Meta-4 I
Learning the fundamentals of design & composition
The design challenge was to create an “interesting” composition with given assets and a constrained number of elements we could include. For this version, we could use four elements, where a layered image counted as one image, and an image masked by a shape counted as one element.
I combined the assets below to create the composition above. I used Photoshop to complete this project, and went through three major iterations.
Project Date: February 2019
Raw Materials
I collapsed the following images into the four objects in the above composition.
Process
Iteration 1
In this first iteration I used an additional raindrop and texture images here in a shape that I inverted in the next iteration. I revised from here because the circular element and the irregular shape were competing with one another for attention in the visual hierarchy: I moved to put a less texture image in the irregular shape to create more satisfying hierarchy.
Iteration 2
I simplified the texture inside the irregular shape so that the two image-masking shapes would play better together within the visual hierarchy. I opted for the simple raindrop image in this iteration. I moved from this iteration to see if I could find a more contrasting simple image to mask with the irregular shape.
Iteration 3
In this third and most recent iteration I opted for this image, which provides a sense of depth with curves that contrast with the curve above and to the right of it in the irregular shape, but complement and echo the curve of the circle of the other element. The mode and color of the image contrast sharply with the other image masked in the picture, adding further depth and harmony to the composition. The jagged lines contrast with the curves of the other shape silhouettes, and the vertical element of the line crossing the main jagged horizontal line just brushes the inside curve of the irregular shape, emphasized by the light colors and slight curves of the masked image inside, for a subtle effect.