P4 productions materials & techniques for an original print media product

The original still photo 

For this image, I had used a long shutter speed, big aperture value and low ISO.  By using a low ISO, it gives the best quality of image. However less light will be able to get through the lens. To able to let more light to get through the lens, I had used big aperture value and long shutter speed. Those long expose and big aperture will be able to brighten the image.

For this image, I had took it from a dark corner at the astro. To sharpen the image, I had used a high value setting of 3200 ISO. The camera captured more detail of the image in the dark. As I want my image to be dark and dim, I had also used a short shutter speed of 1/125 second and a smaller aperture value of f/5.7.

I had took a continuous image for the whole start up position. I will combine and edit the image together in a single image. The photo looked exactly the same as how I drew for my template. The drawing helps me a lot for finding the best camera position while photo shooting.

For this image, I want my model to be partly backlit. I had took this image under the spot light in the astro. I had set the shutter speed in 1/125 second, aperture value of f/4.5 and 2500 ISO. As there were plenty of light source at the astro, I had set the aperture value into 2500 to reduce the amount of light. The quick shutter speed also help me to deduct some of the light. To form a blurry background, I had used a large value of aperture.

For this image, I shot it in a squash centre. In that room, it was extremely bright. As I want this image to be dim and motion. I had set the camera in ISO of 125, aperture value of f/2.0 and shutter speed of 1/100 second. The extremely low ISO help to deduct lots of light. The shutter speed also helped to reduce the amount of light. The shutter speed also helps me to capture the motion of the actor. The large aperture help to blurred the background of the image.

For this photo, I had mostly follow to my drawing. However I didn't included the coach inside the image, as I want audience to mainly focus on the actor. That's why the coach is not included inside the image. Camera angle is a horizontal angle and placed at the side of the actors, which looks exactly the same as I drew for my concept idea.

For this image, I had shot it under a spot light. It gave me plenty of light source. I want this image to be dim and clear for both main object and the background at the same time. I had set the camera into 1000 ISO,  shutter speed of 1/80 second and aperture value of f/5.0.  To low ISO helps to reduce the light source at the background. The small aperture of f/5.0 also helps to reduce some of the light. To sharpen the image, had used a quick shutter speed which capture the image quickly.

Again, I had followed the my concept drawing of how the advertisement could layout. The photo I took is very similar to what I drew, apart from the wheel is not being lift up. Everything, the camera position, angle, background are followed exactly the same as I drew.

For this image, I had shot in the gym room. In the gym room , it was very dark and dim. I want this image to be dim and clear. I had set the camera into ISO 2000, aperture value of f/3.5 and shutter speed of 1/320 second. The high ISO helps to capture a sharp image in a dark environment. The large aperture value also helps to intake more light through the lens. As the actor is constantly moving, I fast shutter speed helps me to capture a sharp image.

For this photo I took from the gym room. I didn't quite follow to the camera angle as I drew, because the gym room area is quite small and it is very difficult to place the camera in front of the actor. Instead I had placed the camera at the side which I think is even better as it shows the number of the weight at the side of the weight bar. Apart from the camera position, everything follow to what I drew out from my concept idea.

Following safe woking practices 

As half of the shooting process with be done at the outdoor. It is very important that keeping both actors and equipments safe.

Risk Assessment 

On the filming day, I had made sure the weather were perfect which allow me to film at the astro. The picture above I took right before the filming start. Although it was slightly windy on the day I was filming, it was still perfect. No raining on that night, so camera stuff didn't got damaged and actor won't get a cold after filming. 

Even more there were no raining few days before the filming start. The artificial grass was dry and it allowed my actor to run on it without getting slipover. It had reduce my actor getting injury during the filming process.

In the film, I had took quite a lots of shot with boxing as I think boxing will strongly attract the audience who will watch this genre of advertisement. To achieve this scene, I had asked the actor week before the filming start does he know anything about boxing. Unfortunately the actor doesn't know how to box, therefore I had kindly asked a thai boxing coach from our school to give the actor a quick tutorial lesson. It is very important for my actor know how to box correctly as boxing is a very dangerous sports. Actor has high potential to injury himself if he doesn't know anything about boxing and box while filming.

After the quick tutorial lesson, my actor is so much more confidence and able to punch correctly in the film. It reduce the chance of him getting injury.

In the advert, I had also used gym room as part of my filming location. I had also used the gym weight equipment as it is also related to sports. I had decided to film my actor to do weight lifting. However in reality he is not a very muscular person, to achieve a scene that he is do weight lifting. I had used a very light weight equipment to ensure he can handle the weight without getting injured.

Before the filming begin, a PE teacher had taught him some basic technique of weight lifting to ensure he can do it properly. Afterward, the PE teacher had stranded next to the camera while filming to ensure everything went well. 

In one of my scene, I had asked my actor to do a wheel skipping which he will be skipping over the rubber wheel. When the filming began, the actor had referred to me it is quite dangerous for him as he had never did that before. It is very easy to tripped over by the rubber wheel. After that, I decided to use fast forward effect in Premiere Pro when I do my editing. Now my actor can do it in a normal walking speed, it reduces the chance of him being tripped over by the wheel and cause any damage to his ankle.

Setting up equipment 

The equipment I had used for filming are all listed below

Canon 7D DSLR camera

 Canon 7D was the only camera I had used. It is a DSLR camera and is very easy to command. All the setting of ISO, aperture, shutter speed can be adjust manually. It gives out a very good quality of image and footage. It is very lightweight and is easier for me to carry around all day. As I am not doing any slow motion of editing. I didn't use a high frame per second of setting to shoot my video. Instead I used  a 24 fps to do all of my filming. Using a 24 fps can give the best quality - 1080p as high fps can only do 720p.

Flashcard

The 32GB SD card will be insert into the camera to save all both of the image and video safely. The capacity of 32GB is more than enough to save my folder.

Tripod

I tripod I had used has a very heavy weight, it can keeps itself stable under windy condition. It is very useful especially when I was filming at outdoor environment. The legs can be easily fold inside and change the length of the legs, which is easier for me to carry around or film the with high camera angle. The neck can be rotate in 360 degree. It is very good to do a pan shot or tracking an object. I had filmed a lot of pan shot when I was filming my actor running in the astro. It is so much easier for me to film a steady pan shot with this tripod.

The screenshot above had clearly showed I had used the pan shot to film this footage. I had placed the  camera on top of the tripod and rotate the neck to film. The footage is very steady even in a windy condition as the tripod is heavy enough to withstand the wind. The quality is excellent as I had focus on the moving object well.

18 - 55mm lens

The 18 - 55mm lens can be zoom in and out easily. It is excellent for shooting in in-door and tight environment. Also it has a low value of aperture, it can easily shoot in dark environment. I had used 18 - 55mm at the gym room as it is dark and narrow in there. It doesn't carry out a very dramatic effect but it still provides a very decent of footage quality. Also this lens equip with manual focus option. I had used the manual focus to do both photo and video shooting to form the background blurred effect. The footage looks more dynamic and professional.

I had used a adjustable focal length lens in the gym room as it had limit size in the room. I was barely able to film the whole body of the actor under the frame. I had made good use of the low aperture of 

the lens. The background is blurred and the main object remained clearly. Audience can be more focus to the actor and pay more attention how the story build up. 

50mm fixed lens

The fixed 50 mm is great for taking photo at the outdoor. The angle of this lens is generally wider than adjustable focal length lens. I had used fixed 50mm to shoot at the outdoor astro as fixed lens carries better quality image than adjustable lens. The layering between bright and shadow difference  can show it even more clearly. Even more this lens can choose either manual focus or automatic focus. I had used the manual focus for quite a few shot to do a full blurred or background blurred effect. I had mainly used this lens for close up to extreme close up for my shot. 

The screenshot above showed I had made good use of the fixed 50mm lens. The actor can be separate into half, bright area and shaded area. On the left side of his face can clearly see his skin and eyes. However, on the right side. It is mostly dimmed and cannot be seen. Combination with the lens characteristic and camera set up. I had clearly shows how the actor is willing to get a drink and tired.

Macbook air 13"

Camera equipment is very important for all the shooting process. Computer is also as important as the camera. I had used a Macbook to finish all of my after edit process. The macbook inside is already programmed with Photoshop CS5 and Premiere Pro CS5. The footage of video can be edited by using Premiere Pro and the raw image can be edited by Photoshop CS5.

Equipment Booking sheet 

To borrow out the equipment for filming. I have to fill in the equipment booking sheet. It shows all the equipment I had use and the date I borrow and return.

Editing Process 

All the screenshot below show how I transfer the image I took from the camera into a commercial style advertisement.

Advertisement 1 

This is the original still image I took from the astro.

When I first edit my image, I had change the light level of the image. I had change the input of darkness which make the image slightly dimmer than original.

Then I had started adding text tools with the TYPE tools. Adding range of description  of product at the side of the image. Change the text with different colour with the colour change tool. I think it is important to tell the customers why drinking this sports drink helps you to improve your performance. So I had added a small paragraph to explain what nutrition contain in the sports drink.

At the bottom of the advertisement, I had added the company logo which I created earlier. I had chosen the word in red colour because it match the colour of the drink.

On the top right corner of the advertisement. I had added a slogan on top "POWER GIVES YOU FURTHER". To make the words more attractive. I had applied few different effects, such as drop shadow, inner shadow, outer glow, inner glow and bevel and emboss. Those effects can form a more 3D shape, which is more attractive to audience.

And this is the final outcome of the image.

Advertisement 2

This is the original still image I took from the Astro.

First, I had change the level of the brightness of the image. I had darken the image by changing the level of the darkness input. 

As I had took a continuous image, I want to combine the whole running process in a whole image. I had cropped out one of the running position, use the erase tool to erase the background carefully.

Then I had merge the photo all together, I had kept the shadow part of the image which increase the reality.

I had repeated the process for the third and fourth person in the image. The outcome looks really great.

As I want the opacity of the person descend from one to one. I had adjusted the level of opacity from 100%> 70% > 50%> 30%. This progressive decreases can give a message to the audience "If you want to do it, do it properly."

Once I had finished with the opacity adjustment, I had added the company logo on top of the image. By descending the opacity of the rest of 3 person. People will mainly focus on the full opacity person.
Therefore I placed the logo on top of the full opacity person, people can just easily spot the company.

After I had added a slogan " RUN For Your Life" on top. This slogan perfectly match to the advertisement because it is related to sprint running. I had chose white in colour because it will out stand from the black background.

To make the slogan more attractive, I had used a 3D effect apply in a very simple way. I had duplicate the layer of the slogan. Then I had changed the colour of the slogan which has a slightly colour difference to form a 3D effect.

Final outcome of the image.

 Advertisement 3

It is the original still image I took at the astro. I told the actor to form a running position.

For this still image, the actor is in a running position. The background is still and clear, to make the image to be more dynamic. I had used motion blurred to blurred the image. I had set the angle into 0 angle. The direction of the blur is only facing in horizontal.

Than I had used a eraser tool to erase the motion blurred layer.  Now only the background is blurred and the actor is clear, using this motion blur can give a still image more dynamic.

For this advertisement, I decided to reuse the slogan from previous advertisement. Because I want to make the slogan more dynamic and attractive, I decided to transform my slogan in to perspective. Because only image can be transform in perspective and not the word. Therefore I have to first type my slogan in a second page in photoshop, then screenshot it. Import to my advertisement, use magic wand tool is erase all the black background. Once the background is been erased, use Transform > Perspective to from a perspective effect. Then use perspective to adjust the slogan which follow the line on the floor.

To give more dynamic looking to the slogan, duplicate the layer of the slogan. Place it behind the the first slogan, change to a deeper colour which gives a shadow.

Same things on the company logo, I had transform it into perspective which also carry out more dynamic appearance. Place the company logo on the line which follow the pattern with the slogan.

I then put a few common social application apps logo at the bottom right of the advertisement. Instagram, snapchat, google plus are the very main stream social network, allow people following us on the advertisement will increase the company popularity. In the advertisement, I really like the the combination of the motion blur and the perspective slogan. I think it really match and gives more dynamic to a still picture. 

Advertisement 4

The is the original still image. In this picture, I decided to be more creative on editing. My idea will be placing duplicate photo behind the layer of the original still image. Then transform it, it can be flatten, enlarge etc. Use a erase tool to erase some of the original image which the erase tool should be a  round bubble size.

First I have use "Magnetic Lasso Tool" to highlight the actor, weight and the weight bar. It doesn't require any delicate work, just a rough highlight will be good.

Create a new layer, copy and paste the object that I had highlighted earlier. The edges of the object is quite neat and smooth.

The press "cmd + T" for shortcut of the transformation. I had flatten and increase length of the actor.

Then duplicate the 2 additional layer which will fill the empty gap around my ideal brush area for the original image.

The I had filled the the background of with dark brown colour which match the colour of the gym room. The brown colour at the back is to prevent over brushing in the original image which make it white in colour. 

Then I had used a erase tools to brush out the original image. Now the empty holes will be replaced by the duplicated model behind the image. To give a more natural appearance of the bubble holes, I had randomly changed it so it looks more even in everywhere.  This different size of bubble holes form a shredded effect. It seems the actor is weak and tired. Now he needs a drink to refill himself to continue the training.

To match the shredded effect with the image, I had edited the logo of the company as well. For the logo, i had used a erase tool to erase part of the colour. I had set the hardness of the erase tool into 7% to prevent over brushing occur. Now the logo has became more stylish and match the image.

To place the logo into a more attractive position. I place it on top of the weight, because of the weight is circle. It had used wrap in transform. The wrap will allow image form in to a curve shape depends on how I change the degree.

Here is the final outcome of the image. I think the image is really special as this shredded effect had exceeded my expectation. I personally think this advertisement is very attractive and will definitely audience.

Advertisement 5 

This is the original image I took from the squash centre when the actor is boxing. I think this picture will be a very good edit material as his left arm is blurred due to his movement. It gives this picture more movement and more dynamic to audience. In this picture, both left and right side have quite lots of empty area. In my mind, I want to do the shredded effect and other brushing effect to fill the gaps.

First I had used magnetic Lasso Tool to select the model. The selection does not really have to be delicate. A rough selection around the actor will be good as the layer will be hidden behind the original image.

Then I have duplicate the selected models into 2 different layer. At this moment they are both identical.

To do a shredded effect, I had flatten the actor which I placed it on the left. To do the brushing effect, I had enlarge the actor and place it on the right.

To prevent over brushing and leave a empty gap on the image. I had created another layer to full fill all the gap the a light brown colour. The colour layer will be place at the very bottom which of course  I don't want to background colour cover all the image. I had used a eyedropper tool to simulate the colour on the wall.

Then I had selected the layer, use a paint bucket to fill all the colourless gap at the background.

Before any further begin, I had made one more check to ensure every layers are in correct position. The original material layer is on the top, both duplicate images are placed below, then finally is the background placing at the very end.

Back to the the top layer of the image, I had use brush tool number 617. I had tried out different burst tools and I think number 617 perform the best. I had chose the tool size in  174 px, which I want the bubble holes to be small but concentrate. 

On the right size, I decided the to fill the gap with a "paper torn" effect. The paper torn effect is not very complicate to create. As I had already placed a duplicate layer earlier, I just had to use a brush tools and carefully brush out the area. I had choose brush 100 as the brush area is very fine and concentrate. I had tried few different brush head such as number 33, 39 & 63, and I think 100 is the best.

At the end, I just placed the company logo on the top left corner. I think this advertisement is very eye catching. The paper torn effect gives an impression to audience strong and powerful and the shredded effect represent weak and tired. The whole advertisement gives a message to people, if you don't drink this sport drink while do sports. You will lose your performance eventually.

Advertisement 6

This is the original image I took when the actor is doing the pulling tires work out. I think this image is very powerful, as in general the image is quite dim. It gives an impression to people of fear and danger, therefore I think it will be a good edit material.   Before the editing begin, I think it is important to erase some of the background such as cars and window. Those unnecessary items causes distraction to audience and not focusing to the model. 

 First I had the adjust the output of darkness, I had slightly increase the darkness of the image. Now it is slightly darker than the original one. Darken the image can also create a mystery style and more importantly, it can darken the background as well.

I had also used a brush tool to cover the window. Although the paint job is quite obvious for now, it will be cover by smoke later on.

Once the window is been covered. The image had now looks more neat and tidy. As there were still are quite few cars on the right side of the image.As the cars are behind the football goal,  I had cropped out the the football net around the car and cover it. Now the goal looks very natural and difficult to spot it is been photoshop.

Then I had cropped out the image to reduce the unnecessary area of the image. Now the person is closer to the centre of the image.

As I want this advertisement include mystery and fear this two elements. I think smoke effect will be appropriate at the background, as smoke can build up a mystery style to audience. 

To create a smoke on photoshop, first I have to create a new layer, then use a gradient tool to randomly draw out a black and white colour on the layer.

Then choose Filter > Render > Difference Clouds. The cloud will able to generate smoke effect randomly. As the gradient I chose is in black and white, therefore the smoke is also in black and white colour.

                                           

 Once the smoke is been generate, then selected the smoke layer, double click the layer and changed the could into different colour by using the Hue/ Saturation. I had decided to change it into red blue and yellow. This colour is very attractive to audience, but not being too bright and lost the mystery style.  Crop out the central part of the cloud and use magic wand tool to erase the black colour background.

                  Once the cloud is ready to be merge with picture, directly placing on top of the image layer will looks very synthetic and unnatural. It is important to select the smoke layer and choose exclusion. Now the colour of smoke will be less shiny and closer to matte, it wills looks more natural.

As there are quite a few smoke had merge with the actor. I think it will be better to use an erase tool to erase some of the smoke on that smoke layer. I had chose the hardness of the erase tool to only 5% which is softer and more progressive. 

Afterwards, I had imported the company logo into the image. I had placed it inside the football goal to fill the empty gap inside. As I the logo to merge with the smoke effect. I had used a erase tool to brush out some of the colour of the logo. I had set the hardness of the brush to 1%, this erase tool is very soft and will definitely not over brush.

At the end, I had added the three different social media application, Instagram, snapchat, google plus.  They are they three main stream social media application app now, asking customers to follow us allow them to stay tuned with are latest product.

Then I had gave this advertisement a slogan at the bottom left of the corner. By using text tools, I had typed in "Success is earned  Not Given". I think this slogan match the whole style of the advertisement.  Then I had double click the text layer to give some effects to the words. I had chosen the inner shadow, outer glow and inner glow. The combination of selection I had picked formed a great style which match the mystery element. 

To let the words have a connection with the smoke effect. I have duplicate the layer of the slogan, then directly placed it at the background. Turn now the opacity of the slogan to only 31%, now it is transparent and form a smoky, digital effect to the words.

This is the final outcome of the image. I think the colour combination of the smoke had worked really well. The layer between the model and the company logo had form a 3D dynamic effect. The way how the actor hold his hands together and a heavy obstacle in front of him has gives a message to people "after drinking this sport drink, everything will become a piece of cake". The connection between the effect of slogan and smoke had combined really well.