Digital Photography and Imaging - Project 2
15/10/2025 - 19/11/2025 (Week 4 - Week 9)
Cher Pei Ying (0389055)
Digital Photography and Imaging
Project 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Lectures
1.1 Double Exposure
1.2 Product & Studio Photoshoot
2. Instructions
2.1 Double Exposure
2.2 Conceptual Photo Manipulation
2.2.1 References
2.2.2 Sketches
2.2.3 Process Work
2.2.4 Final Outcome
3. Reflection
1. LECTURES
1.1 Double Exposure
Double Exposure Photography
- Merging multiple images
- Features silhouettes
- Reference: Tips for creating Double Exposure Photography
Types of Double Exposure
- Tilt-Shift Effect
- Create fake reflection
- Experiment with simple portraits and detailed textures
- Convert results to black and white
- Work with silhouettes
- Pick two random photos
- Make simple photos fascinating
- Use shadows
Blend Modes
- Reference: Photoshop Blend Modes explained / Complete guide to Blending Modes
Figure 1.1.1 Blend Modes Figure 1.1.2 Blend Mode Groups
1.2 Product & Studio Photoshoot
Equipments
- Camera (DSLR/mirrorless cameras with interchangeable lenses)
- Smartphone
- Tripod and Mounts
- Lighting Essentials (LED panels/soft boxes)
Preparing the scene:
1. Selecting Backgrounds
- ✅complement product ❌ overpower (✅neutral colors)
- ✅ contrast ❌ patterns
- ✅textures and materials (wood, fabric or marble)
2. Setting Up Light Sources
- natural light: soft & diffused light
- artificial light: 45 degree angle to create attractive shadows and highlight texture
- use white foam board or reflector to bounce light and fill in shadows
3. Arranging the Product
- Place product in the center
- Ensure it is well-lit and in focus
- Use odd numbers
- Vary the heights and angles to achieve dynamic compositions
- Alignment, spacing and cleanliness of product is important
Photo shooting Technics
- Using a Tripod
- Finding the Right Angles: Eye-level shots, 45-degree angle, top-down or flat lay, close-ups and macro shots
- Reference: How you can make a DIY photography studio at home / Photography basic in 10 minutes / Creative Product Photography At Home / Shooting a Bottle with ONE Continuous Light and a Smartphone / How to Take Product Photos: A Step-by-Step Guide / Practicing Product Photography | Trying New Ideas
Figure 1.2.1 Screenshot from video: Photography basic in 10 minutes
2.1 Double Exposure
After watching the tutorial video given, I followed the steps to create a double exposure piece.
Figure 2.1.1 Elements given to create Double Exposure
Figure 2.1.2 Process in Adobe Photoshop
Figure 2.1.3 Final Outcome
Figure 2.1.4 Elements to create Double Exposure
Figure 2.1.5 Process in Adobe Photoshop
Figure 2.1.6 Final Outcome
For this task, we are required to create a photo manipulation of two objects using Adobe Photoshop. We are also required to design a poster and include text in it. First, I looked for object photo manipulation references online to get an idea of the outcomes.
2.2.1 References
Figure 2.2.1.1 Reference of Photo Manipulation 1
Figure 2.2.1.1 Reference of Photo Manipulation 2
Figure 2.2.1.1 Reference of Photo Manipulation 3
2.2.2 Sketches
#1 Instax mini 12 + donut:
2.2.2.1 Photo Manipulation Sketch 1
The front lens of the camara has a big circle shape and a smaller one in the middle, which looks like a donut.
#2 toothbrush + cupcake:
2.2.2.2 Photo Manipulation Sketch 2
The brush part of a toothbrush has strokes that can resemble a cupcake holder.
#3 ukulele + pear:
2.2.2.3 Photo Manipulation Sketch 3
The ukulele has a similar shape to a pear, I kept the ukulele strings and pear leaf to show the characteristics pf the original object.
#4 book + laptop:
2.2.2.4 Photo Manipulation Sketch 4
A book and a laptop has similar characteristics, both of them can be opened and flipped into two and has a same shape.
#5 digital watch + cracker:
2.2.2.5 Photo Manipulation Sketch 5
The screen of a digital watch is square, same as the shape of a cracker.
After looking through all the sketches and receiving feedback, I decided to work on the first sketch.
2.2.3 Process Work
First of all, I have to take photos of a Instax mini 12 camera and a donut.
Figure 2.2.3.1 Photography Setup
I used two table lamps as the light source and placed two A4 sized boards as the background of the objects. This is the photography outcome:
Figure 2.2.3.2 Photography outcome of Instax mini 12 camera
Figure 2.2.3.3 Photography outcome of donut
Figure 2.2.3.4 Composition sketch 1
I chose to continue my work referring to composition sketch 3 in Adobe Photoshop.
First is to select the objects using the selection tool and refine the edges in select and mask, then create a new layer with layer mask.
Figure 2.2.3.7 Background remove (Instax mini 12)
Figure 2.2.3.8 Background remove (donut)
I then added a layer of levels to decrease the brightness of the picture, that layer is then inverted and the shadow at the bottom of the Instax mini 12 and donut is reduced by using the brush tool.
Figure 2.2.3.9 Shadow remove (Instax mini 12)
Figure 2.2.3.10 Background remove (donut)
Then, copy the two objects into a new document and add shadows to the bottom of the donut and to the inside hole. Insert a gradient rectangle as background so that the details can be seen more.
Figure 2.2.3.11 Object combination
Decrease the contrast of the donut and increase the vibrance of Instax mini 12. I also added a level layer for the flash of the Instax mini 12 because it looks too yellowish.
Figure 2.2.3.12 Object adjustments
Add two more donuts at the top left and bottom right corners, and decrease the contrast to highlight the main object more.
Figure 2.2.3.13 Extra donuts adjustments
Text are added into the poster and the color was changed to a gradient that matches the whole composition.
Figure 2.2.3.14 Text added
Circles of different sizes and colors was also added to the background to make the composition more interesting.
Figure 2.2.3.15 Background circles added
Add two polaroid frames with donut pictures to fill in the negative space at the left side of the composition.
Figure 2.2.3.16 Polaroid frames added
Add one more quote at the bottom left and change the fonts to create contrast.
Figure 2.2.3.16 Final adjustments
2.2.4 Final Outcome
This is the final outcome of my conceptual photo manipulation:
Figure 2.2.4.1 Final outcome of conceptual photo manipulation
I combined a Instax polaroid camera with a donut. The lens of the camera has a similar shape with the donut, so it is easily replaced. The whole concept of the poster is to capture happiness with a camera when eating tasty donuts. The quote “snack, smile, snap, share” is a reference from Instax’s tagline, which is “don’t just take, give”. The color theme is mostly purple to match the camera with a bit of orange to match the donut.
3. REFLECTION
The double exposure task needed so much attention to detail as the edges of the pictures require so much editing, especially on the hair of the portrait. For my own exercise, I feel like I could do more and use more elements, so I was not really satisfied with the final outcome. I would try out more versions if I had more time for this task.
The conceptual photo manipulation task is my favorite task for this module. First of all, I had fun looking for different objects that could be combined and created as a photo manipulation work. It required a lot of observations and creativity, and I really liked the ideas I had. Other than that, the editing process for this task went very smoothly for me. I am experienced in designing digital posters so figuring out how to use the combined object I created in a A4 piece went quite well for me. Although I feel like I could've took better photos for my object, as the ones I went with had a part of dark shadow at the bottom.
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