john lund

PHOTOGRAPHY

Water Recycling And Conservation

Water recycling and conservation are metaphorically represented in this photograph depicting the iconic recycling symbol, created from water splashes, suspended over a vast expanse of dry, cracked earth. The arrows that from the recycling symbol are water splashes that were crafted from cups of water thrown up and photographed in my studio, then shaped and manipulated using Photoshop. There can be no doubt of the message of water recycling and it is a quick read as well. The dry cracked earth beneath the symbol, and the clear cloudless sky, combine to illustrate the drought situation and scarcity of precious H20. Combining the parched earth and the recycling symbol creates a powerful and compelling image for illustrating all manner of water issues from the need for conservation and recycling to the search for new water supplies to alternatives such as desalination plants. The application of this image in advertising, editorials, and social media campaigns can be flexible, versatile and far reaching.

Water Recycling Photo

This water recycling photo has been created with a composition, with the recycling symbol slightly to the right of center, to offer cropping options that include square, vertical and horizontal while also providing ample copy space for the inclusion of headlines, mastheads and body copy. Even the insetting of additional photography is not a problem. In contrast to the dry cracked earth, the water splashes forming the symbolic recycling triangle of turning arrows is cool and wonderfully liquid. These splash arrows impart a sense of motion as well adding to the visual impact. There is a shadow from the water splash recycling logo that adds a sense of depth and realism to the image.

Creating Water Recycling Imagery

To create this water recycling image I had my partner throw up glasses of water in my studio which I capture using a Nikon D800 and Speedotron and Profoto strobes. I brought the captures into Photoshop, selected the best four of the splashes, then stripped them out using the pen tool to create clipping paths which I turned into selections and subsequently into separate layers. I used the warp tool and the liquify filter to shape and form the splashes and I used layer masks to combine some of the elements.Hue and Saturation and Color Balance adjustment layers were used to add the color to the splashes. I merged the separate water splash layers into on, then duplicated it, repositioned sized and distorted it to create what would become the shadow. Then I used the hue and saturation layer, dragging the lightness slider all the way to the left, to make the layer black. I added just enough transparency to make the image truly feel like a shadow. And there you have it, a new and iconic image with an emotional appeal, to illustrate water recycling and all the issues around it...and hopefully make the world a better place in the process!