Visual Story Telling Using Photoshop
The journey of visual storytelling began with the petroglyphs, such as the cave painting of early hunting, which stand as a testament to the complexity of relationships and cultural symbols in our early history. Over the past 12,000 years, visual art has evolved into a powerful tool for historical documentation, capturing the 'who is who' and 'who has done what. These images, with their profound influence, can be transformed through physical or virtual manipulation, allowing their stories to be retold in new and exciting ways.
From 10-second TikTok videos to meticulously curated Instagram feeds, and even the hyper-specific communities of Facebook groups, storytelling has evolved to adapt to our changing world. Humans continually push the boundaries of visual storytelling, using it to share information, express beliefs, foster community, and even for marketing purposes. With the digital revolution, the tools for storytelling have become more accessible, empowering even those with limited technical skills to create and share their stories.
I am a fan of image manipulation. Editing photos or videos on social media unlocks an extra opportunity for creativity and sharing an experience through more than just a single snapshot. I have never considered myself a great photographer, which is a shame because there are so many quality memories that I want to capture and memorialize. However, I love drawing and painting! I am about to attempt a trial using Photoshop to advance my storytelling skills. I plan to play with my average photo skills and all the fun options available through this software.
Honestly, Photoshop can be intimidating. There are so many tools, features, and layers! I highly recommend having a rough sketch of what you hope to design before going to the computer. Check out this video from Matt Greenwood to brainstorm your outline!
I started my creative process with something I am most passionate about: pickles. This image was a fun way to play with the Photoshop functions. Specifically, I used the clipping mask, erase tool, adjustment layers, and cutouts. I took an original image I captured last summer, increased the warmth, vibrancy, and contrast, and added flying pickles using images sources from Upsplash images. Here are some tutorials to help you learn these tools, too!
In my line of work, wildfire mitigation, it is essential to showcase the issue that needs addressing without instilling fear. I find it challenging to use photos of fire in community presentations. My official Photoshop project is my version of an approachable fire that can be interpreted as a tool in our logging region more than a risk to homes and lives. The restrained use of fire in the text removes the most obvious danger signal and helps the background blend into a cohesive story of how people can work together with fire. In addition to the tools mentioned above, the clipping mask assisted in adding background images to the text on the image.
