Intro
The final part is the behind-the-scenes work on creating visuals for NextGEN Athletics. In my previous posts, I used dark shadows to illustrate the loneliness of being injured, then gritty texture to depict the struggles of rehabilitation.
For the last pages of Jorge Rey III's comeback story, the visual was in need of a total flip. I was able to bring in the light and vibrant color to show a triumphant return to the field!
Letting the Light Back In
The final visual arc of the project is where the comeback is realized, and my editing strategy flipped completely. I utilized photos like the player balancing the ball on his head and Jorge striking the ball in front of the red high school bleachers.
The raw files for these images were blessed with incredible natural lighting—vibrant blue skies and rich green turf. Instead of muting the environment like I did on the first few pages, I finally leaned into it. I boosted the vibrance and saturation, allowing the colors to pop naturally.
In InDesign, the signature magenta/pink branding no longer has to fight against dark, heavy shadows. Instead, it complements the bright, energetic action. The neon pink in the pull quotes and the armband now symbolizes loud, confident leadership rather than isolated survival.
The Benefits of Contrast
This phase of editing was the most rewarding because it proved the entire concept worked. Allowing these final photos to retain their bright, sunny reality was the ultimate payoff for the dark edits in the beginning.
It informed my choice to end the feature on a note of vibrant team leadership. The color theory evolved perfectly: from a solitary, desaturated anchor to a vivid symbol of influence.
Seeing the before-and-after of the whole project confirms I have a very strong piece for my portfolio.
Reflect: What Comes Next?
The color grading of all the photos is now complete, and the visual journey has hit the halfway mark. The next step is to start creating the grid on Adobe InDesign for my project.
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