Assignment #3: Photo Manipulation

Photo Manipulation is a create additive to today's technology. It gives on the ability to enhance and change an original work of art to enhance, create, or just for fun. In the past it was not even imaginable to take on photograph and create many. Although the idea was not far fetched from the beginning of time, photo manipulation was present in the 1800. Today, we are able to used the most advance technology to depict various forms of art.  With the advancements of todays technology we are able to use various softwares to change or perfect a photograph taken. For this assignment I used Picnik, where I was able to play with the tones, saturation, and automatic enhanced effects on my original photos.

                                                                      Original Photo #1:
This photo is one that was taken on my Macbook, I found it entertaining and a great photo to play around with.

Manipulation 1: With this photo using Picnik I was able to adjust the black and white threshold to create a solid black and white image, that has no apparent reflections of the colours in the original photo. Doing this I was able to create a solid image and also eliminate a lot of the distraction within the background of this photograph. 

Manipulation 2: In this photo using the same software I use apply to blur certain aspects of the photo, and using the sharpness and focal tool, I was able to concentrate on a specific point of the picture. This gives and idea that everything is not as important, and targets the eyes to what is clear. 

Manipulation 3: With this image I was able to invert the photo colours and strengthen the colour hues to give this photo a film roll look. While doing this photo I thought of the way photos were originally developed within a dark room, and the many changes that have occurred since then. The lighter colours within the picture we contoured to the opposite, bringing out a darker appearance to the image

                                                                       Original Photo #2
This photo was taken at a Janet Jackson concert, the photo originally has a lot of red hue and deep penetration of colour, so I found this to be a great photo to work with. The detailing of the shadows and lights are clearly depicted as well.

                                                            
Manipulation #1: In this photo using the saturation and temperature tools I was able to create an image that looked aged and dated. The red hue (high temperature) that was seen in the original photo is no longer so vibrant. This photo I believe can be used to show how technology can also be used in the reverse process. My goal in this manipulation was to down play all the details and colour saturation, and give the picture a softer look.

                                                                


An inspiration for Photo #1 (Manipulation #3) was the photo that was created by László Moholy-Nagy. The photo is named "Negative Portrait". The image appeared to give both a Sepia and negative film image that was very intriguing to me. I found it interesting that a picture that was dated back in the 1900's is used in the advancements of todays technology. Often times we forget that there is a beginning for every advancement that we see today, and this photo reminded me of just that. 

László Moholy-Nagy

Negative Portrait, n.d.

Gelatin silver print
29.9 x 23.9 cm
Signed and stamped on verso
Julien Levy Collection, Gift of Jean and Julien Levy, 1978.108

References:

The Art Institute of Chicago .2011.<http://www.artic.edu/aic/collections/artwork/54428?search_id=1> Retrieved June 6, 2011.