As a beginning graphic design student I was asked to create Photoshop compositions by using the 7 creative strategies: combination, juxtaposition, isolation, metaphor/simile, change of context or environment, physical shape similarity, and material change, swap, focus. I was to choose an everyday object to communicate a message. The object I chose was a zipper. 

I combined a banana and a zipper. It seemed the natural choice due to the unzipping action of peeling a banana. I used the warp tool to shape the zipper a copy and pasted sections of the zipper to fit the rounded edge of the open peel. 

I wanted to highlight the difference between the dirtiness of the garbage and the fresh clean mountain air. I used hue and saturation to adjust color and  of the layers.  

The two sides of the zipper are separated, keeping the zipper pull from doing its job. I pieced together parts of a coat using layers, masking, and the healing brush tool.  

An American flag is symbol full of meaning and unity. I added a zipper and asked a question about its current symbolism. Warping was a key action used to shape the flag and the zipper. 

This zipper is seen revealing the inside of a mans head. I had to piece together the zipper  where it was missing and used the clone tool to patch holes and missing information. The smudge tool helped to blend the edges of the skin with the zipper.  

The shape of the wake and the open zipper is perfectly aligned. I warped and lengthened the zipper by using the lasso tool and copy and paste. I also enlarged the boat to bring it closer to the zipper and added a color adjustment layer to the fish image to match the water color on each .  

I did a lot of brush work on this one to refine the edges of the zipper and the mouth. I added shadows to the zipper and lips to give the look of overlapping and removed a tail from the zipper pull.