Week 07: Blog Assignment #7 / Manuela Insixiengmay
Catamarca is a small town in Argentina
In crafting this assignment, my focus was on using a Catamarca city-themed mug as the product. The primary objective was to not only showcase the mug itself but also to promote the city’s name and generate curiosity among the audience about its significance.
To make the promotional effort more engaging, I opted for an adorable illustration that tends to attract attention and evoke interest. Cute images often resonate well with people, drawing them in and sparking a positive response.
To enhance the overall aesthetic, I carefully selected elements that already exist on the mug, such as plants and colors that complement the design. This serves a dual purpose – creating visual harmony in the photograph and ensuring that the product stands out without overshadowing its natural surroundings.
By incorporating these thoughtful choices, my aim is to not only present a product but to tell a story, capturing the essence of Catamarca in a way that resonates with potential customers and encourages them to explore the city further.
The commercial kicks off with these hilarious clips of girls doing sports, you know, the usual stuff where they trip or goof up during practice. All of this is set to this super fun and peppy song. Then, boom, a message pops up: “The knocks don’t stop girls playing sports, low body confidence does.” Next, we see this teenage girl looking kinda bummed while checking herself out in the mirror. “45% of girls quit sport by age 14,” the screen says, hitting you with the facts. Then it’s like, “Hey, let’s do something about it. Join the Body Confident Program.” And just when you think it’s a downer, bam, the girl’s back at it, giving her all in her sports practice. Game on! I believe the audience are the parents of these teenager and probably the teenagers as well.
Pro’s: I find this ad very engaging from the beginning, it’s always fun to see the “behind the scenes” of athletes, so they had a good start. Also, the message and the statistics they share with the audience help us understand the gravity of this problem and creates awareness in the audience.
Con’s: I understand that this ad was mainly designed for girls, but it would have been great to include male teenagers as well, as I believe that body insecurity affects both genders. /I don’t have any other cons, really, but I would have liked to see a different sport besides swimming.
Michelob Ultra – “Superior Beach”
“The ad kicks off with Messi and his buddies heading out for some beers, specifically Michelob Ultra. As the bartender is about to pour Messi a glass, the beer from the tap runs out, and she has to refill it. But wait, a soccer ball rolls in, and Messi, being Messi, ditches the bar scene for a game on the beach. People are hyped, recognizing Lionel in action. Even Jason Sudeikis and Dan Marino on a yacht join in, tossing the ball to Messi. Finally, the bartender calls Messi over, and it’s time to savor that well-deserved beer.”
Pro’s: It’s so cool that they got Messi, as he’s very recognizable and relatable to most people worldwide. Just seeing him in the first shot is very engaging. / The shot’s frames and the variety of angles, like the aerial one capturing the tops of the umbrellas, are aesthetically pleasing. They contribute significantly to the sense of motion, enhancing the play.”
Con’s: Messi’s English is not the best, and I couldn’t understand what he said. / In the scene where the sandcastle was destroyed, I wish they could have worked around it by incorporating some cool tricks to show that they still appreciate others’ efforts.
Why do you feel it would be a good experience or addition to your portfolio?
For a while now, I’ve been wanting to blend two things that I thoroughly enjoy—illustration and photography. It would be a tremendous experience to experiment and harmonize both skills, not only enhancing my creative versatility but also giving a unique tone to my portfolio. This would showcase my ability to produce mixed-media works and demonstrate my proficiency in various techniques.
What skills do you hope to gain?
It would aid me in better planning my photographs since I’ll need to consider what I’ll illustrate or where the illustration I create will fit into the composition. Additionally, it will help me enhance and refine my illustrative techniques, allowing me to manage shadows, lights, and textures more effectively. This is crucial for creating a cohesive piece that integrates seamlessly with the photograph.
“Solitarios acompañados” 2019 Analog photographic / Capture 6 images
The manipulation of the perception of an image depends on each person and their life experiences. However, there are certain patterns that we all follow, and we, as photographers, can use them to convey a message or evoke a feeling in the viewer. Nevertheless, not everything that is seen is what it seems. With this project, I would like to call for reflection, focusing specifically on this last point.
I created this photographic series as the final project upon completing the short photography course in my country. Despite the passing years, I feel that this project has not lost the value I gave it, and I still hold it dear.
Having grown up with digital cameras, learning photography with analog cameras was an entirely new world for me. Not only the different mechanism but the entire dynamic and manipulation required in the analog photography process and photo development were a challenge. It was also a challenge to exclusively photograph in black and white as there was no reliance on communicating through color.
The process of undertaking this project was incredibly challenging due to the chosen theme and style. Personally, I have always been drawn to simple things that convey a lot. That’s why I chose silhouettes. However, when I started, I didn’t have enough knowledge to successfully execute the images, so there were quite a few trial-and-error scenarios. I used four rolls of 36 photos, and the first two were purely experimental. I wanted to see how the photos looked in different environments and situations, and if I could achieve the desired result, the backlit silhouette, in any of those situations. After experimenting enough and learning from the mistakes made, I began to achieve the results I wanted along with the emotion I sought to convey in each image.
The second part of the process was developing the rolls to obtain the negatives. Then, I created a contact sheet to choose the photos that best represented my project. Afterward, I had to make different test strips to determine the intensity of light and the time needed for each image so that they would be coherent as a group. For the final development, I chose cotton fiber paper to give it a matte effect and preserve the image for a long time. After developing each image, I conducted a meticulous check with a magnifier to ensure the photos were free of any dirt and that the color was as desired. To exhibit the set of photographs in the gallery, I placed each image in a frame to enhance the appreciation of each photograph.
This is a card game that I was introduced to last Christmas. I found it incredibly fun and easy to play while having conversations with friends. It doesn’t require a lot of attention, so there’s no chance of awkward silence. The game dynamics are easy to understand once you start playing.
Ages: 8+ | Number of Players: 2-8 | Length of Game: 30-60 minutes. | Objective: Try and minimize the number of points on your cards.
To set up the game we start shuffling the deck of cards and dealing twelve cards face down to each player. (I was playing just with one more person) . The rest of the cards will be the draw pile and you’ll have to take the top card and turned it over to start the discard pile.
Each player places the twelve cards they were dealt into a 4 x 3 grid. All of these cards will remain face down as players can not look at them. Once the setup is done each player chooses two of their face down cards and flips them over. Whoever has the highest total will start the round.
The dynamics are simple: when it’s your turn, you can draw one card from the pile or pick one from the discard pile to replace any of your cards with lower numbers. It’s easy to replace the cards you flipped over at the beginning, but it gets interesting when you aim to replace those faced down. Occasionally, the card you choose might be higher than the one faced down, and once you decide to keep it, there’s no turning back—you have to replace it.
The game will end once one of the players has turned all of their cards face up. The rest of the players will get to take one more turn. All of the players will then flip over any cards that are still face down. Each player will total the points printed on all of their cards. The player that ended the round (was the first to flip over all of their cards) must score the least points in the round. If another player scores the same number of points or less, the player that ended the round will double the amount of points they score in the round.
Tools I currently have: I believe I have gained valuable insights in my life through experiences and the people who have surrounded me. I appreciate the knowledge imparted by teachers, friends, bosses, family, and even strangers. I recognize that there is always something to learn from everybody and every situation.
Logo design and branding.
Ability to work with various file formats and resolutions.
Knowledge of color theory and composition.
Design softwares
Illustration and vector graphics.
Camera operation and composition.
Collaboration with other team members.
Meeting project deadlines.
Organizing project assets and files.
Creative problem-solving.
Attention to detail.
Tools I have that need development: Having certain skills in progress motivates me to continually push myself to refine them and do my best. I feel grateful to have the opportunity to further develop my skills as a professional.
Print design and production.
Photo editing and retouching.
Lighting techniques and understanding.
Knowledge of different photographic styles.
Video editing and post-production.
Web design and development basics.
Interactive media design.
User interface (UI) and user experience (UX) design.
Effective communication of artistic concepts.
Understanding of the industry trends.
Tools I do not have that I need to learn: In my career path, having a broad set of skills is necessary to thrive. It’s a highly competitive field where skilled individuals receive more opportunities because clients prefer one person to manage most of the project. With a curious mind, I’m always trying to learn something new so that when the time comes, I’m ready to give my all.
Cinematography and camera operation.
Motion graphics and animation.
Sound design and editing.
Interactive media design.
3D modeling techniques.
Rigging and character animation.
Rendering and visual effects.
Knowledge of marketing and promotional strategies.
Original Prompt: A young good looking man is wearing a flowered bathing suit, sunglasses and an astronaut helmet. He is holding in one hand a martini with cherry in it and in the other hand is holding a cat which is also wearing sunglasses and an astronaut helmet. Both are in the space looking directly to the sun which is reflected in the helmets. You can see the earth behind them.
This is how I wanted the image to look like
I used https://www.craiyon.com to generate the following images. / This Ai-Generator took a long time to generate these images which are very low quality.
Edited Prompt #2: A stylish young man in a flowered bathing suit, sunglasses, and an astronaut helmet holds a martini with a cherry. In his other hand, he cradles a cat, also wearing sunglasses and a helmet. Together, they gaze at the sun’s reflection in their helmets, surrounded by the vastness of space with Earth in the background.
I chose “Artistic portrait” for the style of the images.
Edited prompt #3 Young smiling man in space wearing sunglasses and open astronaut helmet, also wearing flower shorts, holding a martini in one hand and a cat on a leash in the other. Sunlight reflecting on them and planet Earth in the background.
For this prompt I used the “Hyperreal” style.
To conclude, I thoroughly enjoyed the process of generating various images using different software. “The Craiyon” stood out as the only platform where I could successfully create the bathing suit, a detail I wanted to emphasize for the “vacation” aspect. However, the drawback was the noticeably low quality of the images, and the generation process took more than a minute.
On a positive note, “Creator Night Cafe Studio” impressed me with its versatility, offering a range of options related to the style of the generated images. Additionally, it boasted a quicker image generation time. One downside, though, was that after exhausting the initial time tokens, the options for choosing different “creators” were limited compared to the premium version.
In summary, each software had its strengths and weaknesses, with considerations such as image quality, generation speed, and available options shaping the overall user experience. It was a fantastic first experience, and I’m genuinely excited to continue learning how to craft effective prompts to achieve the desired results. The exploration of these tools has opened up a world of creative possibilities, and I look forward to further refining my skills in generating compelling content.
Lately I’ve been wanting to play a lot more with lights in the studio, I love to use one light and create interesting shadow but I also enjoy giving the light some sort of shapes that lays on the person or objects I’m photographing. Before having the access to a studio I would use natural light and anything with holes that could Create patters with the light. Now I found out that there are actually special attachments for spot lights named “Gobo” that will give very, VERY interesting shadows to the photos.
I consider myself a creative individual with a broad range of interests, knowing a little about a lot but acknowledging that I can’t know everything. I am always eager to learn and educate myself across various topics. My expertise includes graphic design, photography, fashion, interior design, makeup, music, painting, drawing, writing, and organization. I find joy in singing, dancing, and indulging in movies and TV shows. While I appreciate dark humor, I hold strong values and strive to be a better person every day. Family is at the core of my values, and I have a deep love for my country, Peru. I am enamored with our traditions, food, nature, landscapes, and communities.
My journey into the world of art began at an early age, inspired by my sister’s passion for drawing anime and cartoons and my mother’s love for singing and dancing. Growing up, I was drawn to visual aesthetics, finding beauty in posters, albums, and anything visually appealing. I strived to make everything aesthetically pleasing, from my notebooks to my handwriting and love letters. When I decided to pursue Graphic Design, it opened up an adventurous world for me. I finally grasped the essence of what makes a graphic piece visually pleasing – the color palette, composition, balanced fonts, and the interactions between elements. I acquired the technical skills to draw faces and bodies, understanding proportions for different elements. It felt like magic! I could now recognize and label every aspect that contributes to a balanced piece. This journey also led me into the realm of Photography, where, armed with my previous knowledge, I aimed to capture fleeting moments and share them with others. My thirst for learning was insatiable, finding endless possibilities with the right knowledge.
My unique perspective stems from my experiences and knowledge. It’s about the way I scrutinise details and meticulously work towards achieving the envisioned results. Each time I embark on a photo shoot or design project, I bring the ability to pinpoint what I want to convey, backed by my knowledge and understanding of the tools. If there’s something I don’t know, I’m always open to learning.
“You don’t make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” ― Ansel Adams
It was really interesting trying to find specific shapes in my surroundings. It took me a while to find the letter for the assignment but It was so much fun!
