Digital Photography and Imaging: Week 8

1.0 INSTRUCTION

2.0 LECTURE

Independent learning week.

3.0 EXERCISES

3.1 Task Assigned

Part 3 – Developing Your Poster

Begin creating your digital poster by building on the ideas from your initial sketches.
Use digital photography or photo editing techniques to strengthen your composition and bring your visual concept to life.
Add textures, filters, or special effects where needed to enhance mood and depth.
Finish by fine-tuning your colors using adjustment layers to ensure everything looks polished, balanced, and visually cohesive.

3.2 PROGRESSION

To start, I was inspired by the idea of using a 360° road as the central element in my composition, representing the path of life or a personal journey. I used Polar Coordinates to make the road distorted into 360°.

Fig 3.2.1 360 Road

Around this circular path, I placed famous buildings from various Malaysian states—about 50% of which are my own original photographs. I arranged them to form a ring, and used the Warp Tool in Photoshop to curve the buildings so they would follow the circular shape more naturally.

Fig 3.2.2 360 Buildings

In the center, I added a clock to symbolize the passage of time. To enhance this, I used one of my personal background photos to show myself looking into this "time zone" that represents my own world or timeline.

Fig 3.2.3 Clock

Following my sketch, I added a turned-head image of myself and positioned it in front of the circular path. Since it appeared slightly darker than the background, I applied a brightness adjustment using a clipping mask to help it blend better with the surroundings.

Fig 3.2.4 Adding Myself as Foreground

To reflect freedom and cultural identity, I surrounded myself with hornbills—an iconic bird species native to Malaysia. I also included floating Malaysian banknotes to represent both dreams and the financial realities that often shape our journey.

Fig 3.2.5 Banknotes

5.0 REFLECTION

This week felt like everything started coming together—and honestly, it was both exciting and overwhelming. One of the most meaningful parts was using my own photography—especially the landmarks and the sky. It made the poster feel more personal, like I wasn’t just creating a scene, but telling my own version of home.

Adding elements like hornbills and banknotes wasn’t just for aesthetics—they became symbols. They reminded me of the things that surround us growing up: pride in where we’re from, hopes we carry, and the reality of chasing dreams. It reminded me that design isn’t just about making things look good. It’s about finding a way to make people feel something. And through this process, I think I found a deeper appreciation for where I’ve come from and how that inspires where I’m headed.

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Alicia Lo Yann Wei (0357917)