Digital Photography & Imaging - Week 2: Physical Collage

Name: Caitlin Alina Anthony - ID No. 0383177
Module: Digital Photography & Imaging 

Group : 1

Collage Elements

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Lecture

Introduction to Composition

Good composition is the foundation of effective visual design.

Key elements include:

1. Focal Point: Guides the viewer's eyes to the most important part of the design first.
2. Scale & Hierarchy: Uses size and placement to show importance and guide attention.
3. Visual Balance: Every element has visual weight based on its size, texture, and color. Balance keeps the composition from feeling lopsided.
4. White Space: Also known as negative space, it gives the design breathing room and emphasizes the main focus.

Rule of Thirds

The rule of thirds divides an image into a 3x3 grid, creating 4 key intersection points where important elements should be placed for visual harmony.

Benefits:

• Creates pleasing, natural compositions.
• Encourages creative use of negative space.
• Builds interaction between subject and background.

Golden Ratio

The golden ratio (1:1.618) is a mathematical formula found in nature, often used to create aesthetically pleasing and naturally balanced layouts. It brings a sense of harmony and elegance to design, helping guide proportions and spacing.

Key Techniques for Framing & Cropping in Composition (Film)

• Single shot
• Two shots
• Crowd shots
• Over the shoulder (OTS)
• Point of view (POV)
• Insert shots

Tutorial

Practical

1. Pre-Composition #1

Center Point: The smiling woman in glasses and the bold “island time” text.

Concept & Story:

“Island Time” captures the carefree, timeless joy, and cultural fusion of being on an island. At the center, a smiling woman stimulates the freedom and joy of travel, surrounded by iconic European architecture that contrasts with her carefree energy. The bold typography ties the piece, suggesting a place where time slows down and moments are savored. This collage is a reminder that the world has so much to offer by escaping the structured pace of daily life in favor of sunshine, spontaneity, and the beauty found in blending histories, cultures, and experiences.

2. Pre-Composition #2

Center Point: The surfer walking down the wooden stairs and the “Explore the World” text.
Concept & Story: 
“Explore the World” is an invitation to move beyond comfort zones, this collage blends land, sea, and wildlife which is inviting the viewer to discover earth’s natural, untouched beauty. The collage shows crystal clear waters, jungle, and wildlife to illustrate the diversity of the natural world waiting to be experienced. It’s about moving with purpose, discovering hidden corners of nature, and staying curious.

3. Pre-Composition #3

Center Point: The uniformed man in blue and the unusual combination of safari elements.
Concept & Story:
“Safari at Sea” blends luxury travel and wild nature in a fun and slightly silly way to show what modern tourism is like. A uniformed figure, some perceive as cruise director, captain, or train conductor, represents someone who controls or manages fancy travel experiences, while elephants, tropical islands, and someone enjoying a cocktail question the authenticity of such adventures. These pieces don’t normally go together, which makes the collage feel playful and strange. It shows how people often want both comfort and adventure when they travel, and how nature is sometimes turned into a tourist attraction. This collage is about that mix, how we try to enjoy the wild without leaving luxury behind.