Lavazza Evaluation
Below are my final prints for my Lavazza composite image. I’m really impressed with the finished product. Here is my moment of reflection of how I got here.
What Went Well:
- Ideas
At the start of the project I was feeling nervous about the task at hand. I’ve used Photoshop for years, but never for a project like this. The last time I even attempted a comp, this was the result which I did five years ago in GCSE photo. So I wanted to create a comp that was challenging and had a right to be comped, but I wanted to do something that was in my realms of ability. I do however believe I came up with some strong ideas.
My first idea was a spin off of Planet Of The Apes and since then I came up with some strong ideas which include:
- Planet Of Lavazza
- Boat
- Ride
To which initially the boat idea seemed like the forerunner. However this idea would develop into a better one.
- Idea Development
When I pitched the idea in the first tutorial, I myself felt like I was lost at sea with the narrative. Matt really encouraged me to push the narrative, why would Lavazza be the the rescue.
He liked the concept but didn’t agree with the portrayal.
This idea did eventually developed and I encountered a confluence. I had the choice, do I have the man escaping from a deserted island or do I go the other way and have the cup as a rescue boat from a sinking ship.
In the end I went with the ship and this proved to be a great decision.
- Time Management:
I feel I was pretty strong with my time management. I’d shot the background a week later than it was supposed but I’d got the rest got the rest of my elements shot by the 16th of May. This left me with two/three weeks to assemble my comp. Which I have to spend most time and attention to.
- Portraits
Chris was very happy with my portraits. He said they we’re very good as standalone portraits. Matt liked the expression of the final portrait that I used.
I was glad to hear this because I felt that the portrait shoot didn’t go particularly well. I was worried that I hadn’t got the lighting right.
A flash nearly exploding in mine and Elles face the shoot meant I wasn’t in the greatest mood either. However hearing my tutors compliments made me feel more happy about the shoot.
Also with the portrait in my opinion not much retouching was required at all. Cutting out the hair was nice and simple.
- Composition:
I really like the composition of my comp. Chris and Matt both believed that it was simple and as a result I could very easily create both a portrait and landscape shot without moving any elements.
- Confidence to help:
I can’t deny that this has been a very challenging unit which I’ve enjoyed. It has given me even more confidence to assist my peers and give advice on there comps. Not only in the pre-production stage in the studio but also in the post stage in Photoshop.
- Confidence with Photoshop
This is the first time I’ve ever used Photoshop for this kind of project and it has given me a chance to use new tool effectively like the Patch and Pen tool. Now that I’ve used them I feeling more confident about using them going forward.
- Confidence with new tools
Not only did this project give the confidence to use new tools in Photoshop, it also gave me confidence to use physical tools as well. For example I purchased a cheap Wacom for this project and it definitely made this comp easier.
- Test Prints
I was very happy with the final prints of my composite. I was made even more confident by the test prints. Retouching from a print is such a great way to go about a project like this. There we’re aspects of my image that we’re prominent on the laptop but not in the print, however by looking at a test print, I had a good idea of how to balance everything. I did a total of 6 test prints. So with the final two prints thats 8 visits to the Printshop.
- Paitence
This project was a massive experience in being patience. This was need to be able to cut out the Titanic realistically. Not only for drawing the paths with the Pen Tool but also using the Magic Wand tool to remove the areas inside the ladders.
I had to go over the Titanic a 2nd time, I was half way through my comp. However because it was a smart object, I could retouch it as a PSB and not have to copy and paste a new file onto the master file.
Even Better If:
- More Ideas
I liked the ideas that I created back at the start but I wish that I thought of even more ideas.
- More Research
I wish that I did more research into composite photography. It probably would’ve led to some more creative ideas. I don’t think I did enough research. I think I relied too much on my uncles Annie Leibovitz books to which her portrait work is very different to her composite photography for Lavazza and I didn’t really take much from her.
I should’ve revered engineered examples of commercial photography.
- Need to check before printing:
On Monday before the deadline, I decided to print my final images. However on the day after I had to return to the Printshop to reprint my portrait because it was the wrong colour temperature. When I saw the print but I thought it was just because it was cropped. However upon looking at the files, I realised that I’d sent off the wrong portrait file. The same can be said for the portrait submission [which has since been corrected]
- Reflections
Without a doubt, the aspect I struggled with the most was the reflections of the Titanic. I’m happy with the end product but if theres no by anything that detracts from the final comp it will be them
- Top hat
The only other aspect of the comp that didn’t come out as I expected it was the top hat that Nathan was holding. I feel it was lost too much in the shadow of the cup. Which I’d pulled the shadows on the cup as much as I was willing to. A few people asked what he was holding. Next time I would’ve got Nathan in the same pose but with the hat on, just to cover all the bases.
- Tedious
The whole process of making a comp is tedious. It’s a long process that involves loads of trial and error, going backwards and forwards. However it is very rewarding when it’s done.