Altered Portraits

Objective: Students will create altered portraits by changing the appearance of the portraits they have taken by using several editing techniques.

Directions: 

Students will use two of the portraits they took of their team members and turn it into each one of the following styles of portraits. Then upload and label on their project page on website. (Use a different team member for each style).

Hand Colored Black and Whites:

Turn an image black and white then start to hand color it in Photoshop using the paintbrush.  Use the paintbrush to add color on a new layer you created. Remember to set the opacity of the color at 50% or less, color must be see-through.

Cyanotype: Soloar style print that is blue and white, requires the sun to expose. Has a ghostly effect. 

Take an image and turn it Blue and White. The Blue color will have to be added on another layer after turning original layer black and white. Don’t forget that you will have to set the opacity of the Blue layer to 50% (at least maybe more or less depending on the intensity of the blue) so you can see-through it. You will have to Burn and Dodge areas of the image. 

Sepia: A Black and white image that is tinted with Brown pigment.

This is done the same way as you did the Cyanotype image.Take a black and white and overlay a transparent brown over it. Might need to burn and dodge areas of image.

Image Overlay: Image is laid on top of another image top layer is see through.  The layer, which you overlay, will need to be aligned how ever you want it to be and its opacity lowered to around 50% to achieve the desired level of see-though you want. You can also play with changing the layers colors as a added affect. (Remember we have seen some work like this before by Artist Robert Heineken that the artist used a visual commentary on the Vietnam War during the 1960’s and 1970’s.) Must have a minimum of four layers.

Backlit Image: Has an intense light in the background, gives the image an angelic quality. You will need to take this image on a sunny day with the model standing with the sun behind them. It can be difficult to get details, take your time and play with your settings in your camera.Also try different angles and locations.

Might have to dodge or highlight areas of the background to intensify the backlight of the image. 

Collage: Multiple images put together as one, by adding images to your portrait, make it seamless and coherent. Some parts might be see-through. Similar to Overlay, just has more pieces of imagery added and the layers do not have to be see-through. Have fun anything can be done in a collage. (Remember we have seen some work like this before by Artist Robert Heineken that the artist used a visual commentary on the Vietnam War during the 1960’s and 1970’s.) Image must contain some other image besides you model and must have five layers or more.

Cracked Face (click for Video Tutorial)

Objective: students will learn how to apply a cracked appearance to their portraits face. This is a more modern way to alter a portrait. This image will require you to manipulate an image into another image through warping it around the face of your model in Photoshop. Take your time, read though the step-by-step instructions or follow the video to complete. Oh… Don’t forget to go find an image of cracked paint to warp over your models face.

For written step-by-step instructions:

http://planetphotoshop.com/cracking-and-peeling-face-effect.html

Questions:

1. Which altered portrait was the hardest to create? Why? Explain. 

2. Which altered portrait was the easiest to create? Why? Explain.

3. What does "Altered Portrait" mean to a viewer vs a photographer? Explain.

4. Out of the 7 altered portraits which one will you likely create again? Why? Explain.

5. What is the historical significant behind one of the altered portrait techniques you learned? Explain. 

6. Why is it important for you to learn how to alter portraits? Explain.

7. Should all portraits be altered? Why or Why not? Explain. 

8. By altering an portrait, what does it allow you to do to the portrait? Explain.

(Images found on Google) This site is for educational purposes only. Please send any questions to caruso.lcaruso@gmail.com