Cassie Eberle - Night Prowler

For this project, I knew I wanted to play with a multi-colored led flood light that I have for photo shoots. My hope was to evoke a feeling of chaos, discomfort, and maybe a little fear with the motion shots and lights and shadows. I also know that the outcome of this project was heavily influenced by my in class assignment related to the sparklers, where I chose to add a lot of color and contrast to the piece. I wanted to do the same here, but add more layered effects to add depth and to help merge some of the facial features together to give the illusion of multiple faces joining together to create one creature. I was my own subject as the portrait and used different color lighting to create different colors and shadows, as well as different movements and timings to create different visual effects of the movement blurred across the photos. 

Sara Aftimos- Night Prowler

For this project, I really wanted to explore more of the city of Charlotte. I started with the light rail where I wanted to capture the motion that the rail created when in movement. As I continued walking through the city I captured tons of pictures of cool buildings with bright lights. The overall concept I wanted to create was the overwhelming sense of movement, and how things move so fast in our lives. After taking multiple photos of the light rail, I decided that this would be the main focus of my project, to show how we all go to different places and think of multiple things with the constant movement of everything around us. With all the sense of light within my piece from the long exposure, it can be seen how many things surround us every day. While combining my photos, I added color to the light rail, to add more contrast within the piece. As the other images are pretty neutral I included the blue to make the light rail stand out and make it the first thing you see when viewing.

Fairy Dust - Miranda Santana

 

 

For this project I wanted to explore more costuming and prop work as a major component of my work. My primary idea centered around installing lights into a petticoat and capturing the movement of the fabric with the attached lights. This was a LOT of work and I cannot recommend it to anyone that doesn't enjoy sewing; The hem of the petticoat was nearly 50ft around. I also sewed the rest of the outfit (top skirt, sleeves, corset) to create the finished fairy look.
I wanted to create the illusion of movement, so I set a scene of a fairy hanging out on some old stairs in the woods and then noticing the camera. I photographed multiple poses on different points of the staircase, as well as long exposures of me going up and down the stairs to create "fairy dust" trails made from the lights in the skirt. I used a modified light toy from Walmart to draw the wings. I used gen-AI to remove the houses from the background and add additional foliage to make the scene more forest-like. I also used it to correct the shape of my smile since I did not have time to reapply the makeup and take better pictures. Also to this end I tried to utilize the accidental over-exposure on the face to look like an intentional part of the image and added a rainbow overlay.

Bibbidi Bobbidi Boo - Ximena Alvarado (Night Prowler)

 

The idea behind the concept was to play around with the magical aspect in fairytales, such as in Cinderella. Within the dress scene, when she is changing dresses there is a magical element that takes place, and I wanted to play around with that concept. Within my image, I wanted to create the idea of me spinning with the lights going around the dress. I took a original image of me and used AI to help create the spinning half of the dress. With the lights I used glow sticks and had them go in a circle. Through Photoshop, I create multiple layers of the glow stick images and played around with the blending modes to help them blend in. I also used AI to help some of the areas blend into the background and the dress. 

Teleporter - Bryce Locaylocay

 

The concept of this project was to create a teleporter effect using low exposure images and photo manipulation. The inspiration for this project comes from Doctor Strange’s sling ring, which he uses to teleport anywhere he can imagine. I wanted to capture that sense of adventure and the idea of jumping between different locations. The idea is to show me coming out of a wall, suggesting that I’m stepping into a different place. Initially, I aimed for something more abstract, but after several setbacks, I chose this approach because it felt more achievable. This way, I could still capture the essence of teleportation while working with low exposure imagery. All of the original photos were taken outside in my backyard using a laser pointer bought from Amazon a while back. This setting allowed me to experiment with various angles and laser "effects", making it a perfect backdrop for the teleporter effect. Using familiar surroundings made the project feel more personal and gave me the freedom to create the illusion of moving to another place. 

Album Cover—Pablo Villanueva

In creating my rap album cover, I drew inspiration from iconic album covers by Lil Wayne, Playboi Carti, and Chance the Rapper. I admired the way these artists used bold aesthetics to convey their unique sounds, and I wanted to capture that same essence in my project. My neighbor became the perfect subject for the cover, and we went for an aesthetic that combined a vibrant red touch with a dark, secluded look as he walked through the woods. The contrast of the red with the shadowy environment created a striking visual that complemented the mood I was aiming for.

To emphasize this atmosphere, I experimented with light techniques, using my iPhone’s exposure to create smooth, vibrant white strokes that added depth and energy to the composition. These light strokes brought a dynamic quality to the cover, making it feel alive and in motion. By layering the strokes in just the right places, I could draw focus to key areas while maintaining the dark, moody vibe of the setting. This project not only allowed me to explore different visual styles but also gave me a deeper appreciation for the art of album cover design, encouraging me to delve further into this creative field.

Fake It—Pablo Villanueva

 In my digital compositing project titled "Fake It," I’ve imagined a casual afternoon spent inside Michael Jackson’s home. We’re sitting together in a cozy living room, enjoying fresh watermelon and a spread of tasty snacks. As we talk about life and what he’s been up to while staying out of the public eye, I spot him using an iPhone 16. It’s such a funny contrast to his iconic image, and it makes the scene feel even more real. The playful cats that wander around the room add to the warmth and charm of our gathering, showing another side of Michael that fans might not usually see.

Throughout the compositing process, I worked hard to create a cohesive look by softening the quality of different elements. The sleek iPhone needed to blend into the homey vibe, so I distressed its appearance a bit to make it feel less out of place. The cats, depicted in a playful style, help enhance the intimate atmosphere of the scene. I focused on balancing colors and textures to create a dreamlike feel, aiming to capture the essence of a relaxed moment with a music legend, inviting viewers to step into this imaginative interaction.

Sources:

1. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/890094313849458768/

2. https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/technology/apple-iphone-16-and-google-pixel-9-base-model-features-specs-and-everything-you-need-to-know/article68629019.ece