My Portfolio
The first thing I did when creating this site was to decide on a layout for the home page. I decided to use navigation at the top of the page as opposed to the left side, simply because I liked it better at the top. I believe it would have worked as well on the side, but I also like the contrast of the blue between the two more neutral colors.
The colors were the second thing I picked when designing my site. I normally prefer brighter colors, but because of the professional nature of this web site, I thought darker colors would be more appropriate. I used a khaki color for the background of the main part of the page so the black text would have enough contrast to be easily readable. I used the blue to add a little bit of interest and to draw users' attention to the navigation bar. I used the color picker to make the title of the web site the same color as the background of the main section because I though the repetition of the color made the web page look more professional.
Once I decided on the basic layout and colors of the page and before I put any information in the main section of the page, I saved what I had as a template. Instead of starting from scratch on each new page, I was able to use this template. That way, I was guaranteed that the layout of each page was identical, ensuring that the user would know that they were still viewing my web site.
I used left alignment for the title of the site and the text in the main body. I think that alignment made the most sense and looked the most professional. I might have centered the body text on some pages with lists, but for the sake of repetition and a professional appearance, I stuck with the left alignment. I did indent the text to make sure it was not bumping up against the left edge of the page because I did not want it to be hard to read. I did, however, use a right alignment for the navigation to draw the user's eye to it.
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Combining Images Project
Source Files:
Before doing anything to the pictures, I saved them all as PSD files and adjusted the levels. I began with the background picture of the White House. I used the magnetic lasso to select George Bush from the photo of him speaking. I moved it onto my background and used the Free Transform option to resize it. I had to use the rubber stamp to cover up the microphone cord. Next, I got the martini using the magic wand and selecting the inverse. I used the martini to cover the microphone in his hand. I then erased the stem of the martini glass to make it appears as though he is holding it.
Next, I used the magnetic lasso to select John McCain, and I moved him into the picture. I also had to resize him using Free Transform. I partially covered Bush's picture with McCain to make it look like his arm is around him. This also allowed to to hide some of the areas that were harder to get a good selection. I had to be careful to make sure it looked like they were standing on the same plane.
I used the rectangular marquee to select the Ron Paul sign. I tried to erase most of the grass from that picture, but the legs of the sign were hard to see, so it did not turn out perfectly.
I made a copy of each of the layer of the objects I moved into the picture, and used the color overlay option to make them black. I used free transform to manipulate the copied layers to match the shadows in the background picture. Once I had them placed where I wanted them, I reduced the opacity to around 67%. I also used the burn and dodge tools to create highlights and shadows on the objects that were consistent with the light in the picture.
Finally, I added the "Lunch on the campaign trail" caption with a drop shadow.
One of the hardest parts of this project were selecting the images of George Bush and John McCain. It was especially difficult to get a good selection on their hands. the dark background of the door behind McCain was hard to separate from his dark suit.
I had to go back several times and add more to the selection or use the eraser to reduce a halo around them.
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Photo Ethics Essay
People have been altering images for years, yet no uniform guidelines have developed that encompass every medium. What is acceptable in fashion photography may not be acceptable for some magazine covers and almost certainly would not be acceptable in photojournalism or public relations.
The rules for altering photographs are most strict in photojournalism. Most people agree that any alteration to a picture that is going to be used in a journalistic publication is unethical. The purpose of these photographs is to inform the reader of an event. As Hany Farid states in his NPR interview, photos used in newspapers are there to tell a story. If any aspect of that photograph is altered, the story is altered. An aviation photographer on the NPR show believes that some details in a picture can be edited for content. For instance, he believes an image of a gruesome car crash could ethically be made less graphic by editing out or blurring dismembered parts. I do not believe this is appropriate. Farid is correct: the photograph should either be left as is, taken from a different angle, or cropped. These techniques allow the gruesome details to be avoided without changing the accuracy of the picture and are much preferable to alteration.
The guidelines for altering photographs for magazine covers vary depending on the type of publication. Newsmagazines, such as Time and Newsweek, should follow the guidelines adhered to in photojournalism. Farid cites the example of the Time cover featuring O.J. Simpson, which was darkened to make him appear more threatening. This type of alteration is absolutely unethical because of the journalistic nature of the magazine. However, the same rules should not apply to entertainment magazines, such as People and Us Weekly. Because they are not journalistic publications, they have more artistic license with their covers. There was no harm in Redbook placing Julia Robert’s head from one photo on a different photo of her body, unless she objected. In cases like this, magazines should follow two rules. First, to avoid a lawsuit, they should get permission to alter the photograph. Second, they should state that the photo is altered, as Blender did with its Britney Spears cover.
In public relations, photo opportunities are often scheduled and staged. These photographs obviously do not present things as they naturally are. It seems altering public relations photos would not be so different. However, altering public relations photographs is just as unethical as altering photos in journalism. The University of Michigan brochure cover in which someone inserted an African-American student into the crowd at a football game to illustrate its diversity is a good example. This was unethical because it changed the truth of that photograph. Assembling a representatively diverse group of students for a photo shoot would have been a more acceptable way to present the university favorably without lying. Altering public relations photos can very easily lead to propaganda, as happened with pictures of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union.
The final area where photo ethics must be addressed is fashion photography. This is the medium where ethical guidelines are most relaxed because it is the most artistic. The purpose of fashion photography is to sell a product. Many people argue that models should look like regular people, but designers want their models to look as polished and perfect as possible in order to make their products look better. The fashion photography industry should promote healthy body images, but the audience should realize that these photos are airbrushed and not realistic.
After reading the articles, I better understand the wide reach of photo manipulation. In the future, I will be more objective when I see a photograph, even in a newspaper or newsmagazine. Seeing no longer equals believing. The ease of digital manipulation makes altered images even more common, and all viewers should be mindful of them to avoid being fooled.
The rules for altering photographs are most strict in photojournalism. Most people agree that any alteration to a picture that is going to be used in a journalistic publication is unethical. The purpose of these photographs is to inform the reader of an event. As Hany Farid states in his NPR interview, photos used in newspapers are there to tell a story. If any aspect of that photograph is altered, the story is altered. An aviation photographer on the NPR show believes that some details in a picture can be edited for content. For instance, he believes an image of a gruesome car crash could ethically be made less graphic by editing out or blurring dismembered parts. I do not believe this is appropriate. Farid is correct: the photograph should either be left as is, taken from a different angle, or cropped. These techniques allow the gruesome details to be avoided without changing the accuracy of the picture and are much preferable to alteration.
The guidelines for altering photographs for magazine covers vary depending on the type of publication. Newsmagazines, such as Time and Newsweek, should follow the guidelines adhered to in photojournalism. Farid cites the example of the Time cover featuring O.J. Simpson, which was darkened to make him appear more threatening. This type of alteration is absolutely unethical because of the journalistic nature of the magazine. However, the same rules should not apply to entertainment magazines, such as People and Us Weekly. Because they are not journalistic publications, they have more artistic license with their covers. There was no harm in Redbook placing Julia Robert’s head from one photo on a different photo of her body, unless she objected. In cases like this, magazines should follow two rules. First, to avoid a lawsuit, they should get permission to alter the photograph. Second, they should state that the photo is altered, as Blender did with its Britney Spears cover.
In public relations, photo opportunities are often scheduled and staged. These photographs obviously do not present things as they naturally are. It seems altering public relations photos would not be so different. However, altering public relations photographs is just as unethical as altering photos in journalism. The University of Michigan brochure cover in which someone inserted an African-American student into the crowd at a football game to illustrate its diversity is a good example. This was unethical because it changed the truth of that photograph. Assembling a representatively diverse group of students for a photo shoot would have been a more acceptable way to present the university favorably without lying. Altering public relations photos can very easily lead to propaganda, as happened with pictures of Joseph Stalin in the Soviet Union.
The final area where photo ethics must be addressed is fashion photography. This is the medium where ethical guidelines are most relaxed because it is the most artistic. The purpose of fashion photography is to sell a product. Many people argue that models should look like regular people, but designers want their models to look as polished and perfect as possible in order to make their products look better. The fashion photography industry should promote healthy body images, but the audience should realize that these photos are airbrushed and not realistic.
After reading the articles, I better understand the wide reach of photo manipulation. In the future, I will be more objective when I see a photograph, even in a newspaper or newsmagazine. Seeing no longer equals believing. The ease of digital manipulation makes altered images even more common, and all viewers should be mindful of them to avoid being fooled.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
About me
Hello! My name is Chris King, and I am a junior majoring in Radio, Television, and Film. I am from Tuscumbia, Alabama, a very small town in the northern part of the state. I became interested in broadcasting in high school, and I have loved it since I've been at Auburn.
I don't have much background in computers. I managed to escape the basic computer class in high school. I did take it in college last summer, but I would not say my technical knowledge is great. I am the Internet Content Manager at Eagle Eye News, Auburn's completely student-produced news channel, so learning the basics of creating and maintaining a good website is very important for me, as I am the one who will be in charge of updating all breaking news stories as they happen. I hope to leave this class with a better understanding of the software that I will be using throughout my career.
I don't have much background in computers. I managed to escape the basic computer class in high school. I did take it in college last summer, but I would not say my technical knowledge is great. I am the Internet Content Manager at Eagle Eye News, Auburn's completely student-produced news channel, so learning the basics of creating and maintaining a good website is very important for me, as I am the one who will be in charge of updating all breaking news stories as they happen. I hope to leave this class with a better understanding of the software that I will be using throughout my career.
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