Photoshop Skills

Before/After

Before/After

In this lesson we experimented with brushes and photo filters and learnt how to use burn and dodge tools. We learned where to download brushes (www.brusheezy.com) and their importance in your work. Even a small change could completely change the mood of a photo.

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Font Research

We had the task to find a font for this image. I decided to use this font as it looks unnaturally broken, almost as if something had been able to rip it in half. Something that we are so used to being solid being broken causes a sense of unease. I think it not being too noticeable adds to the unease as it goes undetected unless you're really examining it.

I enjoy junkohanhero's work on distorted fonts as I think it fits the horror genre. Horror fonts are usually portrayed with scratches, forcefully written scribbles or bloody letters. They can look decrepit, full of cobwebs, spiky and unkept.

Whenever words are used fonts play a crucial role in bringing the project to life, as different fonts can have significantly different meanings. Fonts like the ones described above can be used for horror while fonts like comic sans wouldn't quite work in instilling fear within the viewer.

Poster - Photography

The sock

Murderer's ID

Shots of the murderer - headshots, mugshots, blood in mouth/normal shots

Bloody objects

Evidence tags

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From 110 photos, I thought these 12 were the best ones:

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13/06/2022

This activity was done with our teacher which provided us with props and locations we could use for our promotional photographs.

I chose these 8 photos on location, and these 4 photos on studio because they helped tell the story. To be honest, I forgot about them when we started doing our social media task. I think these pictures would work well on Instagram to promote the film. They could also work on our press kits and so on. I should have saved the photos in a more accessible place, so I'd be reminded of them.

The first 2 images set the scene:

• The crime happened near a river: The water stream in photograph 1 seems perfect for the setting.

• Folded clothes were found near the scene: A black shirt is seen in photograph 2 with police tape above.

The next 6 are multiple shots of evidence being gathered:

• The first 2 show the evidence untouched from multiple angles. This is important in case their placement could mean something which was not seen at the time. The yellow paper indicates that it's a piece of evidence that should only be touched by professionals.

• The next 4 show the collection of evidence. The card and the sock are being put in evidence bags to preserve the clues found. These can be later examined by their respective teams to find tips on who the murderer is.

The last 4 show the killer and the victim:

• The killer's shots with the knife were used as the main images for our posters. It shows the killer's hunger for blood. We chose to use red and blue because they can symbolise police sirens flickering.

• The victim's shots. It's important to record the body before it is touched or moved. The body is the main piece of evidence, and the amount or location of the wounds could provide clues used to solve the crime.

Movie Poster Analysis

Binary Opposition is 2 concepts that are opposite in meaning. It is often used to define good vs evil.

This is seen in the Joker movie poster, where his face is divided between 2 identities, one normal and one twisted; in Minority Report, her and the 2 agents could be working for different sides making it good vs evil; in Blood, there is the divide between land and sea; in Final Destination you have a tired looking person and a skull, life and death; in Look Away a hand is cleaning the fog in the mirror, this reveals another identity, a dark secret perhaps?

Proairetic/Action codes are something that disrupts the narrative, they introduce new problems which progress the story. An action that is caused by a previous event then leads to other events.

These are found in Minority Report, with the running and the ziplining; in Blood, with the fire and the incoming ship; in Final Destination, with the falling glass broken by a gunshot; in the One Shot poster, with the gun being held.

Hermeneutic/Enigma codes raise questions. They are elements that are not explained and leave the viewer wondering. Usually, stories will hold back details in order to make the final revelation more impactful.

These are present in all the posters shown. Most of these posters make us question something. Why is the glass broken? Why is their face painted? Why is he running? Is he chasing someone or being chased? Why are they in uniforms? Are they on the same team? Why is there fire? Why are they standing there? Where is the ship going? What else is the smoke hiding? Why is there a skull? Why is there blood? Why is it fogged? Who is wiping it? Why is she pointing a gun? Why is there a blue light? Why did she fire the gun? What is it hiding? Who are they?