Assignment: Create a fantasy, sci-fi, or apocalyptic scene using creative commons photographs. This was our final project, which meant we had to use all of the tools we learned about in the class.

Our final project had several stages of preparation. We had to create several mock-ups of either a fantasy, sci-fi, or apocalyptic scene. I wanted to do a fantasy scene; however, I struggled to be satisfied by a concept. The two initial ideas I pitched took place in a canyon (Antelope Canyon, Arizona, USA) and a Korean temple in the mountains. I wanted a fantastical royal convoy in these scenes--a royal member, a guardian/warrior, and a guide.

Below are my contact sheet and scene sketches for those two ideas.

Part of the assignment was to consider the foreground, middle ground, and background of the scene. With the settings I chose, I struggled to distinguish those areas. So I started over after I found this great photo by Joshua Earle at Unsplash:

I submitted the slap comp below, which is a very rough look at what I imagined. I kept the principle characters: a royal figure, a monk guide, and a Minotaur warrior. I added in a garden gazebo for them to walk on, then added in a big forest statue I wanted covered in moss, a blazing sunset, and overlarge koi in the river. The fantasy elements are understated here, but I liked the idea of a magical realism.

Below is the feedback I received from my instructor. I needed to size up my principle characters to focus the viewer's attention on them, as well as provide some foreground framing.

The final image included a ton of work, including:

- Brightness/contrast correction
- Perspective skewing of the river flora and fauna and forest statue
- Adding shadows and sun glare halos around objects and people

- Blending in the forest statue and adding moss and shadow to make it look old(er)

- Creating river fog and adding blur to help create depth

- Adding in character features like makeup and a ponytail for the Minotaur warrior

- Camera raw filter to marry all of the layers and create a darker, redder atmosphere