2023 SPRING: 22: ASSIGNMENT TWENTY TWO: FLUCTUATING CURRENCY

The job at hand is to create a photograph for a brochure cover.

The client is a financial services company. They help people take the mystery out of financial planning.

The point of this brochure is to discuss the fluctuating currency markets between Asia and the US. The article is critical of the Federal Reserve AND the Asian markets for their infighting and lack of progress.

The brochure is a wide format landscape. Completed size will be 6×12… twice as wide as tall.
So one 6×12 for the cover and one 6×6 for the inside.

Two photographs, featuring the theme of fluctuating currency with a minimalistic approach.

You may choose to do a lifestyle shot… fine. But make sure it has the idea of currency – or currency itself – in the photo. Remember, you can step way out of the box as long as the box remains visible.

Two photos:
One is a feature opener.
One is a drop in.

That means that one of the images must be ready to capture the viewer’s eye. And fast. The other shot may be more complex as it is going to be used inside the publication and will be on one page. If it is only on one page, it will be a square, right.

One 6×12 cover, one 6×6 for a single page.

Black and White or Color
Currency
Narrative (story)

This is a conceptual photograph.

These ideas were sent over from the photo editor and writer. They are only suggestions, but rather good ones. It would be nice to get this many ideas from a photo editor.

Idea 1: Balancing Act
A shot of an elegantly designed balance scale. On one side, a pile of US dollar bills; on the other, Chinese yuan. Capture the scales in motion, demonstrating the constant shifts in balance – a perfect metaphor for fluctuating currency markets. This should be set against a minimalist background to keep the focus on the main elements.

Idea 2: Currency Origami
Craft Chinese Yuan and US dollar bills into origami boats, signifying the journey and fluctuation of both currencies. Place them on a ‘sea’ of financial newspaper clippings or graphs. To create a dynamic element, capture one of the boats caught in a wave or a gust of wind, implying change.

Idea 3: The Currency Pendulum
Photograph a pendulum swing made of a bundle of US dollars and Chinese yuan. This pendulum could be in motion against a sleek, modern clock face in the background. This juxtaposes the timeless nature of currency exchange against the rapidly fluctuating nature of these two specific currencies.

Idea 4: The Hourglass Effect
An hourglass filled with sand made from finely shredded US dollars and Chinese yuan. The image captures the flow of sand from one bulb to the other, symbolizing the ebb and flow of currency values. A minimalistic setting with soft lighting would make the colorful currencies pop.

Idea 5: The Currency Path
A winding path made from US dollars and Chinese yuan laid out on a clean surface, showing the unpredictable journey of fluctuating currency. Capture it from an overhead angle for an intriguing and abstract image.

Idea 6: Crumbling Currencies
Create a tower of dollar and yuan bills, then capture the moment as it starts to topple. This can illustrate the instability and fluctuation within the currency market.

Idea 7: Currency Chess
Set up a chessboard with pieces made from folded US dollars and Chinese yuan. Capture a critical move in progress to represent strategic decisions in the fluctuating currency market. A minimalist background will keep the focus on the game.

Idea 8: Floating Currencies
Photograph US dollars and Chinese yuan floating in the air, capturing the fluctuating nature of these currencies. The bills should be in different stages of fall to symbolize the ups and downs of the financial market.

Idea 9: Money Rain
Using a high shutter speed, capture the moment of dollar bills and Chinese yuan notes raining down. This shot symbolizes the chaotic nature of the fluctuating currency market.

In all of these shots, the use of color and minimalistic composition can create a compelling image that aligns with the publication’s aesthetic.

Each image needs to speak to the transient and fluctuating nature of the currency market. Take multiple shots, play with lighting, and make these concepts come alive. Can’t wait to see what you capture!