Favorite Director

So I have thought for years that my favorite director was Christopher Nolan. He has been very successful in the last decade or so and has become a huge name in Hollywood. His films are epic with great storylines and visuals. 

However, as I did more research as to quantity of films I generally like, the answer came to be Steven Spielberg as the winner. Probably the most successful and famous director/producer, Spielberg has created a multitude of "classic" films that are generally loved by the public. Not only that, but as I researched more, he has produced over 150 pieces, written over 21 stories and screenplays and has been credited as a director for over 53 films/shorts/series. For example, I had no idea he wrote the story for The Goonies, or that he directed The Color Purple and Hook. He was a producer for the Band of Brothers series that I love, and was an executive producer for the Back to the Future series among other commonly known pieces of work. He has had his hits and misses, but as a whole has created a lot of classics that I grew up with. I also appreciate that he has been diverse in his career, dabbling in different aspects of film production even including editing. Fun fact, after being rejected twice from USC's film school, in 1996 after achieving fame, they awarded him an honorary degree and made him a trustee. He didn't finish his actual degree until 2002, 35 years after starting college.

Compose Your Frame

This is an unedited photo I took in Trieste, Italy. I feel the rule of thirds falls on the bottom right corner with the wavy sidewalk and the 2 individuals walking, as well as the trees on the right side, I imagine the image diced into 9 pieces as was shown to us on the board the other day. The main vector is a the diagonal dock/sidewalk leading to the middle of the sea. This was taken at Miramare, a castle at the edge of Italy and Slovenia. I think the principles of a successful photo exist for a reason, the entice and draw the eyes in specific directions, even if unintentional.

Again another raw image from the top of the Duomo di Milano. The vectors here are self explanatory as the plethora of spires are layered in the image, and the diagonal structure across the frame, ending in a point in the lower right corner, following the rule of thirds as well. The art of the ancient building speaks for itself and provides a multitude of images to influence the viewer. Mostly all architecture in Italy, and I imagine across the globe, have similar design principles intact for the same purpose of drawing the viewer in, establishing beauty and sending out a desired style or message. In a lot of places I was able to visit in Italy I think the message would be greatness by the vastly huge building and design principles, even in such historic times.

Make Up Assignment-Student Campaigns

Analyzing some of the more eye-pleasing campaign ads for this year's student election, I felt this poster was classically mimicking the Shepard Fairey Obama campaign that is so iconic in our generations. Not only is this a smart idea connecting to our psychological preset of the icon. The 2-3 colors used follow a design principle that I learned about last semester in my Communication Design class. We had to make a poster using only 2-3 colors. We also learned about using color that is opposite of reality like having a purple sky for example. The simplicity and blend of the colors pop and are enticing. 

An even more simple design, I actually loved the typography, the spacing between the letters and sizing, how they are balanced and gradually decrease in size and value of content. The white lettering in contrast to her bright shirt work well together. Not much design principle in regards to photoshop like the other, however the design of the type is sufficient for the desired response. I love the background colors, I feel they all blend well together.

Packaging Designs

I love this design. The colors are so bold, the highlights on the green stand out. The type or font of Coco makes it look like bubbles and they flow into one another. The different chunks of fruit floating in the coconut water really make it look appetizing because of the textures and appearance that the water is real. 

This design is a joke. Drunk panda-fish with red lipstick on a noodle bag. Doesn't have any relation with the actual item. The drawings with the mug of beer are poorly done, the colors are all over the place, and even the title of the bag has awful yellow and red. It's just all ugly. I would laugh at this bag and walk away from it. But who knows, maybe in the Japanese culture this is captivating.

Gestalt Pragnanz.

Pragnanz Exhibit/display: Reality is organized or reduced to the simplest form possible.

From this photograph of the artwork exhibit on display we quickly see two triangles and a square in between. When we actually examine it, there are many different shapes, textures, designs that are more complicated than what initially meets the eye.

Visceral Response

There are so many beautiful statues, building of intricate architecture, natural landscapes, etc. in Italy that I found "stupefying." This is only a small part of the rooftop of the Duomo of Milano. The main Catholic cathedral. This cathedral is an icon and the biggest I have ever seen. After walking up about 10 minutes in an ancient, dark, small stairwell, one arrives at the top area of the roof where you can see the city for miles, along with the brilliant detail of the structure. This is such detailed art that really moves me to wonder how it was done so many years ago and how different the priorities back then contrast to now. Here is a shot at a different time of the Duomo. Both images are the natural shot.

Contrast, Balance and Harmony.

I couldn't decide between several photos I took during my time in Italy. The top image was barely touched up with just some grayscaling to enhance the shadows. I am still debating whether or not I like it best with color. The top image is inside a castle called Miramare in Trieste. 

The Miramare photo of the fountain shows a lot of texture, from the old tile floor, the rippling water, the spikes of the statues, the streams themselves, the design of the wall emcompassing the well, and the smooth marble on top. You can also see a sort of growth happening on the water. The contrast is shown from the light hitting the water in the center and highlighting the ripples from the streams, coming from the darkness of the statues in contrast to the lighter marble on which they sit. There are hard shadows from some of the statues, and in the well and outer ring shadow on the water.

This image was taken in Venezia, I did not touch it up at all with any editing. There are so many natural colors and lighting that really emphasize the lines of this image. The canal itself is still and smooth, with shadows and highlights throughout, elongating the canal. The boats' tarps look used, creating a different texture and dingy sort of color. One side of the canal's walkway is lighter than the other, and even the cement seems clearer and cleaner on the left side. Along with the buildings and fence posts or railing. I think this provides contrast in texture, color and perhaps meaning.