I used smug stick in filter gallery to blend the two photos. The colors are a lot more defined then this in the Preview and/or Photoshop apps, but the green around her eyes matches well her shirt. I altered the hue of the top layer so that the flower she is holding is similar to the flowers in the background. I also used 60% opacity for the top later to better blend the layer with the background.

I love the expression on his face in this photo. Jonny writes his own music for his solo album and I thought layering his lyrics over such an intriguing photo really showed his passion. The angle of the light coming down onto the photo was perfect, so I added the lens flare at the top as if he was staring into it. I loved the original photo itself, so I decided not to add any filtering/saturation/etc.

The two photos both use the opacity technique. The subjects' faces also show a great deal of emotion, one more of a pondering gaze and the other a straight forward stare, exemplifying her dark brown eyes. In the first photo, I used smug stick on both the background and the layering. Since the background was originally a canvas painting, it look funny underneath the digital photo. By filtering the two, they blended much better with one another and eliminated the choppiness. The photo of Jonny used very little alternations and no filtering because I liked the photo to begin with. The lens flare above his head and the lyrics were generally the only alterations I made.

I have become more acquainted with Filter Gallery in this project. I have also applied opacity to many of my photos and learned different ways of using it. Pertaining to my own artistic preferences and likes: I tend to crank up the saturation and involve a lot of color in my work. I feel that photos jump out more and appear more interesting with brighter, more vibrant hues.

Balloon man in Chicago

I have always had a fascination with skylines, specifically Chicago. The original photo was a daytime shot with the classic blue sky, a dark ocean, fluffy white clouds and detailed skyscrapers. I decided to remove the main focus from the buildings and put it on the pink sky and the balloon man. The contrast between the deep turquoise ocean and the pink sky balance well between the silhouetted buildings. The balloon man serves as my main subject, drawing attention to the top left-hand balloons and the underlying shadows of the bottom balloons. The angle of the balloon man accurately portrays the feel of "The Windy City". Although the city of Chicago is a busy place, the blacked-out buildings on the pink sky give it a sort of peacefulness. The photo shows composition best in the water with the dark splotches, giving it a three-dimension look and suggests that there is a slight wind, brushing the waves along.

I have always had a general sense of Photoshop, but over the past few weeks I have gained a better understanding of its tools. I am now able to use these to improve and strengthen my photos. I have also learned that I cannot force myself to take a picture of something. Although any picture can become interesting with the right composition or balance and a splash of Photoshop, I tend to take a less interesting picture if I feel forced on a subject. My new rule of thumb is that I need to test out subjects and angles. If something isn't working or I don't feel satisfied, I will just move on. It is better to take more time to look for the right picture than to take something that isn't up to par.

This was taken down near my great grandparents house. It is the outside to a boat-building shack. This photo serves its purpose well, despite the straight angles and centered weighting. The vibrancy of the colors brings out specific details and gives it good composition. The colors give the photo a slight eerie feeling, however the contrast is what gives the photo its spark.

There is very little negative space in the photo which gives a viewer much to look at. The white in the door contrasts well with the black towards the bottom. My favorite attribute to the image would be the slight splash of blue near the upper part of the door. The awkward paint splotches covering the door and its panels (along with the upside down fish) blatantly show that this shack is much older than I could even guess at. Its age and condition help the photo to become more intriguing - something a plain, new door couldn't achieve.

What is Digital Art?

Digital Art is the new age craze that involves both advanced technology and modern art, introducing new styles and engaging compositions that involve weighting, implied lines, intriguing angles, and many new concepts. Digital Art revolves around the technological hemisphere, pushing art to an extreme. Although painting and drawing can portray a very precise image of realistic quality, photographs bring out tiny details a brush or pen cannot perceive. Also, editing images with computer programs sheds light on impossible circumstances in realistic settings. With a camera and a panning eye, ready for the perfect shot, art goes beyond the classic canvas and expands ideas and possibilities as it corresponds with the world's new developments in technology.