​Photoshop & After-effects
Week 1
We started off week 1 with preparing footage for photoshop, learning how to cut out the environment using the magic wand tool, Dividing layers into background and foreground.
On the same day we learnt how to create our first ever (mine at least) GIF using photoshop, and the basic of animation using only photoshop. We set our frame rates to 12 frames per second and adjusted our timeline and onion skin according, off we animated. I enjoyed creating my little “sunny” side up sun.
Week 2
In week two, using most of the same techniques, we learnt in week 1, we created the animation GIF of the flying duck, This time taking in the elements of colour and outline requiring 2 layers that are edited frame by frame.
The 3 elements of background, sun and duck were composited together in After-effects. We assembled our footage in the timeline, adjusted our timeline indicator, importing and looping our footage to however long necessary and finally moving our subjects, (cloud, bird, sun) according to produce the final product seen below
Week 3
Week 3 focused on masks and paths. We learnt how to use the pen tool to mask our moving object frame by frame for a smooth transition, revealing our heart felt opinions on the success of the British football league.
We also summarised what we had learnt in photoshop and after affects before transferring our knowledge into what later became our music video.
Week 4
Our independent studies began with accumulating our artists images. My chosen artist was William Kentridge. A South African artist known for his hand drawn sequences and animated films about the Racial and political climate of South Africa that sadly remain to this present day.
His work work spoke to me greatly, and from a biased standpoint made me think of the political climate of my country Iran as it stands. If you may or may not know Iran is going through a pivotal point of protests and riots from the injustice that women have had to face due to the islamic revolution and more recently fuelled by the murder of Mahsa Amini by the Iranian police force.
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I accumulated Artist images, as well as a few images of Iran as a form of inspiration. My song of choice was "Soon we'll be found" by Sia. It's melodic intro and chores, I found were very fitting to the emotions I was l aiming to portray.
Week 5
Midst the attempt to put together the following music video, I came to the realisation that the topic at hand was far more sensitive than something I can put together with the little time I had left, (one would do it justice) I hope to use the subject matter in another project in the near future with a project that is a little less experimental, where I have the learnt skillset and time to focus on the sensitivity of the matter but for now and out of respect, I was going to put the idea aside and head back to the Drawing board.
Once of the artists from the selection of artists that have always been a fan of since seeing their work exhibited at the barbican in 2017 was Basquiat. His work was very chaotic in its nature and can be used to create a more upbeat and fun music video. My song of choice was Stronger by Kanye west, The robotic background audio was fitting to some of basquiats self portraiture series
The attempt of the first music video, It helped to experiment and implement tools used in photoshop, I also edited some audio using premiere pro.
Week 6
The final week before the Crit I put together the music video in a matter of days, The process was very organic and experimental. I Started off by collecting images and removing the background or cutting the images, I then proceeded to add the cut out elements and animation on after effect and animating the final product on there to produce the Music video seen above.
