Digital Photography & Imaging - Week 2

30.9.2025 - 3.10.2025 (Week 2)
Cheyenne Liew Khye Yean / 0378330
Digital Photography & Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Hons) Creative Media
Project 1

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LECTURE

What is a Composition?

• The arrangement of visual elements (shapes, lines, text, colours, images) within a frame.
• Composition helps direct attention, establish relationships among elements, and creates a sense of order, movement, or story.

  

Principles of Composition

1. Balance

Figure 1.1 Symmetrical, Asymmetrical, and Radial Balance (Source: Google), Week 1 (2/10/2025)

• SYMMETRICAL: Equal weight in left/right or top/bottom.
• ASYMMETRICAL: Unequal but still balanced.
• RADIAL: Balance radiates from a centre point.

2. Rule of Thirds

Figure 1.2 Rule of Thirds (Source: Google), Week 1 (2/10/2025)

• Divide frame into 9 equal sections (3x3 grid).
• Subjects are placed on intersections to create visual tension and interest.

3. Framing & Negative Space

• FRAMING: Other elements are used to direct attention.
• NEGATIVE SPACE: Empty space around objects (makes main subject stand out more).

4. Contrast

• Difference in size, colour, value, shape, texture, and alignment.
• High contrast is eye catching; Low contrast is subtle and harmonious

Visual Hierarchy

Figure 1.3 Visual Hierarchy (Source: Google), Week 1 (2/10/2025)

• The order in which the eye perceives information.
• Creates flow: big (grabs) > medium (guides) > small (completes)

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TUTORIAL

Figure 2.1 Composition Studies: Collage

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PRACTICAL

We were required to find visual elements and text from old magazines and newspapers and come up with 3 pre-compositions for a physical collage with the theme of self-expression.

Figure 3.1 Pre-Composition #1, Week 1 (1/10/2025)

STORYLINE #1: This composition shows many different sides coming together, but it also feels crowded with outside eyes and distractions, the clock at the centre suggests how expression is constantly being observed over time.

Figure 3.2 Pre-Composition #2, Week 1 (1/10/2025)

STORYLINE #2: The scattered visuals around the clock suggest a stage of experimenting and shifting, where identity is still changing and not fully settled.

Figure 3.3 Pre-Composition #3, Week 1 (1/10/2025)

STORYLINE #3: This composition Is more focused and balanced, with the visuals standing out strongly against the dark background, giving a clearer sense of confidence in expression.

Mr. Fitri reviewed our 3 pre-compositions and gave us feedback before selecting the best one for the final physical collage design. For mine, he chose pre-composition #3 to be developed into the final piece.

Figure 3.4 Final Physical Collage, Week 1 (1/10/2025)

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REFLECTION

This week we learned about composition and visual hierarchy. For my physical collage, I mainly applied balance, both asymmetrical and radial, when assembling my visuals, which helped me create a clearer and more organised layout. Initially, I struggled to pick specific visuals that could pair well together, but then I came across a glasses catalogue page in a fashion magazine I had and realised it could work as a theme. I’m personally more used to working with digital collages, so this process was new to me but still enjoyable.