Digital Photography and Imaging - Task 4: Project: Self-Titled

 19.11.2025 - 4.1.2026 / Week 9 - Week 14

Aida Tan Jie Fei / 0385645

Digital Photography and Imaging / Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media / Taylor's University

Task 4:Project: Self-Titled

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Tutorial

Exercise of After Effects (Week 9 - Week 10)

Figure 1.1 Exercise in photoshop

Figure 1.2 Exercise in After Effect

Figure 1.3 Outcome of exercise

Documentation

Moodboard

Figure 1.4 Reference 1

Figure 1.5 Reference 2

Figure 1.6 Reference 3

Figure 1.7 Elements 

Rationale

Dream Rewind explores the idea of dreams quietly existing deep within the mind. In this artwork, a carousel emerges from the center of the face, replacing the eyes, to represent imagination, freedom, and childhood memories. I chose to replace the eyes with a carousel to suggest that inner thoughts and memories shape how we see the world.

Although the carousel appears lively and full of movement, it exists only within the mind. This contrast was intentionally used to highlight the relationship between inner imagination and external reality. Through this design, I aim to express the gentle connection between reality and dreams, as well as a sense of softness, intimacy, and nostalgia that reflects personal reflection and emotional escape.

Progress

Sketches

Figure 1.8 Sketches 1

Figure 1.9 Sketches 2

Figure 1.10 Sketches 3

Digital Poster

Figure 1.11 Photoshop Progress

Figure 1.12 Photoshop Progress

Figure 1.13 After Effect Progress

Figure 1.14 Digital Poster 

Figure 1.15 Digital Poster

Final Output

Figure 1.16 Poster of "Dream Rewind"

Figure 1.17 "Dream Rewind" mp4.

Techniques Applied

During the process of completing this assignment, I initially felt confused about how to clearly express abstract concepts such as imagination and dreams. I experimented with many different ways of dividing and editing the portrait and faced several difficulties along the way, but eventually I found an approach that felt more suitable.

This task helped me improve my technical skills, especially in portrait cutting, layer management, and combining different visual elements. At times, the composition felt messy or unbalanced, but through continuous adjustments to scale, spacing, and layering, I gradually achieved a more comfortable and balanced visual flow.

My favorite part of this task was editing the video. I found it really fun and satisfying to turn each element into a moving animation. I also learned many new techniques through this task, such as how to separate elements in Adobe Photoshop and how to animate them in Adobe After Effects.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Dream Rewind is a poster that shows my inner world and personal imagination. In the artwork, a carousel appears from the center of the face, replacing the eyes and symbolizing how memories, thoughts, and dreams keep moving inside the mind.

The carousel represents time, childhood, and repetition. Elements such as books, clocks, phones, and paper planes represent knowledge, time, reality, and imagination. Placing these objects inside the mind shows that dreams quietly exist within us, even in everyday life.

The large clock in the background supports the idea of time rewinding, while soft clouds and warm brown tones create a calm, dreamlike feeling between reality and fantasy. Through this artwork, I show how imagination helps me step away from stress, look back on the past, and find freedom in my thoughts.

Dream Rewind shares the idea that creativity can turn ordinary life into something meaningful, and that everyone carries a dream world within them.

Self Reflection

During the process of completing this assignment, I was initially confused about how to clearly express abstract ideas such as imagination and dreams. I experimented with many different ways of dividing and cutting the portrait, faced several difficulties along the way, and eventually found an approach that felt more suitable.

This task helped me improve my technical skills, especially in portrait cutting, layer management, and combining different visual elements. At times, the composition felt messy or unbalanced, but through continuous adjustments to scale, spacing, and layering, I gradually found a more comfortable and balanced visual flow.