ANM 328 Project 4 Critique

The objectives of the Time Cover Project were to demonstrate blending skills, learn how to select compatible images and make adjustments in the overall composition to establish visual hierarchy to communicate a clear message.  If you think about a magazine cover it’s meant to be attention-getting so you’ll buy it or pick it up and read it (along with all the advertisements).  Time is a news magazine so I expect the cover to establish an editorial tone about an issue. Any added text should help clarify the message but not be required to communicate the theme. As usual, if late I dock you points and 5 points if you choose not to critique your group member’s work.  Here we go…. Grading Criteria:

95-100 Combination of images is creative, blends are flawless, shadows and highlights are consistent. Demonstrates clear message and excellent skill with Photoshop

90-94 Combination of images is creative, blending techniques are good with slight flaws in lighting consistency or quality of images Composition is strong with clear hierarchy and message

85-89 Composition is creative but blending has faults or lighting or composition not well refined. Message could be clearer.

80-85 Composition has less creativity in focus or scale, lighting not adequately considered, blending techniques need improvement or composition lacks visual hierarchy

70-79 Lacks Creativity, blending has major flaws or omissions, lighting not considered

Below 70 Low quality work in all aspects of the project

Late work: -10 pts
No Group Critique: -5

Mutter Group

Shayesteh-Your topic is certainly timely as parents spend more time and money trying to make their children as brilliant as possible. I’m most impressed that your composition of images speaks for itself. We don’t need the caption or tagline to communicate the theme. The key image is the baby with the blended hair and moustache of Einstein himsele. The board with math formulas further clarifies the topic. This would make a great “real” TiME cover.

Godfrey-You’ve used the classic symbols for the two parties to establish that there is some competition for the next elections. You’ve done a good job cutting the donkey and elephant from their original backgrounds. As a basic composition it’s successful but I think it would have been more engaging if the “race” or “competition” could have been depicted. Maybe the animals are on their heels fighting or have something like a rope between them and tugging like a tug-o-war. Do you see how this would have added dynamic energy to the cover?

Monroy Group

Kacie-Wow-Your cover image certainly paints a dire picture of the California draught. The imagery sepeas for itself…the cracked earth in the shape of the state and the skeleton of death speaks volumes. My only suggestion would be to have an empty bucket in “his” hands. I realize that breathing dust might be the absolute end if water runs out. The text (California is misspelled) adds the scientific perspective of NASA. Your poster is very dramatic!

La-It’s clear that your cover is depicting the threat of cybercrime and identity theft. The one image that clarifies is the gloved hand that we recognize as what a thief might wear while committing a crime. You’ve done a good job of blending a variety of images. The split background communicates vulnerability in all shopping venues. I can’t really see what’s on the screen but the reflection could be used very effectively to show more about the crime, victims or perpetrators. You didn’t include a tagline but one might be important to clarify the message if it’s different that a general warning about identity theft. From a technical perspective, the hand on the mouse doesn’t look like it matches the gloved hand in scale…is it supposed to be the same criminal or is there a deeper message you are communicating?

Abigail-Your cover is clearly comparing the great depression with the current state of unemployment for graduates. I like the simplicity. My only question is that the old sign will likely not communicate very clearly with the “Stalked by Stork” statement. I have no idea what that means. I would remove that line and keep the rest to add clarity. From a technical perspective, the edge of the straps and top of board have some soft black feathering..this would look better if the edges were crisp. I realize this is a bit tricky due to the slight off white color of the old board, but careful use of the cloning tool should allow you to clean it up.

Taylor Group

Crystal-Your cover is very dramatic but I’m not sure what it’s communicating. Looks like a poor village where a child is dragging a stuffed animal under the watchful eyes of a pack of dogs. It doesn’t look threatening. Your blend of the child is especially well done as is the added dog,s which appear to have correct and consistent shadows. Your decision to make all the images grayscale gives it a somber tone. I think the cover needs an added tagline to make sure the message is clear.

Evan-You’ve done a good job blending the images to communicate the rising water of global warming. It’s clear to me, with the classic SF skyline, sunken buildings, and boater. It’s a little out of context to have a bamboo boat in SF bay. Maybe its floated from Asia? Your blends look pretty good although some splash of water over the edge of the boat would add realism. The text adds clarity and looks like it would belong on a TIME cover. Good work!

Nicholas-I understand that your cover has some relationship to White Power and the Klan. Without the added text, the specific storyline would not be clear. I do like the background of the flag, which implies that the people behind this movement believe they are true patriots. Apparently, from what you have written, this movement is more pervasive that one would suspect. Maybe you could communicate this by having the flag burning in a more unexpected surrounding? From a technical perspective, it looks like you’ve compressed the image of the cross and viewers..they look too thin.