For this piece, I know that I wanted to have the unsi holder as the centerpiece. Since the unsi holder has a tan/brown color It reminded me of a desert. So I decided that I wanted to place the piece in the desert and have it in the foreground. While there is a desert in the back, my hope is to have some movement within the piece. Wither from the unis holder and the smoke coming out of it, the desert background, or both. I plan on taking multiple photos of the unsi holder both lit and unlit in various areas of lighting. I also plan to get images of the desert online by searching for high-resolution desert photos. I also plan to use the photoshop application or photopea to digitally edit the photos of the desert background and the unis to make it look like it was taken in a physical desert. I also have different ideas or aspects that I would like to experiment with; which can be seen in the experimentation section.
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Process
To begin with the process of this piece I started by taking a photo of the unsi object so that I could have a sense of the colors and develop ideas from the images. I then started to select images from the internet that to me looked very similar to the image. In the search engine google, I looked up “Desert photos high resolution”. From the various photos, I chose three in that I was able to picture the object in them from different angles. I had different ideas about angles and these images allowed me to picture different ideas and experiment with them.
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Once I had the images I selected, I went into the Photoshop application and started to take aspects from an image and add it to another. I repeated this process with parts like the sky and the ground because I wanted it to look like it was an authentic photo that was actually taken in a desert. By adding different aspects from various images I was able to make this happen. I used various tools like the lasso, quick selection, and background eraser. To blend areas I used the blending and softening tool. One of the tools I used the most was the clone stamp tool. This tool helps with placing the previous or new image in another area so that it looks all similar. This tool helped immensely because I took parts from different images and placed them in one, it helped level out the different colors of sand and sky while also keeping the original image in certain areas.
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I then retook images of the unsi, the first time was to have a rough draft-like picture so that I could get an idea of how it would look on camera. I took pictures of the unsi holder at different angles and with different lighting. I noticed that when I had the lights off in the room I was taking photos, but some were coming in through a different source than the camera focusing on all of the details of the object more. Which I liked because I could, later on, fix the hue and saturation in the Photoshop app. I also took photos of when there was unsi-lit in the holder to see the smoke coming out or when there wasn’t.
Lastly, I uploaded the photo that I wanted to use of the unsi and copied and pasted it to the background. I then played around with the clone stamp tool so that there were shadows and sand on the unsi object. I also did this for different backgrounds, meaning that I pasted the unis holder in a couple of other images I had also edited but had different colors of sand and angles to see which best fit the holder. I also played around with filters and hue/saturation. I decided to keep it as it was because it would look like the camera is focusing on the object and picking up more color there. I also added a sky from a different picture because I thought it would brighten it up and bring out the color of the sand and object.
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Experimentation
When beginning this project, I started with a completely different process. I began with a different background and sky idea for the project. I completed them halfway but didn’t really like them that much. I felt like it didn’t match completely the idea I had. I also experimented with different pictures of the unsi, I experimented with whether or not to have smoke come out of it or not. I decided to not have it because it wouldn't show up on the image.
Another idea I had for the piece was to include a hand reaching out and either grabbing the object or already having a grasp on it. I thought this idea would have a strong hold on tying the piece to my culture. I also had the idea to have the hand rechecking/holding the object to have a Henna on it. Henna is a paste that can be used in many different ways, one of the most popular throughout many African, South, and West Asian cultures to paint intricate designs on your hands. This I believe would have added to the scene and allowed for a development of a story.
Critique
Similarities
A similarity between my piece and Henry Hargeaves's piece “Marilyn Manson, Gummi Bears” is that they both highlight an object in the foreground while the background is a bit blurred, more than mine. However, the intention is still clear and there. Another similarity between the inspiration and my piece is that they both consist of desserts, while mine has aspects from another the connection between the two is clear.
Differences
A difference between my piece and the first inspiration is the color scheme, my piece has brighter colors. While the inspiration is similar to a Baroque still life painting. These two different styles add different meanings to the pieces, the inspirations seem more serious while mine isn’t and seems more uplifting. A difference between my piece and the second inspiration is that my piece has more than just a desert scene. While the inspiration only has natural aspects.
A similarity between my piece and Henry Hargeaves's piece “Marilyn Manson, Gummi Bears” is that they both highlight an object in the foreground while the background is a bit blurred, more than mine. However, the intention is still clear and there. Another similarity between the inspiration and my piece is that they both consist of desserts, while mine has aspects from another the connection between the two is clear.
Differences
A difference between my piece and the first inspiration is the color scheme, my piece has brighter colors. While the inspiration is similar to a Baroque still life painting. These two different styles add different meanings to the pieces, the inspirations seem more serious while mine isn’t and seems more uplifting. A difference between my piece and the second inspiration is that my piece has more than just a desert scene. While the inspiration only has natural aspects.
Reflection
Overall, I am content with how this project came out. I believe that I was able to produce the idea that I had succeeded. While I did struggle with how to do that, I overcame it by experimenting with different backgrounds and sand types. I also struggled with trying to figure out how to do certain tasks on photopea such as expanding an image or using the clone tool. However, after some trial and error, I was able to figure it out and use them along with other tools. When people look at this piece, I hope that they see my idea of trying to capture something in a moment. I wanted the piece to look like someone was walking in a desert and took a picture of the object from a low angle. In conclusion, even though I had some struggles. The piece came out how I wanted and I hope others appreciate what they see.
Connecting to the ACT
Clearly explain how you are able to identify the cause effect relationship between your inspiration and its effect on your artwork?
I was able to identify the cause and effect relationship between my inspiration and my artwork because from seeing my inspiration, I was able to produce and formulate ideas for the project.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach of the author of the inspiration was to capture the depth of objects and moments which was something that I strongly wanted to include in my piece.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
A generalization or conclusion that I disagree with about ideas or themes is that there are not a lot of photographers that take pictures of deserts, or ones that are numerous.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea or theme of my inspirational research was to find something that would highlight and prioritize the textures and feeling of the object, making it the main overall theme.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
An inference I made while reading my research was that the artist really enjoys taking pictures that have darker color schemes and highlight one large thing.
I was able to identify the cause and effect relationship between my inspiration and my artwork because from seeing my inspiration, I was able to produce and formulate ideas for the project.
What is the overall approach the author has regarding the topic of your inspiration?
The overall approach of the author of the inspiration was to capture the depth of objects and moments which was something that I strongly wanted to include in my piece.
What kind of generalizations and conclusions have you discovered about people, ideas, culture, etc. while you researched your inspiration?
A generalization or conclusion that I disagree with about ideas or themes is that there are not a lot of photographers that take pictures of deserts, or ones that are numerous.
What is the central idea or theme around your inspirational research?
The central idea or theme of my inspirational research was to find something that would highlight and prioritize the textures and feeling of the object, making it the main overall theme.
What kind of inferences did you make while reading your research?
An inference I made while reading my research was that the artist really enjoys taking pictures that have darker color schemes and highlight one large thing.
Bibliography
“Henry Hargreaves ☻ Photographer.” Henry Hargreaves ☻ Photographer, https://henryhargreaves.com/.
Ugc. “Booming Dunes of Badain Jaran Desert.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 19 Aug. 2013, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/booming-dunes-badain-desert.
Ugc. “Booming Dunes of Badain Jaran Desert.” Atlas Obscura, Atlas Obscura, 19 Aug. 2013, https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/booming-dunes-badain-desert.