Behind the Pages

The Edge Magazine is an outlet for student media at Elon University. This video is a look inside the process, mission and work the Edge contributes to the Elon community. The Edge provides great experience for students interested in fashion, style, news, health and wellness and lifestyle publications. The video incorporates interviews with staff as well as a behind the scenes look for a fashion story, “Smoke and Mirrors,” available online now at The Pendulum Online.

Here is the video, created with Adobe Premiere:

Dancer Documentary

This was a project spanned over many mediums.

The dancer, Monica Steffey, was interviewed about her dance background, inspiration and what she hopes to gain from Elon in terms of dance. Photos of her were taken inside and outside at Elon, both action shots and posed head shots. The audio from her interview and these photos were put together in Adobe Premiere along with music.

Product Labels

In Photoshop, I created two product labels.

The first is for a fruit-flavor based soda line, “Patch”. The inspiration came from fruits growing in orchards and patches, so the soda company reflects the origins of its flavors. The main tools I used besides the text tool were the drop shadow and outer glow effects.

Soda

The second product label was for a protein bar, “Awaken”. The name was chosen simply because protein bars give the consumer energy.

Protein bar

This project was more difficult than the others in terms of creating both products, using specific measurements and also formatting everything to fit inside the wrappers. Although I am happy with how the designs turned out, with more expertise I feel they could be enhanced to not be as “flat” or two-dimensional.

Altering Images

This photoshop assignment called for altering images we found personally important using the photoshop skills we mastered in class.

The first image I chose was a quote on a brick backdrop. Religion is important in my life and the quote was inspiring to me.

Original Image

Edit 1
Removed leaf, colored writing in green, added gradient effect, added effect to the coloring, added string of low-opacity daisies

Edit 2
Changed the color of writing, added a color effect, added leaves, removed original leaves

Edit 3
Added color effect, changed color of text, added outer glow and large drop shadow

The second set of images is the PRADA MARFA sign. This is important because I love fashion, travel and Gossip Girl, where this sign gained its popularity.

Original Image

Edit 1
Added hometown instead of MARFA, added birth year and extra mileage sign, added year moved from home

Edit 2
Added lip print and “xoxo gossip girl” text, added sheer tint, multiplied and layered PRADA

Edit 3
Inverse color, added drop shadow and glow to PRADA, added map to background

Original Image

Edit 1
Changed eye color, added crown, added bumble bee

Edit 2
Added crown, added glow to white paws, eliminated trees in background, eliminated hanging lantern, added extra bees

Edit 3
Added crown, thought bubble and name tag, eliminated trees and saturated the sky.

Lastly, this is my cat Banter on my back porch. I love my cat and miss her and my home very much.

Magazine Covers

As a Photoshop project, I created two original magazine covers. The first is modeled after Oprah Magazine, but I created it to reflect myself and my interests. The second magazine, entitled dig in  was created after my love for donuts and their increasing pop culture popularity. Both photos featured on the cover are  my own, excluding the donut over the “i”. I used drop shadows to make the text stand out against the background.

Left: myself at Holt Hill in Andover, MA

Right: A Dunkin Donuts chocolate frosted, taken with an iPhone 5s and edited with VSCO cam.

Dig In

K Magazine

Dancer Portraits

As an in-class assignment, we photographed dance majors for both our portfolios. Photos were taken inside and outside McEwen Communications School at Elon University. Photos include posed headshots and moves in the field. Model is Monica Steffey. Photos shot with Canon G12, no editing.

Indoor moves

Outdoor moves

Candid shot

Outdoor headshot

Indoor headshot

Portraits

I collected staged and candid portraits of two classmates, Natalie May and Brooklynn Lowrey using a CanonG12. All photos were taken in and around Elon University.

Natalie posed

Natalie candid

Brooklynn posed

Brooklynn candid

Event Coverage

Using a DSLR camera, I took photos of Dr. Lori Hart’s talk at Elon University about the campus culture of alcohol and how students can be safe with alcohol without forfeiting their social life. I took a wide shot photo of the event, held at Whitley Auditorium as well as pictures of Dr. Hart and Felicia Cenca, president of Alpha Omicron Pi Fraternity who presented the event.

Cultural Significance Pt. 3

This assignment called for three different types of photographs to be taken of an object of cultural importance to the photographer, incorporating artificial lighting, depth of field and specific details.

This summer I found out after a visit to my doctor that I would have to start a gluten free diet. This is something that affects so many people, be it right her on campus or globally. I know for me that it has been a hard transition after nineteen years of eating as I pleased. Coming to campus has presented a new set of challenges, as eating in the dining halls is not always possible. Therefore, I keep my pantry stocked with gluten-free food items.

This first image uses the artificial light from my kitchen lighting.

This photograph shows the detail of a product from a different angle.

This first image uses the artificial light from my kitchen lighting.

An image with shallow depth of field shows the ‘G’ I’m training myself to look for at the grocery store.

Cultural Significance Pt. 2

This assignment called for three different types of photographs to be taken of an object of cultural importance to the photographer, incorporating artificial lighting, depth of field and specific details.

The second set of objects I chose were my favorite cosmetic products. These are significant not only because I am female, and in society makeup is more marketed towards women, but because I genuinely enjoy using makeup products. Makeup is so much more than a cosmetic industry. It incorporates science, art, marketing and advertising and fashion. In my opinion, it is a fun way to express my personal style. Makeup can help people with self- confidence issues and help them feel comfortable in their own skin. My dream job is working for a lifestyle or fashion magazine, which is why I layered my favorite products on top of advertisements from this month’s In Style magazine.

The first shot uses artificial light from a desk lamp.

This image portrays a shallow depth of field.

Finally, this shot of mascara bristles shows a different angle and detail of the object.