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Graphic Design
Manipulating my image - Part One
Manipulating my image is a kind of on-going fascination for me. I have no idea why but I guess there are some deep rooted psycological issues I have yet to deal with. I find it fascinating to take a photo of myself with a plain background and then transport that image to somewhere completely different. I fully intend these self-portraits to be a running theme throughout my work and will return and complete another one as my competence grows and style develops.
This first image in the series is entitled 'T2'. The idea is, quite obviously, based around the Terminator movies which have, like me, spanned three decades. The movies are part of cinematic history and most people I have shown recognise the imagery instantly.
Click on image to view large version (Lightbox)
The work was never intended to be a carbon copy of the Terminator image. Instead, I wanted to imagine myself as a Terminator and I also wanted to give it more of a 'comic book' feel. The work was completed using Photoshop CS2 and employs increased contrast to the original photo and the 'posterisation' options to create a 'drawn' effect.
I was particularly pleased with how the missing skin on the top and sides of my face reveals the metal underneath. I was glad that I had decided on the comic book idea as getting a 'photoreal' effect on this would have been frustrating and, ultimately, beyond my capabilities. If I could change anything in the image then I would approach the exposed cyborg eye but, as you will see with a lot of my work, sometimes I feel that it is better to just stop when I have something that looks pretty good. Over-engineering a project can often have the opposite of the desired effect and you end up with something you aren't as happy with as you might have been.
I have used this image as an avatar on a few forums and it currently decorates my facebook badge.
