The document outlines an experimental photography project involving double exposure, zoom burst, and post-production techniques. The student plans to create double exposures by merging two contrasting images, and zoom burst photos exploring different camera settings. They will require a DSLR camera and locations in York and Leeds. A schedule is provided detailing planned shoots on specific dates with intended subjects and equipment. Contact sheets are included showing initial results.

1. Experimental
Photography
Jamie Mellors
1
Planning and Production
Documentation

2. What types of experimental photography will you produce?
Double Exposure, Zoom Burst
What post-production techniques will be required?
Using Photoshop
What do you intend to do?
I intend to create double exposure photography by capturing two different contrasting images
and merging them together. I plan to produce several varied ideas including animals, people,
architecture and natural scenery. To create a zoom burst that is original I must experiment
heavily with different camera settings. Settings such as the shutter speed, the distance
zoomed in and flash on or off. The zoom burst technique allows me to try and test a large
range of techniques. I will experiment will panning shots, unusual subjects, twisting the
camera, etc… For a subject I will use man made items made up of shapes, for example my
watch.
Proposal
What equipment is required?
I will require a DSLR camera, with a variable zoom lens.

3. What locations are required?
York City Centre
Leeds City Centre (Possibly)
A lit studio
Race course area
Plan
Time Date Equipment and Subjects
2.51 20/11/15 Tripod
Ruby(subject)
Swara(subject)
DSLR
2.40 27/11/15 DSLR
Watch (subject)
2.15 08/10/15 DSLR
Tree(subject)
Architecture(subject)
2.30 20/11/15 DSLR
Tree-bare branchs(subject)

4. Contact Sheets

5. 5

6. 6
Some of the files in this
contact sheet were lost
due to a damaged
memory stick.

7. 7

8. Developments
On this slide, you are to evidence your developmental process (production or post-
production) by using print-screens, scans or photographs. Ensure to annotate images with
your thoughts and processes.

9. 9

10. 10

11. 11
To begin with I found a stock image I had taken
with the face of my watch in good focus and
quality ( all that is important is the shape).
From here I cropped the image to where I felt
would compliment the final image. I chose a
cinematic wide aspect ratio.

12. 12
These are the two images I
began with. The idea for this
piece is to select the shape of
the leaves and to copy the
colours of the watch into a
merge of both images.

13. 13
To select the shape of a large section of the leaves in this image I used the colour
range tool. This allows me to only get the orange/red colour of the leaves while
leaving other background colours and branches out of the selection. I turned the
fuzziness up to a high level to select enough leaves to cover 1/3 or more of the
image of the watch. I messed around with the levels to get a clear cut selection.

14. 14
I then selected the layer
containing the picture of
the watch. I then used
CMD + C to copy a
selection that I had made
of the leaves.
CMD + P pastes the selection
of this layer onto a new layer.
With all other layers hidden
the result looked like this.

15. 15
Finally all I needed to do was
create a background for the work
so far. To do this I used the
rectangular shape tool and drew
a shape to fit the page. I thought
I looked bland, so I added a
gradient overlay fading from
silver/grey at one side to white.
At various stages during the
process I practiced optimising the
image further with
levels/hue/saturation to get the
right balance.

16. 16
The first stage of the process of making this
final image was capturing a extremely
distorted zoom burst shot. This required a
long shutter speed and a large change in the
zoom distance(mm). I changed the image to
black and white after in postproduction. The
original subject of the image was my watch.

17. 17
The image on the left is the original uneditede image. I used a combination of the
colour range tool and the quick select tool to select the branches and trunk of the
tree. I then copied the layer and pasted it onto the other image of the zoom burst.
With this layer selected I put a deep black colour overlay onto the layer as shown
below.

18. 18
I resized the layer using the free transform tool to appear
in the centre of the image. This makes it look as if the
image was originally part of the photo. The distortion of
the zoom burst has created leading lines that navigates
the viewer’s eye to the tree silhouette. Before moving on
to the next stage I needed to blend the tree to the other
image. Without this the sharp edges stood out and
created an unwanted contrast with the first image. Using
the eraser tool is adjusted the slider so that the hardness
was on the lowest setting. From here I moved the tool
around the edges of the layer, taking care not to effect
the shape. Doing this faded the edges to better blend
with the background. Finally as shown in the final image
below I added a slight Gaussian blur to the layer as I felt
it improved the look.

19. 19
The photo of the watch is an original image I took it for experimental use in a diffrernt
project upon getting it on the computer I decided to enlarge it to see how a zoom burst
would turn out. This is the result, the bright screen display has allowed the blacks the
stand out and stretch nicely. The large size of the subject allowed the entire frame of
the shot to begin at the edges of the watch resulting in a wide and full shot.

20. 20
The process of creating this final image was easy and quick I first cropped the shot down
to a more appropriate size. This new dimension allowed the clock face to occupy the
entirety of the shot. Using the levels tool I optimised the image to bring out the blacks
further I also did the same with the black and white adjustment panel.

21. 21
This is the original image taken on a dark background, a black mouse mat. The
settings on the camera were set to a lower f/ to keep only element of the shot in
focus. The middle of the watch is the clearest area of the image whereas the front
side is beginning the blur. At this stage I also played around with the levels,
exposure and colour balance.

22. 22
Taken from the image of the previous slid the this watch fame was cut out using
the elliptical tool. With this selection is added a pronounced feather (5-7px I lost
the original sum). This feather effect allows the watch face the blend seamlessly
with another layer without obvious sharp edges. This must be subtle as the plan
with this layer is to place it over the top of the other watch face of the base layer.
To allow both layer to be visible I turned the opacity down to 50% to allow equal
visibility from both layers.

23. 23
This is the result of the combination of the two clock faces. I like how it appears that time
has passed, this seams to give motion to the image. I experimented with more than two
layers but I felt in overdid the effect.

24. 24
This is a photo I took of the York
college architecture. I though it
would be a good idea to import this
image into the current project as an
experiment and place it onto of the
watch face. I chose this one due to its
space in the centre of the image, and
the lines leading to this point. The
colours are also bright and vibrant
which was a good bonus. Using this
image I positioned it onto the watch
face at my chosen scale. After I
turned the opacity down to 42%.

25. 25
With all layers turned to visible the progress is as seen on the left. I experimented
with colour schemes as shown here. I put a red tint on the layer which displays the
architecture. I also tried a black and white version which I liked the least of all. In the
end I felt the original colours were the best looking. This is the work as it was
completed. After reviewing the image on a different monitor I noticed that there
were was a clear outline where the two shades met in a box shape. This was an easy
thing to amend the final image does not have this error.

26. 26

27. 27
Final Images

28. What are your opinions regarding this image?
This image is the only one out of my final images that can be identified as a double exposure, similar to those that you
might find online. I have retained the shape of the model all the way up to the top of her head. I experimented with the
branches spilling out at other areas but the shape that clearly defined the model as a human being was lost which ruined
the look of the final outcome. I should have chosen a background image (the branches) that had some clear space, this
would allow me to retain more of the model’s features. As an attempt to highlight the model’s facial features I put a
shade of green over that area. There is nothing really wrong with the image only that it doesn’t really impresses, there is
nothing particularly unique about it. The way I have erased the branches of the trees coming from the model’s head
towards the top of the page cut off a bit too abruptly.

29. What are your opinions regarding this image?
I feel that this was a good idea that didn’t quite work out in practice. Part of the idea was create what I originally wanted to be a blur effect
passing over the clock-face in a circular motion. Instead I have duplicated the layer and rotated it, thankfully I feel this has worked better than
my original plan. This produced some problems it has created an area that can be seen where there is clear clipping between layers (around
the edges of the watch). However what I do like is the very dark background with little to understand where the subject(watch) has been
placed the watch strap though barely visible is the only idea of relation and perspective that the viewer gets. While in great contrast the
watch face and shiny metal lights up the centre of the image, I’m only just wondering whether I should have cropped the image so that the
watch face was bang in the centre. The low depth of field effect is also worth mentioning as a positive.

30. What are your opinions regarding this image?
This is my favourite final image of all the ones I have made. I felt it was appropriate to keep the real colours of the photos because of how
well the final outcome looks. I did originally intend to colour different parts of image, e.g. the watch or just the leaves, or random selections
of each. I chose a cinematic wide aspect ratio to create a centre of the image. Focus should be on the main subject which is the watch. Also
cutting the image down horizontally allows only the straps to be hidden as a detail that is not interesting in shape. The image did not look
nearly as good with a solid colour background therefor I experimented and decided on a gradient overlay.

31. What are your opinions regarding this image?
A really very simply done image. A zoom burst of a watch blown up on a monitor. There was little post production to do. I personally like that
the pixels of the screen have shown through in the final image, although it would have had its merits had the image have been clean. From a
technical standpoint I feel the amount of distortion is neither too extreme or tame. The blur that stretches the hour indicators stop with
enough room to display the centre’s empty white space and clock hands. These lines act as leading line to draw the viewer’s eye. I was
undecided as to make the image black and white or not, to only real difference was red second hand which I am glad I left in.

32. What are your opinions regarding this image?
Instantly I feel that this is my least favourite of my five final images. Taking an extremely distorted image and adding a miscellaneous object
isn’t really very impressive, although I can see that the effect I hoped to achieve has worked. The tree does appear to be a long distance away
at the end of some kind of vision (perhaps how a dream might be presented in a film). The tree does not look as if it is a part of the rest of
the image, which is neither good nor bad. This image might have been more effective had I chosen a more interesting subject. Also a
selection from a tree behind the subject tree is still visible, this is due to an inaccurate selection, luckily without this information it does not
look out of place.