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, Ontario, is challenged to create art inspired by a box of eclectic items. The items include a magnifying glass, an air plant, driftwood, and a sand dollar, which spark ideas of a detective-themed photo shoot. McKinnon decides to use film and strobe lighting to capture the essence of investigation and mystery. Post-shoot, he employs generative AI and Photoshop tools to enhance and seamlessly blend the images, removing unwanted elements and creating a more realistic setting. The final piece is a unique blend of natural textures and detective ambiance, showcasing McKinnon's creativity and the power of Adobe's tools.

Takeaways

  • 🎨 Peter McKinnon is a versatile photographer from Toronto who enjoys various types of photography, including landscapes, portraits, street, and making mundane subjects interesting.
  • 📦 The Brief is an Adobe series that provides creators with boxes filled with items to inspire them to create art.
  • 🔍 McKinnon received a box containing a magnifying glass, an air plant, driftwood, and a sand dollar, which sparked ideas for a detective-themed photoshoot.
  • 🎬 He decided to use the magnifying glass for a private detective style photoshoot, incorporating film and strobe lighting to create an investigative and mysterious atmosphere.
  • 🛠️ McKinnon used Adobe's generative AI fill and tools like the lasso and clone stamp to extend the background wall and remove the set's roof, enhancing the realism of the scene.
  • 🌐 He emphasized the importance of making the scene look natural by blending the edited elements with the film grain, using techniques like adding a gradient and adjusting opacity.
  • 🔑 The mission was to bring textures from the natural world into a unique piece of art, which McKinnon achieved by incorporating elements like driftwood and a magnifying glass into his detective-themed shoot.
  • 📸 McKinnon's final product aimed to convey the story of a detective going down the rabbit hole, using photography to tell a compelling narrative.
  • 👤 Peter McKinnon's enthusiasm for photography is evident as he describes his process and the joy he finds in creating art from various inspirations.
  • 🌟 The video serves as a showcase for the capabilities of Adobe Creative Cloud tools in enhancing and editing photographs to create professional and artistic results.
  • 📚 The episode encourages viewers to explore their creativity by using the items provided in a box to inspire a unique piece of art, emphasizing the value of experimentation.
  • 🔗 McKinnon invites viewers to watch more episodes of The Brief on the Creative Cloud Channel and to try out Adobe Creative Cloud with a free trial.

Q & A

  • What is the name of the series presented by Peter McKinnon?

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

  • 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 is the mission given to Peter McKinnon in the video?

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

  • What items were found inside the box sent to Peter McKinnon?

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

  • What technique did Peter McKinnon use to extend the wall in his photograph?

    -Peter used generative AI fill with his lasso tool to select the roof and type in 'wall' to extend the wall in his photograph.

  • What tool did Peter McKinnon use to blend the line in his film photograph?

    -Peter used the clone stamp tool to soften and blend the line in his film photograph.

  • How did Peter McKinnon create the illusion of his subject being in an investigative office?

    -He used a combination of a magnifying glass, detective-style props, and post-processing techniques to create the illusion of an investigative office.

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

    -The final theme of the art piece is a detective going down the rabbit hole, incorporating elements like a magnifying glass, driftwood, and cabin vibes.

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

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

  • How does Peter McKinnon feel about challenges in his creative work?

    -Peter welcomes any challenge that will inspire him to make art, indicating a proactive and enthusiastic approach to his craft.

  • What is the promotional offer made at the end of the video?

    -The promotional offer is to download a free trial of Adobe Creative Cloud, which is available at the links provided below the video.

  • 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 catalyst for Peter to create art, sparking ideas that lead to the development of a unique piece of art.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 Introduction to The Brief Series

Peter McKinnon greets viewers and introduces 'The Brief,' a series by Adobe that challenges creators to find inspiration in a box of unknown items. As a photographer from Toronto, he expresses his love for all types of photography and his eagerness to create art from the box's contents. He humorously speculates about the contents, which could be anything, even jello, and invites viewers to join him as he explores the box's surprises.

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, Ontario, uses photography to create art inspired by items in a box provided by Adobe.

💡Adobe Creative Cloud

Adobe Creative Cloud is a subscription service from Adobe Systems that gives users access to a collection of software for graphic design, video editing, web development, photography, along with a set of mobile applications and some optional cloud services. The video is part of a series from Adobe, where creators are given a box of items to inspire their art.

💡Magnifying Glass

A magnifying glass is a convex lens that is used to magnify small objects. In the video, a magnifying glass is one of the items in the box and is used as a prop for a detective-style photo shoot, symbolizing the act of investigation and discovery in the context of the art creation process.

💡Air Plant

An air plant, also known as an epiphyte, is a type of plant that does not require soil for growth, deriving moisture and nutrients from the air and rain. In the video, an air plant is mentioned as an item that reminds Peter of Arizona and serves as a source of inspiration for his art.

💡Driftwood

Driftwood is wood that has been washed ashore by the action of winds, tides, or waves. It is often used in art and decoration. In the video, driftwood is an item that reminds Peter of shooting at a cabin and is associated with a natural, cabin vibe in his art creation.

💡Texture

Texture in art refers to the visual and tactile quality of a surface, such as how it can be smooth, rough, or patterned. In the video, Peter is tasked with bringing textures from the natural world into his unique piece of art, using items like driftwood and sand dollars to inspire a sense of natural texture.

💡Film Photography

Film photography is the process of capturing images on photosensitive paper or film, which is then developed to create a negative or slide. Peter decides to shoot his detective-style photo on film, which adds a grainy, authentic feel to the images, enhancing the vintage and investigative theme.

💡Strobe

A strobe is a type of camera flash that produces a brief, intense flash of light to expose the subject. Peter plans to include a strobe in his photo shoot to add drama and highlight the investigative and mysterious elements of his art.

💡Generative AI Fill

Generative AI Fill is a technology that uses artificial intelligence to fill in missing or unwanted parts of an image. Peter uses this tool to extend the wall in his set, creating a seamless background for his detective-style photo shoot.

💡Clone Stamp Tool

The Clone Stamp Tool is a feature in Adobe Photoshop that allows users to duplicate or clone parts of an image to cover unwanted areas or to blend elements together. Peter uses this tool to soften the line where the wall was extended, creating a more natural and seamless look.

💡Gradient

In photography and design, a gradient is a gradual change from one color or shade to another. Peter adds a gradient to his photo to enhance the mood and create a more immersive scene, then adjusts it to avoid obscuring the subject's face.

💡Creative Process

The creative process involves generating, developing, and realizing creative ideas. In the video, the creative process is central to the narrative as Peter McKinnon takes inspiration from various items and transforms them into a unique piece of art through photography and post-processing techniques.

Highlights

Peter McKinnon introduces himself as a photographer from Toronto, Ontario, with a love for all types of photography.

The Brief is an Adobe series that provides creators with boxes of inspiration to spark their creativity.

Inside the box, Peter finds a magnifying glass, an air plant, driftwood, and a sand dollar, which inspire ideas for his art project.

Peter decides to use the magnifying glass for a detective-style photoshoot with film and strobe lighting.

He plans to create an investigative, mysterious, and alien-themed photo series.

Peter critiques his initial photo setup, noting the visible roof breaks the illusion of an authentic investigative office.

To extend the wall in the photo, Peter uses generative AI fill with the lasso tool and simple prompts.

The clone stamp tool is employed to blend the artificially extended wall with the original photo for a seamless look.

Peter adds a gradient to the photo and uses the select subject mask to separate the subject from the background.

The opacity of the gradient is adjusted to maintain the illusion and remove the appearance of a set.

The final piece combines textures from the natural world with a detective theme, creating a unique art style.

Peter emphasizes the importance of creating art that reflects one's personal style and the inspiration found in everyday objects.

The video showcases the creative process from concept to completion, highlighting the use of Adobe Creative Cloud tools.

Peter encourages viewers to watch other episodes of The Brief on the Creative Cloud Channel and subscribe for more content.

A free trial of Adobe Creative Cloud is promoted, inviting viewers to explore the tools used in the video.

The episode concludes with a reminder of Peter McKinnon's identity as a photographer and his passion for creating art.