CLIENT: Self
PURPOSE: Photoshop practice: highlights, shadows, contours, depth
APPLICATION: Digital/Social Media/Print

Every once in awhile I try to challenge myself with a difficult subject or application. For this project I wanted to brush up on some Photoshop practice, especially in terms of matching the contours and highlights of a highly contoured, reflective object. 

What better object than the helmet of a stormtrooper? In addition to honing some Photoshop skills, I wanted to add a sort of commentary on the idea of individualism and creativity. The more I looked at the helmet the more my heart went out to storm troopers around the empire. Fans had to wait 6 whole movies until finally seeing under the hood of a trooper. I started wondering how Stormtroopers expressed individuality or creativity in such a strict and confining environment. Did they decorate their quarters with posters, or family pictures, or Galactic Propaganda? Or maybe they held annual helmet decorating contests? I chose to run with the latter and decided to come up with what I would submit as my official entry into the "Annual Galactic Empire Art Awards" (if that were a real thing).

The final product was a result of 70 layers in photoshop; each with their own unique overlays, contours, blurring, and lighting effects. Being a big fan of American Traditional tattoos, I chose to heavily use designs and styling effects from that tattoo style.