KISHAN THAKRAR
A LEVEL ART PHOTOGRAPHY PORTFOLIO
PARTICLE ANIMATION
Whilst experimenting with atmospheric perspective through different mediums, I explored particle animation.
Here is the final video. I used Photoshop, Cinema 4D, After Effects and Premiere Pro to create this. It is created around two main images, the sunset image, and the picture of the aquadrome. These are two still images I used as backgrounds to the particles, both of which I had taken previously. The first image was taken in Portugal, and the second in Northampton, with the latter being taken on a 5 second exposure at aperture 22f. This created the starbursts around the light sources, and allowed for the water to look still, flat and calm. I chose both images also because they were suitably dark enough to allow the particles to show up clearly.
I then used a plugin for After Effects called Trapcode Particular. For the first particle effect, I wanted something subtle, so I created an emitter in the centre of the image, that would release soft small particles. I coloured the particles to a very bright yellow, adding depth of field to them later on. I also added random 'shaky' movements, generated by the computer, which gives them a more realistic and dynamic look. I adjusted the particle scattering across the image and set the speed of the animation, and then exported the final result, as can be seen above. I also added volumetric light rays with Trapcode Shine in After Effects, whereby the light rays increase as the sun rises. I cut out the sun from the orginal image and filled in the colour behind it to allow me to animate the sun rising upwards slightly. As the sun rises, the light rays increase.
In the next image, I wanted more of the colours to be accentuated, giving more of a fluid look to the particles as well. The particles move like waves in a liquid here; also reflecting on the fact there is water below. This also has more of a 3D feel to it, creating depth which adds to the sense of atmosphere. I added depth of field, and added random slower particles that were blurred more, floating around the rest of the image (because the smaller particle waves are concentrated in the lower part of the image). You can also notice the reflection I added, where I duplicated the particle animation, flipped, distorted and blurred it slightly to give the particles some reflection in the water body below, for realism. I added camera movements to the entire image and then used Trapcode Shine to create some small light rays travelling across the image, subtly. Finally I added some smoke and atmosphere to this, which worked quite well and helped to composite the particles.
All images/media created by me.
With the first image, I also wanted there to be a clearer reflection - the image to the right is the original, and on the left, is the photoshopped reflection I created, by copying the sky above, flipping it and adding a distortion map.
I made the title from scratch in Cinema 4D. I wanted the title to be a whole part of the video in itself, that was atmospheric and contained a bold title. I started with the water. I added a flat plane, and made it very large. I added a 'bump map' to this, which gave the texture of the waves. This was randomly generated and was dynamic (animated) so that the water's waves really move. I changed the colours to make the water look like the colour of water. I added fog in the distance, and then added a light from the back of where the text would be, and reduced the intensity of the light source. I then created the text using a MoText object, changed the font, colour (with gradient) and then added depth to the text, and then added a small movement of the text rising upwards. I added a camera, and animated the path of movement. I then created a spherical depth of field to add interest and realism to the image. Also, this helped blend in the water into the distance. I rendered this out and placed the video at the beginning. I felt that the particles did help to add a sense of atmosphere, especially when linked to the dictionary definition of atmospheric, that is: 'creating a distinctive mood' and 'the pervading tone in a creative work'. The particles enhance and accentuate the aura and tone of the images, whilst also giving life to the images. In normal context, the particles would be used to create effects such as fireworks, explosions, background graphics, or dust particles, so it was interesting to experiment with them in a different context.
