Digital Photography & Imaging | Week 9: Digital Surrealism

December 10, 2023

Digital Photography & Imaging | Week 9: Digital Surrealism

21.11.2023 / Week 9
Khu Ying Ying / 0357306
Digital Photography & Imaging / GCD61204 / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
Week 9: Digital Surrealism

TABLE OF CONTENTS

LECTURES

Week 9 (21/11/2023) Digital Surrealism

TUTORIALS

Week 9 (21/11/2023) Moving Imagery

EXERCISE - CONCEPTUAL PRODUCT PHOTOSHOOT

Week 9 (21/11/2023) Research

QUICK LINKS

LECTURES

Week 9 (21/11/2023)

Digital Surrealism

Surrealism

defies logic

inspired by the dreams and the workings of the subconscious mind

(French for "super-realism") filled with strange images and bizarre juxtapositions

promoted free association and dream imagery

e.g. Salvador Dalí

Figure L9.1: Surrealism - The Persistence of Memory by Salvador Dalí (1931)

Dadaism

an anti-war art movement with artworks that are satirical and nonsensical in nature
the core trio of the Dada movement—spontaneity, negation, and absurdity—created a tornado of creative chaos.

Figure L9.2: Dadaism - The Art Critic by Raoul Hausmann (1919 - 1920)

Realism vs Surrealism

Realism

reality

takes a non-exotic and non-extraordinary subject matter and theme

no need to think outside of the box, as that is not "real"

Figure L9.3: Realism - The Desperate Man by Gustave Courbet (1844 - 1845)

Surrealism

a twist on realism

explores the subconscious mind, with subject matters concentrating on dream images

aims to distort the ordinary and reality

Figure L9.4: Surrealism - Lullaby of Uncle Magritte by Michael Cheval (2016)

Digital Surrealism

dream-like scenes and symbolic images

Figure L9.5: Dream-like Scenes and Symbolic Images

unexpected, illogical juxtapositions

Figure L9.6: Unexpected, Illogical Juxtapositions

bizarre assemblages of ordinary objects

Figure L9.7: Bizarre Assemblages of Ordinary Objects

primitive or child-like designs

Figure L9.8: Primitive or Child-like Designs

Capturing Your Dream

Sketch it out

roughly sketch out your vision
don’t get into any details just yet, just list the key points of your vision

Find reference image

gather images that directly relate to what you have in mind

Figure L9.9: Capturing Your Dream

Mindset During Creation

"Does it look real?"

Surrealism is at its best when it's convincing enough to be real, yet the subject matter you are creating is non-existent, and thus is not real

Make it happen to the best of your ability

when you try to approach something challenging, you will learn the skills you may need for next time to make it work

Figure L9.10: Mindset During Creation

TUTORIALS

Week 9 (21/11/2023)

Moving Imagery

Demo of how to create loop animation for I.G Stories.

Figure T9.1: Video - How to create loop animation for IG Stories

EXERCISE - CONCEPTUAL PRODUCT PHOTOSHOOT

Week 9 (21/11/2023)

Research

Instructions:

Create a conceptual product photoshoot using various lighting techniques.
Find an interesting subject and shoot it using suitable lighting techniques.
Create a photo manipulation of the subject using Photoshop to make it interesting.
Explain the concept and the process of the development.

Pinterest Board (DPI)

Process:

Before I started sketching, I found some inspiration from Pinterest as my reference mood board.

Figure E9.1: Mood Board - Inspirations from Pinterest, Week 9 (21/11/2023)

After looking at the reference images and senior’s artwork, I think it would be a great idea to stick a similar shape with the objects so it would look “real”.

Idea #1: Globe + Orange – Replace the globe with orange, the roundness of the orange can echo the shape of the globe.
Idea #2: Mug + Books – Using books as the mug, and remain the mug’s handle, this combination recall me a cozy atmosphere.
Idea #3: Work Folder + Handbag – Replace the handbag with work folder, the handle/ strap will be remained, it can be seen as a balance between work and personal life.
Idea #4: Coin + Weighing Scale – Use the weight from the weighing scale, and the coin as the “body”, it can defined as financial decisions and personal values.

Then, I sketched out the rough ideas with ibisPaintX on my tablet.