Moksgm'ol

Here is the my final image for the collage project. It is based as previously stated on the legend of the Kermode bear. If you are interested in reading about that legend and the creative strategy behind this piece then click here.

Collage Project

Its been a while since I posted, so I figured it was time again. My second photo shop assignment is nearing completion and like the first will be posted here shortly. I found this second assignment easier and faster to make then the first. Likely because now I am much more familiar with photo shop and have a better idea about how to create the desired effects in my final image.

This assignment is a collage, so I decided to create an image that would tell a story. I decided that my central image would be a bear. I chose a bear because I am very familiar with them as I have worked on various bear research projects the last two years in Waterton Lakes National Park. In order to make the story and image more interesting I chose the unfamiliar Kermode Bear.

Many people might know the Kermode Bear as the Spirit Bear or Ghost bear, as it is often nicknamed. It is actually just a normal Black bear, the same Black bear that can be found in Waterton or any where else for that matter. The only difference between the black bear and Kermode bear is that the Kermode bear's coat is completely white. This often leads to it being called either a Polar bear or an albino bear. Neither are true. Black bears can come in many colours, including black, brown, blond, cinnamon and even white.

The white form is rare and is the result of a recessive gene expressed in the bears phenotype. Although a white bear can appear anywhere they are more localized in the areas around Terrace B.C. This is where there are more carriers of the gene which give a better possibility to pass it on. Even in this area the Kermode bear is rare and as such is the beneficiary on native legend. Its sighting is attributed with good luck and good fortune. It is the legend of the Kermode bear that I have chosen to be the topic of my collage.

My next post will hose the final image and it is there that I will describe more fully the legend of the Kermode bear, so stay tuned!

Emergence

The above picture is the final copy of my self-portrait assignment. It was definitely a fun and challenging exercise and proved to be very valuable in learning Photoshop.

This piece was born from many ideas and had several challenges. If you would like to read about the creative strategy that went into the making and meaning of this piece then click here.

Inspiration?

Yesterday and today were productive days when it comes our first photo shop assignment of a self portrait. I am nearing completion and hopefully will have the final result posted here soon. I found the most tricky part of the assignment was to be "inspired". I'm a science geek, I don't get inspired...or do I? Well apparently the answer is yes. After much searching on the Internet I finally found an image that made me say, "wow that's cool!" and inspiration was born. I decided to use the image I found and take certain aspects of that image and incorporate them into my own self portrait. The next day Jada, (my wife) found herself taking dozens of pictures for me to use and after about 15 hours of photo shopping the image is almost ready. I found the actual event of trying to recreate the image extremely difficult as it was a complex design and did not turn out exactly as I originally intended, however through out the process I found new creative ideas that took me in new places then I had originally planned. Inspiration again? Perhaps.



Anyway, here is the image that first got my attention. Stay tune to this blog for the finished project as soon as it is ready.

Head in the Clouds

Just killing some time, I decided to practise some more with the photo shop skills leaned in class the other day and make an image of my daughter. This is what came out.