Week 5 Finished

This weeks lesson was on photoshop. Photoshop is a pretty useful tool, but I think a lot of the time people overuse it. I like the fact that we're not doing things to edit people in and out of photographs, but rather to better the image quality of each photograph.
Adjusting color can really set the tone of an image, if you adjust coolness, it can make a picture feel either melancholy or light hearted (depending on the photograph). Warmth can do just that, give the picture a warmer feel, it can change the feel of the lighting. Not every photograph can be meticulously timed and well planned out, some are spur of the moment and for that very fact photoshop is a wonderful thing.
Now I know normally we are supposed to use pictures taken by our camera in class, but I was hoping since this one was for photoshop we wouldn't mind using one that I took with my phone. It will still correctly demonstrate the appropriate usages of photo shop, but in doing so will demonstrate the wonder that is my friend, Connor.

Here is the original image of my friend Connor. Asleep & happy as a clam.

The black and white gives it a classic feel, almost as if he's asleep in the early 1900's, and you wonder, "what tomfoolery has this young man gotten himself into?" 

For this picture, I cooled the photo down quite a bit...it almost looks like there's fluorescent lighting. It really opens your eyes to the fact that there are things still going on and this happy little guy is really missing out!

Warm Connor, did he pass out by the fire? Or is this just really good use of photoshop? I'll never tell. 

Sharp Connor, but let's be real, Connor's always sharp. The shadow over his face almost looks menacing, allowing the viewer to wonder what or who is standing over him. Is he smiling at said shadow? Is said shadow responsible for this debacle in the first place? 

Last but certainly not least, contrasted Connor. Probably not his best look, the shirt looks rather dirty. But regardless, he's so peaceful. We've all been there buddy, sleep tight.

For my famous photographer, I chose to highlight Jay Maisel. Jay takes pictures of a lot of different things, some abstract and some of cityscapes. He lives in New York City, because of this fact he was able to take one of my favorite images of the city on a misty night. I like the fact that he doesn't try to force the city into focus, it's so natural... it is the city in it's element and though it may seem majestic, that literally is what the city looks like most nights in early spring and late winter. Sometimes naturalism is the most important aspect of a photograph and you can see that in his abstract photos. Though the objects are often placed, they seem to fit with their back grounds making them feel as good as they look. 

Info taken from his own website and wikipedia page.