Digital Photography and Imaging - Project 2B: Conceptual Photo Manipulation
Week 6-10 (28/5/2026-23/6/2026)
Title:
Mother's Palette
Emily Wong Jing Lin | 0394765
Digital Photography and Imaging | Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative
Media | Taylors University
Project 2B: Conceptual Photo Manipulation
TABLE OF CONTENT
1. LECTURES
Lecture 6: Product & Studio Photoshoot
28/5/2026 (Week 6)
1. Choice of Camera Equipment
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Camera: A DSLR or Mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses is recommended. When on a budget, an advanced smartphone featuring multiple lenses, manual mode, and RAW format support is also a good option.
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Tripod: A sturdy tripod is essential to eliminate camera shake, maintain image clarity, and ensure consistency across multiple shots during low-light or slow-shutter photography.
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Lighting: Whilst natural light is excellent, it can be unpredictable. It is highly recommended to use continuous light sources, such as LED panels or softboxes, to observe the light and shadow effects in real time.
2. Scene Preparation and Lighting Setup
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Background Selection: Choose a background that complements the product rather than distracting from it. Neutral colours like white, grey, or pale pink are most commonly used, whilst textures such as wood grain, fabric, or marble can be utilised to add visual interest and depth.
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Light Layout: When utilising natural light, position yourself close to a large window and use white foam boards or reflectors to fill in shadows. When using artificial light, it is suggested to place the main light source at a 45-degree angle to emphasise texture, whilst using a fill light or reflector on the opposite side to eliminate harsh shadows.
3. Product Display and Shooting Techniques
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Product Placement: A single product should be centred, in focus, and kept pristine. If showcasing multiple products, you can use odd-numbered combinations and vary the heights and angles to create a dynamic composition.
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Common Shooting Angles:
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Eye-level shots: Mimics the customer's actual perspective in a physical store.
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45-degree angle (Three-quarter view): Displays multiple sides of the product, adding a sense of depth and dimension.
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Top-down / Flat lay: Perfect for showcasing multiple items or creating creative compositions.
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Close-ups / Macro shots: Zoom in on details to highlight the unique craftsmanship and features of the product.
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2. INSTRUCTIONS
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J4OzNjT7yVjyR0306N4rmBXDz4ny8oaF/view?usp=sharing
3. PROCESS WORK - Project 2B: Conceptual Photo Manipulation
Figure3.1 Process Work of Project 2B: Conceptual Photo
Manipulation
Final Outcome
Figure3.2 Final Outcome of Project 2B: Conceptual Photo Manipulation
Description: This photographic work, depicting melting buttons on a palette, serves as a metaphor for a woman's life. In her youth, she might have enjoyed personal hobbies like painting. As she ages, with the arrival of work, marriage, an family, her focus often shifts to caring for others. Sometimes, this means setting aside her own interests and feelings, and taking up needlework, sewing back on fallen buttons.
For me, this work is also dedicated to mothers. It's a tribute to their strength and sacrifice. Not every mother experiences all of this, but for those who have, I want to remind them: First and foremost, you are yourself, and only secondly, a mother.
Adobe Photoshop File:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/18yxf6tpqkS5NVeBIRgt-sqJP5NV1bvh2?usp=drive_link
4. FEEDBACK
Week 6
General Feedback: Due to the class cancellation, we need to refer to the lecture notes provided by Mr. Shamsul to understand how to do a product shot. In addition, we need to complete our task for this session. First, we need to search for relevant photo manipulation online to serve as a reference moodboard. Following that, we will brainstorm our own ideas, take photos of the object, and produce sketches based on those photographs.
Specific Feedback: No specific feedback was given due to class cancellation.
Week 7
General Feedback: This week is a public holiday, so we need to continue working on and completing the task assigned from the previous week.
Specific Feedback: No specific feedback was given due to the public holiday.
Week 8
General Feedback: This week, we are required to present the research, idea summary, and sketches completed over the past two weeks to Mr. Shamsul for his feedback and approval.
Specific Feedback: Mr. Shamsul found my second and fourth ideas to be more interesting and worth exploring. For the second idea, he suggested that the buttons should not simply be placed on the palette; instead, they should be integrated into the paint itself. Ultimately, the second idea was finalised as the chosen concept.
Week 9
General Feedback: Aside from the regular lecture this week, a photoshoot session was added. Everyone was allowed to bring their own objects for the shoot. Mr. Shamsul emphasized that all objects must be photographed from the exact same angle.
Specific Feedback: No specific feedback was given.
5. REFLECTION
Experiences
In Week 6 and 7, because of class cancellation and public holiday, I had to depend on lecture notes and do my own research online. I looked for photo manipulation references to build a moodboard and started thinking about my ideas. By Week 8, I showed my sketches and ideas to Mr. Shamsul. He liked my second and fourth ideas, but gave me advice to make the buttons blend into the paint instead of just sitting on the palette. I decided to go with the second idea as my final concept. In Week 9, we had a photoshoot session, and I learnt the importance of shooting all objects from the same angle to keep consistency.
Observations
I noticed that even when classes were cancelled, doing independent research was still very important to keep the project moving. I also realised that feedback from the lecturer can really change how strong the idea looks—for example, the buttons becoming part of the paint made the metaphor more powerful. Another observation was that technical details, like keeping the same angle in photos, actually make a big difference in the final outcome.
Findings
From this project, I found that photo manipulation is not just about editing pictures, but also about telling a story. My final idea with the melting buttons became a metaphor for women’s lives and the sacrifices of mothers. I learnt that small changes in design can make the meaning clearer, and that lecturer feedback helps me see things I didn’t notice before. Most importantly, I found that my work can carry emotional value, not only showing creativity but also sending a message about identity and motherhood.
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