Photography and Texture with Peter McKinnon (Episode 5) | The Brief | Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud
8 May 202403:28

TLDRIn this episode of 'The Brief' by Adobe Creative Cloud, Peter McKinnon, a versatile photographer from Toronto, is presented with a creative challenge. He receives a box filled with various items like a magnifying glass, an air plant, driftwood, and a sand dollar, intended to inspire him to create unique art. McKinnon decides to conduct a detective-style photo shoot with a film camera and strobe lighting, incorporating the magnifying glass and the concept of investigation. He uses Adobe's generative AI fill and other editing tools to enhance his photograph, removing a distracting roof element and creating a seamless, realistic scene. The final piece is a captivating blend of natural textures and the detective theme, showcasing McKinnon's creative process and the power of Adobe's editing tools.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Peter McKinnon introduces himself as a photographer from Toronto, Ontario, with a passion for all forms of photography.
  • 📦 The Brief is a series by Adobe where creators receive boxes filled with items to inspire art creation.
  • 🔍 McKinnon receives a box containing a magnifying glass, an air plant, driftwood, and a sand dollar, which spark ideas for his project.
  • 🌿 The mission is to create a unique piece of art by bringing textures from the natural world together in his own style.
  • 🕵️‍♂️ He decides on a detective-themed photo shoot, using the magnifying glass and shooting on film with added strobe lighting.
  • 🎬 The set for the photo shoot is constructed to resemble an investigative office, but the roof is visible, breaking the illusion.
  • 🧙‍♂️ To fix the set, McKinnon uses generative AI fill with the lasso tool and the prompt 'wall' to extend the slat wall seamlessly.
  • 🖌 He employs the clone stamp tool to blend the AI-generated wall with the original photo to maintain the grainy film look.
  • 🔍 Using the select subject and mask tools, he removes the gradient from the subject's face and adjusts the opacity for a more natural look.
  • 🌐 The final piece is a detective-themed photograph that successfully incorporates natural textures and elements, such as driftwood, to create a cohesive art piece.
  • 🙌 McKinnon thanks the viewers and encourages them to watch other episodes of The Brief on the Creative Cloud Channel and to try Adobe Creative Cloud with a free trial.

Q & A

  • What is the name of the series that Peter McKinnon is introducing in the transcript?

    -The series is called 'The Brief', a series from Adobe where creators are sent boxes filled with items to inspire them to create art.

  • What is Peter McKinnon's profession?

    -Peter McKinnon is a photographer from Toronto, Ontario.

  • What type of photography does Peter McKinnon specialize in?

    -Peter McKinnon does not specialize in a particular type of photography; he loves all types, including landscapes, portraits, street, and making mundane subjects look interesting.

  • What was the mission given to Peter McKinnon in the box?

    -The mission was to bring textures from the natural world together for a unique piece of art in his own style.

  • What items were found inside the box that inspired Peter McKinnon?

    -Inside the box, Peter found a magnifying glass, an air plant, driftwood, and a sand dollar.

  • What concept did Peter decide to use for his art piece?

    -Peter decided to go with a detective style photo shoot, using a magnifying glass and incorporating elements like driftwood to give cabin vibes.

  • What technique did Peter use to extend the slat wall in his photo?

    -Peter used generative AI fill with his lasso tool to select the roof and extend the wall, followed by the clone stamp tool to soften the lines and blend it seamlessly.

  • What tool did Peter use to separate his subject from the background in the photo?

    -Peter used the 'select subject' feature to isolate his friend from the background and then adjusted the gradient to remove it from the subject's face.

  • What is the final theme of Peter McKinnon's art piece?

    -The final theme of the art piece is a detective going down the rabbit hole, with a private detective vibe and textures from the natural world.

  • What software tools does Peter McKinnon mention using in his creative process?

    -Peter mentions using Adobe Creative Cloud tools such as the lasso tool, clone stamp tool, and the 'select subject' feature.

  • How does Peter McKinnon encourage viewers to engage with his work and Adobe Creative Cloud?

    -Peter encourages viewers to watch other episodes of The Brief on the Creative Cloud Channel, like and subscribe to the channel, and to download a free trial of Adobe Creative Cloud.

  • What is the significance of the items in the box for Peter McKinnon's creative process?

    -The items in the box serve as a source of inspiration and a challenge for Peter to create art, sparking ideas and connecting him with different places and experiences.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to The Brief and Creative Challenge

Peter McKinnon introduces himself and The Brief, a series by Adobe that provides creators with a box of items to inspire art. He expresses his love for all types of photography and his excitement to see what's inside the box. Upon opening it, he finds a magnifying glass, an air plant, driftwood, and a sand dollar, each item evoking different memories and ideas for a creative project. The challenge is to combine natural textures into a unique piece of art in his style, and he decides to use the magnifying glass for a detective-themed photo shoot, incorporating film and strobe lighting.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Photography

Photography is the art, application, and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor, or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film. In the video, Peter McKinnon, a photographer from Toronto, uses photography to create art inspired by items in a box sent by Adobe, showcasing his versatility in different types of photography including landscapes, portraits, and street photography.

💡Texture

Texture in art refers to the visual or tactile quality of a surface, which can be realistic or abstract. In the video, Peter is tasked with incorporating natural textures into his artwork. He uses items like driftwood and sand dollars, which have distinct tactile qualities, to create a unique piece of art that reflects his personal style.

💡Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud is a subscription service that includes a set of software and services for photography, video, design, web development, and more. In the video, Peter mentions Adobe Creative Cloud as the platform that sends him a box of items to inspire his creative process, highlighting its role in providing tools and resources for artists and designers.

💡Magnifying Glass

A magnifying glass is a convex lens that is used to magnify small objects when they are placed close to the lens. In the video, Peter finds a magnifying glass in the box and decides to use it as a prop for a detective-style photo shoot, which ties into the theme of investigation and discovery.

💡Driftwood

Driftwood is wood that has been washed ashore by the action of winds, tides, or waves. It is often used in art and design for its natural beauty and organic shapes. In the video, driftwood serves as one of the natural items that Peter uses to bring textures from the natural world into his artwork, evoking a sense of cabin vibes and connection to nature.

💡Sand Dollar

A sand dollar is a type of marine animal related to sea urchins, known for its round, flat, white or tan body. In the video, a sand dollar is included in the box of items, and it reminds Peter of Hawaii, suggesting a tropical and serene environment that can be incorporated into the theme of his artwork.

💡Generative AI Fill

Generative AI Fill is a technology that uses artificial intelligence to generate content that fills in missing or unwanted parts of an image. In the video, Peter uses generative AI fill to extend a wall in his photograph, demonstrating how AI can assist in post-production editing to achieve a desired visual effect.

💡Clone Stamp Tool

The Clone Stamp Tool is a feature in Adobe Photoshop and other image editing software that allows users to duplicate or clone a portion of an image and paint it onto another part of the same image. Peter uses this tool to blend the line where he extended the wall, creating a seamless and natural look in his photograph.

💡Gradient

In design and photography, a gradient is a gradual change from one color or shade to another. Peter adds a gradient to his photograph to enhance the mood and create a more cohesive visual effect. He carefully adjusts the gradient to avoid it obscuring the subject's face, showing attention to detail in his creative process.

💡Select Subject

Select Subject is a feature in Adobe Photoshop that allows users to quickly and easily select a subject in their image by automatically detecting and outlining the subject. Peter uses this feature to isolate his friend in the photograph, demonstrating a technique for separating the subject from the background to focus on the main elements of the artwork.

💡Private Detective

A private detective is a professional investigator who operates independently or within a company, often hired to undertake investigations that the police are not resourced to handle. In the video, Peter's creative process is inspired by the concept of a private detective, which influences his choice of props, setting, and overall theme for the photo shoot.

Highlights

Peter McKinnon introduces The Brief, a series from Adobe that provides creators with boxes of inspiration.

The box contains various items, such as a magnifying glass, air plant, driftwood, and a sand dollar, to spark creativity.

McKinnon is a photographer from Toronto who enjoys all types of photography and is open to any challenge that inspires art.

The mission is to create a unique piece of art by bringing textures from the natural world together in one's style.

McKinnon decides to use a magnifying glass and a detective theme for his photo shoot, incorporating film and strobe lighting.

He discusses the importance of creating an illusion of an investigative office and the need to extend the set's slat wall for realism.

Generative AI fill is used to seamlessly extend the wall in the photo, showcasing the power of modern editing tools.

The clone stamp tool is employed to blend the edited wall with the grainy film texture.

A gradient is added to the photo, and the select subject mask tool is used to separate the subject from the background.

McKinnon removes the gradient from the subject's face and adjusts the opacity to maintain the illusion of the scene.

The final piece is a detective-themed photo that successfully incorporates natural textures and a cinematic feel.

The process demonstrates how to transform a simple set into a compelling narrative through post-production techniques.

McKinnon emphasizes the role of creativity and the willingness to experiment with different elements to achieve a unique artistic vision.

The episode concludes with a call to action for viewers to explore other episodes of The Brief and to try Adobe Creative Cloud.

A free trial of Adobe Creative Cloud is available for download through the provided links.

McKinnon's enthusiasm for photography and the creative process is evident throughout the episode.

The episode showcases the versatility of photography and the potential for art to be found in everyday objects.

The use of Adobe Creative Cloud tools is integral to the creation and editing process of the photo shoot.