Layout Designs of An Amateur: Of How Photo Editing Freed Me from a Life I Thought was Decisive

On the rarest of days, my mind wanders afloat. The stream of my thoughts outflows what seems to swell in my stomach, as though monopolized by ingenuity. As a matter of compliance, if my pen weighs empty of solace, my hands would find their place on either a screen or a computer's free-willed mouse. Creative inspiration would begin to blossom from images, prompting my fingertips' fascination to breathe alive in a form of yet another image, however, with necessary modifications, addition, and omission.

In truth, I have never envisioned myself growing attached to the magic of photo editing. It was a distant potential until it unmasked itself amidst the deafening terror that shattered the concluding hours of twenty nineteen. The one we name the coronavirus pandemic. At such a difficult time, I explored the nearest boundaries of my newfound recreation. Although, admittedly, it best manifested last twenty twenty-one. Editing photos was exceedingly effective in making productive of the moments I almost considered as pure waste. It renewed my flames within those years. In fact, there was a time when it became my source of income. My earnings may be unfortunately too little to boast about, however, the richness of self-acknowledgement overshadowed such tolerable loss. For it was both a stepping stone and a novel test towards greater progression.

Thus, in this very moment, do me the pleasure of celebrating alongside myself the discovery now etched as a fragment of my nature. Also, may you examine my crafts with modesty, for they are all but faultless. Relish with your well-meaning eyes!

A folklore-themed layout. This craft is the closest to my heart, as I felt the most at ease whilst incorporating the images piece by piece. Personally, this seemed the neatest among my edits. I adore the complementary tandem of the colors brown and grey. A detail which I never expected to bear a good impact for it was rather a sudden idea. As a fact I dare not forget to mention, this is a product of commission. The client was a particular fan of Taylor Swift and demanded that it be purely grey. Despite the slight alterations, she was the most content in seeing the outcome. For that, I could not get any more satisfied and grateful. As to the applications involved in the editing, Picsart and Canva were mainly utilized. Resources were retrieved from Pinterest, instagram, and Weheartit.

Following a cottagecore theme, this layout was the most challenging for me to do. It took me more than a day to produce an output, mainly due to my lack of familiarity with the concept and insufficient resources. At first, I even thought it appeared as though the elements are all over the place. Thankfully though my perspective changed upon taking more time to finalize the product. Right then, I felt exceptionally fulfilled. Like the previous one, I used Canva for crafting the piece, only that the photos have been enhanced through Remini to achieve the paint effect. Resources were similarly retrieved from Instagram, Pinterest and Weheartit.

A layout made with most hesitations. In all earnest honesty, this is my least favourite. However, the client who ordered this design managed to warm my heart. When all I can see are the ugly parts, she dearly mentioned it as beautiful. It was strange to see my doubts vanish in an instant. Suddenly, a mystical appearance from the product made a space in both of my eyes. Such situation made this one the most meaningful. For it resembled a huge footstep towards self-recognition.

Among all layouts, this excited my creativity to an extent that I began actually considering editing as my talent. This is actually one of the oldest layouts I made through only Picsart, thus the previous reaction. I could not be any prouder of myself for having done this outcome and this concept. I am a huge High School Musical, Barbie, and Somi fanatic. Those things in one picture filled my satisfaction.

This. as well, is one of those I consider as favorites! Ever since. I dislike the presence of red before my sight. Until this layout was brought into existence. It is just simply fascinating to see myself making the most of the color red from mere nothing. Although, the same may be inapplicable from the perspective of others. Nonetheless, I feel that this growth could offer me even greater things.

There exists in ourselves gifts that grew dormant. Such was the insight I developed through this sharing. As a child, we remember drawing the most random things and taking childlike fondness for whatever may we see. And yet all those things become buried as we abandon the years spent on purity. We grew separate from what we heartily adore for things that require more practicality. But those things need not be forgotten, they can coexist with what we deal with in the present. They are most worthy to be rediscovered as it would also mean rediscovering areas of yourself you have surrendered to the dark. You have so much in you to just simply let self-distrust exhaust your energy as you glimpse at the growth that carries the weight of failure. You can be more. Your capacity is boundless. Thus, let yourself unravel what still remains underneath your skin or even the oldest of your memory.