Rotoscoping experimentation

These are the rotoscoping experimentation i have done. The top photo is created in Illustrator using the pen tool to create block black lines. I then fill them in with color, and use the smooth tool to create the curved edge, if this is not done then it creates a jagged line. Although this is an interesting effect it's not what I wanted to create as water is smooth and i wanted to keep that element.


I like the way that the water look ascetically in the top photograph it's different and has it's own character. I do like the way in which the model has been drawn in the top photograph but i think color would improve it as the white block doesn't look right against the background.


The bottom picture is create by using the paintbrush tool in Photoshop i also like this way of drawing a rotoscoped picture, however i don't think it looks as 'clean' or professional. The extra color detail makes it look more realistic in that aspect though. I also used a different rotoscoping technique on the sea turtle. I used a blending brush to create block colors from a source photograph I had taken on a trip to the aquarium. I then used the smudge tool to blend the colors together to create a smooth finish and soft lighting just like under water.  

Water droplets

I have researched into a couple of different ways to create photographs of water droplets and have found the following sites...


http://www.liquidsculpture.com/the_process.htm


http://digital-photography-school.com/forum/how-i-took/10164-patterned-water-drop-shots.html

I am going to experiment with this and see what happens.

Martin Waugh

Martin Waugh

Martin Waugh


I really like this photograph and how simple it is to create. The image is unique and just shows what water can do. I like the harsh ripples and the point where the drops have touched the water. The dark background also highlights the water in the foreground.


I like the way that the light hits the water, and that every picture is going to be different. I am going to experiment with this to see what effects I can create, I think this would be an interesting concept.

Clark Little

Clark Little

I really like this picture because of the movement and the texture of the water. It creates a fantastic subject matter and makes a simple wave interesting and dynamic. The movement in this picture makes the viewer look from right to left, from the beginning of the wave just starting to break.


I like the way that you can see through the wave and there are different stages of colour from the deep 'unknown' water to very transparent water at the top. The wave looks like glass and is almost like an illusion.


I like the individual droplets at the top of the wave that create something completely unique. I think that it would be interesting to get a photograph like this to add illustrations and possibly rotoscope it to create a completely new effect.


I like the composition because the wave is the main subject starting from the right, i think that having the land on the left adds some colour and doesn't make the photograph wash out as just blue, because of the sky and the sea.

Michel Rajkovic

Michel Rajkovic


This is a photograph that is completely different from anything that I have looked at before. I really like the simplicity of it and that the water doesn't look like water and there is a calmness and a serenity about it. 


I really like that it is black and white, because the tones are very important. I like the almost foam like water and the different tones showing the movement of the water even though it's a still shot. There are different points of interest in this photograph the rock in the foreground is very interesting and creates different shapes and tones of water.


The photograph has a lot of depth even though there isn't much colour. The foreground element then goes back to a large mid element on the right to a distant one on the left. This makes the eye follow back and stops the picture from being flat. 


From this photograph I am going to experiment with black and white to create a different look to a picture and bring more focus to it.  

Stephen Frink

Stephen Frink


I have looked at more photographers for half in half out concepts. The pictures above shows the same concept but slightly different than the others I have looked at.


On the top picture the subject matter is more open, and I like that there are lots of things to look at in the picture, the main focal point is the small island in the distance as it's the only thing above the water line. 


The reason why I like the half in half out concept is because of the mystery and the difference under the water in comparison to above it. I like the contrast in the top photograph because only one small island above and a completely different populated world below. The sea line almost looks like a film of glass laid on top of the water.


The second photograph is a little different and is more about the shape of the sea line, is an interesting flow and the eye follows it along. The model goes against the sea line which create some interesting shapes and it distorts the angles.


Another interesting part of this is the shadows on the models body, it creates and interesting pattern because of the water above. I'm going to see if I can create something like this in my own work. 


The composition of both photographs are interesting and there are multiple things to look at that create an interest point.

Nigel Barker

Nigel Barker


This image was shot using the half in half out method. I really like the concept that something is hidden under the water, it creates mystery and is individually able to be interpreted. I also like the strong reflection in the water and I do want to create something like this in the photographs I take.


I like the use of a dark background because your eye goes straight to the subject matter in the picture. The reflection is one of the main aspects in the photograph is doubled because of the water, this creates a point of interest.

I am going to experiment with this concept and try to create my own spin on it without using a model. I like this lighting in the photograph and it overall adds to the mystery effect, the water is very still so it looks very glass like. The smoke behind the model creates an infinite background .


I composition is set out very well the focal point is in the centre of the screen but there is interesting subject matter in the background and the reflection, so the picture isn't flat and a depth has been create for the viewers eye to be drawn through.


This picture will be a main focus in my beach and pool sessions as i want to experiment with half in half out.

Evaluation

In this module I have learnt a lot of things when working with water and catching images that create something different. The beach and the pool sessions were very different from themselves and both had their own elements that would be good in different aspects of animation (my subject practice).

The cameras that I used were relatively easy to use, however to create more successful shots I think I could have used the macro feature a lot more to its full potential.

I did try to integrate my animation subject practice into this module, by using rotoscoping and taking some short clips. Due to the short time we have had the course I was unable to fully combine the two as animation is very time consuming and I wouldn't have time to create a rotoscoped film.

From what I have learnt I believe, that to create some emotions and moods in animation, I would in the future use underwater and water based imagery as a strong point of call. I think that this module has shown me what is possible, in something I would never have considered before.

I can integrate what I have learnt here to better my animation and through experimentation with film and animation. The photography side of this module is very interesting but I don’t think it would link with my animation practice as much as the film element.

Overall I have taken new ideas about creating moods and feelings using underwater and water based imagery, and will defiantly use this in the future.  

Rotoscoping Final

This photograph has changed dramatically. I have decided to play with the half in half out concept. This I believe is the only photograph that has used the concept to it's full potential. 


I blocked in the colours and the blacks and whites in Illustrator to create a 'new' world under the water, to create the illusion that it's hidden and mysterious. Also that it's different.


I developed this photograph from the first rotoscoping that I did and I changed it by adding colour on the body. 

Reflection

This is another of my final edits, this was playing with the concept of half in half out, but because of the clarity of the water and the problems with my camera focusing I wasn't able to create the photo I wanted to.


To modify this photo I firstly used smart sharpen to get rid of some of the blur in the foreground of the photograph. I then cropped the photograph to minimise the blur again.


I did look at changing the levels of the blue sky but thought it took away from the overall finish and decided not to.

Dream

I quite like this photograph again because it's a bit different, but I slightly lucked into this one. As you can see I haven't really changed the photograph that much I have just enhanced the elements that make this photograph different.


I used smart sharpen with 150% and I used the feather tool of the foreground to blur it more into the background.


As you can see the grains in the water are sharper, I think this adds to the photograph and it going out of focus.

Rocks

I really like this photo because of how sharp the rocks are and you can see every detail. I also like the contrast in the water one side it is clear and the other there are dark clouds.


I didn't do much to this photo as I though it was very good. I just sharpened the foreground with smart sharpen so it fitted in the with rest of the photo.


I also used the lasso tool to select the foreground and I 'tweaked' the levels to match the colour of the water in the background because I think it looked a bit disjointed.

Underwater Photography Development Droplets

When taking photographs at the beach I used the macro feature and ended up focusing of the droplets on the lens, than the water below. 


I decided to use this photo because it is unusual and different and it is similar to the droplets that I was looking at before.


I modified the photo by using smart sharpen to bring out the dark edges of the droplets and made the photo black and white to create a good contrast between the elements in the photo.


I also used a vignette to focus the viewers eye to the centre of the picture where the subject matter is most interesting. 

Rotoscoping

These are some of the experimentations I have done before with rotoscoping a picture. I have mainly experimented with two types of rotoscoping, the drawn effect that you can see below, which can add emotion and a raw edge to photographs. It also allows you to create things that aren't actually there so this is a great way of mixing animation with photography.


The photograph beside is more finished than the other one in my opinion. An has a crisper more realistic look to it. However this does take a lot of time to create. 


I am going to look at both techniques with a few others that have not been illustrated and see what they look like. I am going to develop the best rotoscoping technique for the underwater photography as not to lose any of the main aspects of being underwater.

Film Camera

After looking at the water droplet photograph I decided to experiment with a film camera and water droplets, because of the simplicity of the camera I knew that the shots wouldn't be fantastic, but I wanted to see what effects I would get. Although the majority of the shot are completely unusable there are a couple of interesting shots, although blurred, of the water creating multiple reflections of an object.


If I was to do this again I would use the right equipment and set up the correct shutter speed in order to create a non-blurred photograph with a clear water droplet and reaction when it hits the object.

Beach Session

 The beach session we went to was great fun and again I learnt more and more things about water based imagery.


From the photographs to the left you can see that I managed to get a large range of photographs. I however was slightly unsuccessful with getting half in half out photographs as my underwater camera wasn't focusing half way in the water, so the line of water didn't come out crisp.


I also had trouble with droplets on the 

 lens of the camera which ruined quite a few potentially good photographs. So in the future I will dip my camera in the water then take the photo so the droplets fall off.


Because of the weather also I wasn't able to clearly look at the photos on the digital screen this caused a problem.


Overall I think I got some good shots at the beach but again I learnt a lot of things that will help me in the future when taking water based imagery.

Swimming pool session

 Here are some of the photographs taken by me at the pool session. As you can see from the photograph I was unable to get low enough down to have a photograph without a the bottom of the pool which I think makes the photograph look a bit 'normal'. The photograph at the bottom in blurred because of this.


I enjoyed the experience but to get a really good photograph I have decided to follow the half in half out concept from the photographs I have looked at. 

 I think the lighting in the middle photograph is the best because it's very clear. I like the movement in the third photograph photograph but I think it would have been better if it was more in focus.


Overall I think that as a first underwater photography session was a good lesson in how to get a good shot and what things need to be taken into account.