Visual literacy with layout and design

While thinking about visual literacies over the course of this class, I realized a few things about myself and my overall progress in choosing to go back to school. 

Reading the text, I noticed many similarities with layout and design that I could apply to Photoshop. I currently use Photoshop CS6 (I also have Lightroom 5, but hardly use it) and have been familiar with it since high school. Right away I could relate to the use of grids in a layout, because I use the grid tool frequently when editing my photos. I not only use this tool to visualize my focal point, but to also shed light on negative space and how I want to work with it. 

The text states, '[N]egative space is the best tool in your design toolbox for isolating and highlighting important content. It organizes by separating items. Without it, there can be no sense of clumping. Negative space also provides a visual respite for the viewer to avoid visual overload' (p. 75). While it is true I have a desire for color in my photos now, I strive to keep the visual overload to a minimum. 

With layout and design, I can also reveal some of the many fonts I have downloaded (mostly from dafont.com) over the years and how I use them in my work. 

Since I am working towards achieving greater online success with my photography, I always use a watermark on any social media. I've gone through a few different fonts (that I create as brushes on photoshop), and I rotate those few when the text fits the subject I'm working with.

For example, when shooting wedding or engagement photos I use 'Nella Sue.' 

In contrast, when photographing musicians I tend to be more simplified with the font, like 'Orator std' shown here: 

But I have recently branched out and created a more 'colorful' watermark with this 'blake' font: 

The most important aspect I was able to relate was how my photography has been progressing. I am very thankful to be a part of the music/art collaboration 'Hear Here Presents:,' where I get photograph artists all of types in a very creative setting.

People doing stuff, being awesome and such! Featured band : Quilt

Through photos that I've shot for Hear Here in the last month or so, I've noticed a change in my editing style. I recognize my photography may continue to morph over time, but because of my changed perception I think I've started to think outside my editing 'box.'

You can see by these two examples the amount of saturation and color I've added to my final product, with the second one being the most extreme in change of hues. You can also notice that I try to separate my subject from the background through use of color and shadows, to create contrast from the busy background. I think I'm being challenged artistically, intellectually and emotionally in my life right now (in a positive way might I add), and that's apparent in the way I edit my photos. I always aim to reflect an emotion or feeling with my photographs, so I've made the connection that my style changes with how I'm feeling at that given time - not by trend (though they may overlap at some point!). Featured bands: Grood (above), and BUHU (below). 

Overall, I'm trying to adopt more color in my life. I will continue to use it more by incorporating it in my clothing, at work, with my hobbies, and with those around me!