This project commenced with the selection of a meaningful movie quote that held a personal connection. The challenge was to visually interpret and convey the quote's essence solely through the art of photo manipulation while adhering to a strict black-and-white color palette.
I harnessed the power of Adobe Photoshop to meticulously edit multiple images, experimenting with a diverse range of effects and techniques. The objective was to craft a compelling visual representation that encapsulated the very essence of the chosen quote.
MOVIE QUOTE #1
Best fights are the ones we avoid.” – Karate Kid 2010
After watching Mr Han in action, Dre asked Mr Han if he could teach him some Kung Fu.
Dre: Have you ever taught anybody?
Mr Han: No.
Dre: Would you?
Mr Han: Depends.
Dre: On what?
Mr Han: Reason.
Dre: What about to kick somebody’s ass?
Mr Han: Best fights are the ones we avoid.
Interpretation:
The quote emphasizes the importance of avoiding unnecessary conflicts. It suggests that true strength lies in one's ability to exercise restraint and not succumb to the temptation of engaging in fights or confrontations.
Representation:
Fist: Symbolizes strength and anger, embodying the potential for confrontation.
Rope: Represents self-control, serving as a visual metaphor for restraint.
Zipper: Portrays the juxtaposition of two distinct locations – one within the zipper and the other outside, creating a visual contrast.
Man: Depicts the provocative actions of the main subject, illustrating the source of tension and conflict.
Smoke: Enhances the emotional impact by visually emphasizing the heightened emotions and agitation experienced by the man.
Design Principles:
Contrast: A stark contrast was established by employing a white color scheme for the subjects and a black background. This contrast draws attention to the key elements and underscores the emotional tension.
Repetition: To emphasize the subject's capacity for self-control, I strategically repeated the image of the clenched fist. This repetition reinforces the central message of restraint in the face of provocation.
Movement: The graceful curves produced by the smoke elements introduce a sense of movement within the composition. These curves guide the viewer's gaze toward the fists, adding dynamism to the scene and enhancing its visual impact.
Rationale:
I interpreted the quote directly, illustrating how one can avoid a physical altercation by showcasing clenched fists tied with ropes. These clenched fists symbolize the individual's self-control in resisting the impulse to react to the provocations of the man in the zipper.
I positioned the man within a partially zipped zipper to emphasize the concept of self-control's power. The act of controlling oneself exerts a force akin to zipping a zipper, effectively stopping the provocation from the man. This visual representation underscores the idea that the ability to exercise restraint can prevent conflicts from escalating.
IMAGES USED
(Akyurt, 2017), (Gutan, 2019), (Meier, 2019), (Zip Closure, 2017)
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MOVIE QUOTE #2
“When fighting angry, blind men, best to just stay out of the way. ” – Karate Kid 2010
Mr Han saw Dre getting beaten up by the four boys. He stood up for Dre and told the boys to go home. Feeling angry and humiliated, the boys insisted on staying and fighting with Mr Han. It was one man against four, and as expected, the boys lost although Mr Han did not throw a single punch at them.
Dre: How did you do that out there? You didn’t even punch them. They beat each other up.
Mr Han: When fighting angry, blind men, best to just stay out of the way.
Mr Han: When fighting angry, blind men, best to just stay out of the way.
Interpretation:
The quote underscores the wisdom of avoiding confrontation with someone consumed by anger. In such a state, individuals often lose their ability to judge the worthiness of a fight, and instead, their unchecked rage leads them to harm themselves and others. The best course of action is to step back and let their anger run its course, preventing unnecessary harm.
Representation
Man: The subject.
Archery: The man uses archery to express his anger.
Sword: A replacement for the arrow.
Blindfold: To portray that his anger blinded the man.
Fire: To emphasise the man’s emotions
Birds: The victims of the subject.
Rationale:
I interpreted the quote in the context of how people usually let anger takes them over and resulted in them failing to make proper decisions that will only lead to them hurting themselves.
I interpreted the quote in the context of how people usually let anger takes them over and resulted in them failing to make proper decisions that will only lead to them hurting themselves.
The man was annoyed by the presence of the birds and it triggers him to shoot them with his archery. The birds can also be seen flying away from him instead of defending themselves or attacking him.
When the man’s anger blindfolds him, he will unknowingly hurt himself instead of the victims. Thus, the birds should stay out of the way.
Design Principles
Asymmetrical: I tilted the man slightly to the right to create an asymmetrical balance that evokes a movement and to create a focal point.
Common Fate: The birds are flying in the same direction.
Asymmetrical: I tilted the man slightly to the right to create an asymmetrical balance that evokes a movement and to create a focal point.
Common Fate: The birds are flying in the same direction.
IMAGES USED
(Pasaric, 2018), (Wu, 2018), (Fire Wallpaper, 2016), (Newton, 2017), (Kelly, 2020), (Porzynski, 2016)
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MOVIE QUOTE #3
“She cuts a wide river in the sky to separate them.” – Karate Kid 2010
During the Qixi Festival, Dre met Mei Ying at Shaolin Theatre. Mei Ying shared with Dre about the performance.
Mei Ying: It’s the story of the goddess and the boy she loves. Her mother does not approve of him, so she cuts a wide river in the sky to separate them forever.
Interpretation:
The river symbolizes the connection between the goddess and the man she loves. The mother's act of cutting the river in the sky signifies the severing of their ties, resulting in the end of their relationship.
Representation
Dress: Symbolizes beauty, particularly the beauty of the goddess.
Lion: Represents the alleged belief in power and significance.
Fabric: Symbolizes the interconnected relationship between the goddess and the man she loves.
Rationale:
Fabrics are composed of intertwined threads, much like the connection between the goddess and her true love, bound together. However, the goddess's mother seeks to sever this bond, believing the man unworthy.
The choice of a flowing dress signifies the goddess's beauty, while the lion embodies power and self-perceived significance. Although the lion is often considered the "King of the Jungle," it is not necessarily the most dominant creature. In this context, the image illustrates the mother's attempt to separate the couple by cutting the fabric, reflecting the lion's pride and the mother's belief that the man is not a suitable match for her daughter. The enlarged scissors emphasize the mother's anger.
Design Principles:
Proportion: I deliberately distorted the proportion of the scissors to emphasize the woman's perceived power and dominance.
Movement: The curves in the fabric create a sense of movement, indicating the diverging paths as the woman cuts it. This visual element underscores the idea of separation between the goddess and the man she desires to be with.
IMAGES USED
(Studio, 2020), (Flaxeco, 2018), (2018), (Office Scissors, 2014), (2020)
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MOVIE QUOTE #4
“The snake reflects her action, like still water.” – Karate Kid 2010
Dre found himself in awe as he observed a woman and a cobra at the summit of the mountain. Curious, he asked Mr. Han if he noticed the woman mimicking the cobra's actions. However, Mr. Han corrected Dre, explaining that it was, in fact, the cobra that mirrored the woman's movements. To illustrate his point further, Mr. Han provided an analogy using the concept of still water.
Mr Han: Look. What do you see?
Dre: Me. Well, my reflection.
Mr Han: Yes. Now, what do you see?
Dre: It’s blurry.
Mr Han: Yes. The woman was like still water. Quiet, calm. In here, and in here. So the snake reflects her action, like still water.
Dre: Me. Well, my reflection.
Mr Han: Yes. Now, what do you see?
Dre: It’s blurry.
Mr Han: Yes. The woman was like still water. Quiet, calm. In here, and in here. So the snake reflects her action, like still water.
Interpretation:
In the context of the quote, the snake symbolizes the woman's genuine self, mirroring her composed and tranquil nature.
Representation
Rope: Symbolizes a snake, with the intention of representing the woman's true nature.
Rationale:
Upon viewing her reflection, one might perceive only her beauty. However, her true self is revealed to be malevolent. In the composition, I replaced snakes with ropes, visually depicting them as part of her body to symbolize her inherent evil. This choice was made as snakes are commonly associated with negativity and deceit.
Design Principles:
Unity: Despite being constructed from various images, all elements in the composition harmoniously come together to convey the essence of the quote.
Contrast: By applying different effects and tones, I intentionally created a visual contrast between the subjects and the background to highlight the message of the composition effectively.
IMAGES USED
(Wake Mirroring, 2017), (Mittermeier, 2018), (Woman Portrait, 2016)
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REFLECTION
Challenges:
One of the notable challenges I encountered during this project was sourcing existing images that could effectively convey my interpretation of the quotes. My background primarily involves working with colours to create striking contrasts between subjects, so transitioning to a monochromatic palette posed difficulties. Maintaining a clear distinction between the background and foreground in a black-and-white setting was particularly challenging. Additionally, precise placement of all images within the composition was crucial to ensure cohesiveness.
Conclusion:
This project served as a valuable learning experience, enhancing my proficiency in Photoshop by focusing on the deliberate and strategic use of various effects within the software. Unlike my previous approach of randomly selecting effects, I had to thoroughly comprehend each effect and its applicability, aligning them with the positioning of my subjects. In summary, while this project was demanding, I found immense satisfaction in creating these compositions, ultimately meeting the project's objective of interpreting quotes and expressing them through image manipulation exclusively in black and white.
REFERENCES
2014. Office Scissors. [image] Available at: <https://pixabay.com/photos/scissors-cut-office-metal-tool-321238/> [Accessed 21 September 2020].
2016. Fire Wallpaper. [image] Available at: <https://www.pexels.com/photo/red-and-orange-fire-1558916/> [Accessed 25 September 2020].
2016. Woman Portrait. [image] Available at: <https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-portrait-face-human-1892182/> [Accessed 21 September 2020].
2017. Wake Mirroring. [image] Available at: <https://pixabay.com/photos/lake-water-wave-mirroring-texture-2063957/> [Accessed 21 September 2020].
2017. Zip Closure. [image] Available at: <https://pixabay.com/photos/zip-closure-zipp-open-close-2952852/> [Accessed 20 September 2020].
2018. [image] Available at: <https://pixabay.com/photos/lion-big-cat-predator-wild-animal-3848088/> [Accessed 25 September 2020].
2020. Black Female Designer. [image] Available at: <https://www.pexels.com/photo/creative-black-female-designer-making-paper-cutouts-for-project-3817587/> [Accessed 21 September 2020].
2020. [image] Available at: <https://unsplash.com/photos/cqgSaFgMSqg> [Accessed 21 September 2020].
Akyurt, E., 2017. Naked Woman. [image] Available at: <https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-bondage-rope-naked-model-2333327/> [Accessed 20 September 2020].
Flaxeco, V., 2018. [image] Available at: <https://unsplash.com/photos/BCNjBsK37XA> [Accessed 21 September 2020].
Gutan, D., 2019. Man Wearing Black Jacket and Black Pants. [image] Available at: <https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-bondage-rope-naked-model-2333327/> [Accessed 20 September 2020].
Kelly, W., 2020. Man Hunting in Brush with Bow and Arrow. [image] Available at: <https://unsplash.com/photos/lRb4nE6yvAI> [Accessed 20 September 2020].
Meier, P., 2019. Some Smoke. [image] Available at: <https://pixabay.com/photos/woman-bondage-rope-naked-model-2333327/> [Accessed 20 September 2020].
Mittermeier, F., 2018. [image] Available at: <https://pixabay.com/photos/sailing-vessel-ropes-ship-boat-3681418/> [Accessed 25 September 2020].
Newton, J., 2017. [image] Available at: <https://unsplash.com/photos/7qjqQjt7zXQ> [Accessed 25 September 2020].
Pasaric, A., 2018. Low Angle Photography of Flock of Flying Birds. [image] Available at: <https://www.pexels.com/photo/low-angle-photography-of-flock-of-flying-birds-1386454/> [Accessed 20 September 2020].
Porzynski, R., 2016. Sabre Sword. [image] Available at: <https://pixabay.com/photos/sabre-sword-poland-history-king-1859774/> [Accessed 20 September 2020].
Wu, N., 2018. Freedom. [image] Available at: <https://unsplash.com/photos/JyepCoDqics> [Accessed 20 September 2020].
