SEIZE THE FISH - drink the water
Take the moment and all it has to offer.
SEIZE THE FISH - drink the water
“Seize the fish, drink the water” is the result of a six word memoir prompt.
During my time in college, I did everything I could to build a life for myself. I worked multiple jobs, did 18 credits a semester, volunteered, and juggled getting my adult life on course. But in the end, it was worth my time.
In my mind, exhaustion is temporary. If you work hard, you will achieve something as a result. If I’m going to do something, I am going to do it to the fullest extent. Do it tired, do it scared, do it hopeless, do it fully.
Seize the fish, drink the water.
The output contained three posters and a booklet.
Submerged
This first poster in the series was created by combining photos and manipulating text in Photoshop. The tile, fish tank, school of fish, and the individual fish were all separate images composited together.
The tile contains explanation of the concept, though not 100% visible. This gives the viewer context, but also allows a bit of freedom for their own application of the work.
“Seize the fish” is half way submerged, leading to a refraction effect. This was done by expanding and splitting the letters.
“drink the water” was done with both text effects, a clipping mask, and mesh warping. This gives the water more movement.
The fish is peaking out in front of the word “water”, separate from the school of fish, making his own way.
Caught
This iteration was created by adding plastic wrap to the physical poster, then cutting out the individual letters for “seize the fish”.
This poster serves as a double meaning. It first reads as an environmental commentary. But as you read the borders, the viewer is able to see it is about them, not just the “fish” itself.
This poster is meant to convey the feeling of striving for something. It can feel suffocating and constricting, but you are always free to slow down. The hand doesn’t fully grasp the fish, but it stays anyway.
To work for what you want often involves sacrifice - justified and otherwise. Seize the fish, drink the water.
Exposed
The last poster in the series had the fish figure open up like the hood of a car, revealing the explanation of the memoir.
The fish’s body was created in illustrator with the pen tool. A texture was placed on it through the effects panel.
The background was composited in photoshop, as well as the “drink the water”.
The inside explanation of the fish is meant to resemble the texture of scales. The letters overlap and create dimension, though it is flat.
This iteration plays with texture and form.
Seize the fish, drink the water.