Brief Challenge – Plastic Pollution
This challenge is designed to push your creative vision further than before. Based on your feedback, this brief offers greater creative freedom - allowing you to shape both the concept and its execution.
You’ve been commissioned by the art director of TIME magazine to provide the front cover image exploring the issue of plastic pollution.
The title of the article is:
The Plastic Problem
The hidden legacy of plastic in our oceans, landscapes, and livesYour design should:
Create a visually compelling and engaging front cover for TIME Magazine (Photoshop document supplied below)
Communicate the theme of plastic pollution in a clear and impactful way
Balance strong imagery with thoughtful editorial layout
You are encouraged to explore concept, style, and visual storytelling - this brief is intentionally open to interpretation.
Mood Board:
We've put together a mood board on Pinterest to get your ideas flowing. We'd also encourage you to check out this article on Visual Education Member Jorge Reynal who won the Sony World Photography Awards Still Life competition with his stunning Ocean Pollution images. For even more inspiration, see Karl's project here.
The Template:
We've created a Photoshop template for you to use. While you can shoot any format you like for the image, it must also work to fit in the time cover template.
Comments
Hi, I was wondering if you could clarify the deadline and review date for this brief. The page says closes 19/09 and review 22/09, but the upcoming live shows show the review as 16/09.
Thanks!
Hi, yes there appears to be an error there. The review show is scheduled for the 16th, therefore the closing date will have to be by the 15th at the latest. I have updated the page, thanks for letting us know.
must it be only ocean polution or it can be any polution concept like woods or lakes
Hi, as long as it’s related to plastic pollution.
Hi Karl,
This brief will be a big challenge for me but I love it.
I do have a questing though if you could please help our.
What would you do to make sure a fish looks as fresh as possible even though it is not.
On the project with the egg you shared some of your experience as if we use some oil it will help, what about in this case ?
Many thanks!
Hi, when I’ve photographed fish they have been fresh caught fish straight from ice at the fishmongers, I then keep them on ice or refrigerated and I use glycerin to coat the scales if they dry out. There are also tricks with using a pin to open the dorsal and pectoral fins which give the appearance of it being ‘alive’. Be careful if the eyes become ‘milky’ looking, make sure in post you make them look black again.
Hi Karl
Can we use a part of frame created by a printed backdrop or edited and added as background ? or everything has to be created in set ?