Exciting Career at SeaWorld

Reflection

I really enjoyed the first semester of video. My favorite project was our final and the music video and the Lego project. My least favorite project was the six shot sequence videos.

I enjoyed the music video because we were allowed to be as creative as we wanted. We had more freedom and could choose major components, including the song and the story. I enjoyed that it was more vague and that we also got the opportunity to shorten and fix it.

I liked the final because there was a lot of different stories that could be told with the clips provided. I thought it was challenging to not know the story until I actually started editing, but I thought it was fun. I was able to choose whatever I wanted and create any story. I also liked that there was a strict time requirement, so I knew that my video wouldn't be too long or too short.

I also enjoyed the Lego project because I was able to choose the story I wanted to tell. The people I filmed made it easy to find a story to tell. I also liked that it was different than the other projects we had done.

I did not like the six shot sequence videos because they were tedious to film and edit. There was not a lot of options to express creativity. I also disliked them because I found them more difficult to edit to create an interesting story.

Overall, I have enjoyed my first semester in video and I look forward to the second semester.

Working Together With Legos Creates Challenges and Donating Blood Saves Lives

Process

For both projects, there was a not lot of preproduction and it differed from previous projects. For this project, there was no storyboarding. There was not any idea of what the true story would be. It was a project that could be interpreted many ways. 

In production, there were a lot of challenges. It was very difficult not using a tripod. It was hard trying to keep the camera steady. It was also very hard thinking of questions to ask on the spot. In the lego project, it was easier because the "actors" knew that you were going to be asking questions and moving around. For the blood drive, the people did not know exactly what you were going to do, so it was more difficult. Although there was difficulty, I able to get all of the needed shots.

In postproduction, I found it difficult to juggle both projects. It was hard remembering which project needed certain edits. I had trouble creating J and L edits, but in the end, I created them. I had to create a script and add voiceovers. I thought this was the hardest project to edit.

Things I Learned

I learned how to add voice overs to my video. I also learned how to create J and L edits to make the transitions smoother and less choppy. I learned how to do backpack journalism.

Reflection and the Future

In the future, I will be able to use voiceovers and J and L edits to enhance my video. I will be more experienced in backpack journalism. I enjoyed this project because I got to be more creative than previous projects and I got to choose the story that would be told.

Glossy Gold

Tutorial: http://www.photoshoplady.com/tutorial/design-a-shiny-golden-text-effect/7882

Process

I followed the tutorial to create the glossy text. I was unable to download the background that it wanted, so I created my own. I applied all of the effects to the "Zoey" and I applied some of them to the "Zoey Chasen". One of the effects that I needed was not available, so I chose one similar to the original. Although it is not identical to the tutorial, I am very happy with how it turned out.

In The Future

In the future, I will be able to apply my knowledge of effects to future projects. I learned a lot about different effects, including satin. I learned a lot about overlays. I enjoyed this tutorial because I had to problem solve a lot and in the future I will have the necessary problem solving skills to finish more difficult tutorials.

Reflection

I am very happy with the outcome of this tutorial. It was very simple and well explained. I love how the glossy gold looks.

Postcards

Zoey Postcard

I chose to put one of my dogs in the Z because my dogs are very important to me. I love animals and in five years I want to have a dog. For the O I put me and one of my best friends. I thought it was important to include my friends because they are a huge part of my brand. For the E I chose n print with Alpha Delta Pi in it, because in five years, I plan to be a member of Alpha Delta Pi. For the Y, I picked a Vineyard Vine whale print because I love Vineyard Vines.

The process was relatively easy. I created each letter, separately. Then, I placed an image for each and created a clipping mask. Then, I adjusted the coloring and the brightness. Then, I added a drop shadow and added the background and my name.

The biggest problem that I encountered was getting each letter to look cohesive. It was difficult making them fit together. I also had difficulty getting each picture to fit well with the letter.

Ocean Postcard

For this postcard, I chose starfish for my repeated object. I chose to put a fish in and a picture of the beach. I did a gradient for the word "ocean" and I used my name as a tagline. I added a border that was the same color as the tagline. For the border of the photo, I made it the same color as one of the starfish.

The process was relatively quick. I extracted each image and placed them on top of the background. I added a border to the photo and to the image. Then, I added the tagline and the word "ocean". I created a gradient for "ocean".

I love how it turned out. I think it looks cohesive and I am happy with the outcome. The biggest struggle I had was figuring out how to do a gradient in the text.

Penguin Tutorial

I chose penguins for my third postcard because I love penguins. I  added three penguins. For the tagline, I put my name and made it the color of the penguin's sweater. For the word "penguins" I did a black and white gradient, to replicate the penguins.

The process was similar to the other postcards. I added the extracted objects to a background. Then, I placed the text and added a gradient to "penguins".

I love how this postcard turned out. I think it's adorable. I love how the penguins are partially off of the postcard. I love that the large one is in comparison to the words.

Reflection

I enjoyed making the postcards. I learned a lot from this project. In the future, I will be able to apply many of the skills I learned to enhance future projects.

Professional Penguin Mountain

The Process

I extracted a mountain from a photo of a mountain with a waterfall and put it into the sky. I had to recreate the tip of the mountain using blend modes. I had to remove pixel fringe. 

I was able to pull a lot of information and skills from previous projects, including defringing the hand. 
Throughout the process, the refine edge tool was very helpful. It made the mountain look smoother. After extracting the mountain, I placed a cloud in front of it. 

Then, I added two objects of my choice. I chose the images from http://www.morguefile.com. I chose to add two penguins because I like penguins. To add the penguins, I used the quick select tool, which made it very easy to add them in. 

Overall, I am really happy with how my mountain turned out and I am very happy with how the penguins look. 

What I Learned

I learned how to easily extract an image and how to combine previous things I learned, such as defringing. I learned how to use overlays and how to jump layers.

The Challenge

I had trouble using the refine edge tool because the penguins blended in with the background, but I eventually got it to work. I also had trouble placing the cloud in front of the cloud. It was difficult to get it extract the cloud perfectly. 

In the Future

Next time, I will add more images. I would use that same tools if I repeated the process. In the future, I will be able to add images without pixel fringe. I will be able to pull information from this project to expand my knowledge. In the future, I will feel even more comfortable with photoshop.

Conclusion

Overall, I am very happy with how it all turned out. I think the mountain looks good and the cloud looks realistic. The mountain's tip turned out how I wanted it to. The penguins add a touch of my personality.