Zahria's creative foundation E1

Zahria’s Blog

Welcome to Element 1 of my Creative Foundations project. My name is Zahria , and this blog presents a curated selection of my work that reflects my individual creative voice, personal interests, and artistic identity. I have created a creative writing story, a photographic storyboard, audio content and a mood board.

Creative writing

The present is called a gift for a reason

Lyra strolled through the park, her phone in the other hand, already half distracted by a screen that buzzed and blinked for her attention. She hardly noticed the soft spring breeze or how the late afternoon sun slipped like warm honey through the trees, Her world was a carousel of updates and notifications circling so fast, she barely felt the ground beneath her. 

She sat down on the grass, tossing her bag beside her. She scrolled halfheartedly, then placed her phone down for a moment to take a sip of her coffee. When she reached back for it, her fingers found only grass. She panicked, felt the ground around her. Still nothing was there. 

Panic lit in her chest as she searched endlessly through her bag. She came across her keys, lip liner, purse, and an old receipt, but still no phone. Heart thudding, she jumped up and began retracing her steps across the park, eyes scanning the grass, the benches and all the pathways. 

At first, all she could think of was, I need to find it, I desperately need to be connected again. 

However, as the minutes and moments passed, something strange happened. In her search, she noticed the golden blush of the sky, how the trees danced in slow motion against the light. She listened to the flutter of the birds above and the far-off laughter of a child chasing bubbles. The scent of fresh earth, alive and warm, wrapped around her like a cosy blanket. 

For the first time in what felt like eternity, Lyra looked, really looked, without a lens right in front of her face.

She stopped under a towering oak tree, with her hand resting against its rough bark, and she felt a laugh bubble up from her chest. How long had it been since she just existed and was present, unchained from the constant pull of a tiny screen? 

At that moment, the thought drifted through her mind, the present is called a gift for a reason. 

Suddenly, a sense of peace washed over her, deeper than anything she could have found scrolling through the endless feeds. She sat back down on the grass, letting herself be, watching the way the sunlight made everything around her shimmer, listening to the rhythm of the park breathing around her. 

Out of habit, she reached into her bag one more time, and there it was, her phone was tucked away safely at the very bottom. 

She laughed again, but this time, much louder, startling a pigeon nearby. It had been with her all along, however, in searching for it, she’d found something much better, herself actually awake and present in the beauty of the world she’d forgotten how to see and appreciate. 

Lyra slipped her phone into her pocket without even checking it. She leaned back onto the warm grass, closed her eyes, and smiled, because for once in what felt like a lifetime, this was enough.

Creative writing annotation

This creative writing piece thoughtfully delves into the themes of digital distraction and presence, aligning closely with the central concepts in Media and Communications, especially media saturation and the impact of technology on human perception. Through Lyra’s moments of disconnection, the story critiques our dependence on digital devices and highlights the value of mindfulness, an idea central to media literacy and mediated self-awareness. 

Web content creation

Web content creation annotation

The mood board presents my passion in finding beauty in life’s simplicity. I used the theme of orange which is my favourite colour. I highlighted my favourite things such as the city of Chicago which is one of my dream cities, sunsets, reading and food. I used warm, golden tones to express how simple experiences can feel extraordinary when appreciated fully. The quote” Every day beauty is found in the familiar” is a motto I live by as I believe it to be ever so true. I also went for a golden and highlight aesthetic as that is my favourite makeup look.

Audio

This audio piece provides an overview of the contents of my digital sketchbook, along with a summary of my creative journey. I hope it leaves you feeling inspired by the awe of life’s beauty

There is beauty in the ordinary

Audio link

Audio Script

Production Template

Production Title: There is beauty in the ordinary

Location: LCC

Duration 60-90 seconds

Introduction

• Fade in music playing
• Nature sounds music playing
• Introduction to myself
• “Hi, I’m Zahria, and this Myblog is a reflection of something I’ve been exploring deeply, romanticising the mundane. Studying media and production in college taught me that creativity is not limited, it’s in everything. It’s in how we notice light falling through a window, the sound of footsteps on pavement, or the rhythm of a quiet morning.”

Main Points

• Introduction of what my MyBlog is going to include
• “For me, the present moment is enough. There’s beauty in stillness, in routine, in the simplest things we often overlook. That’s what I wanted to express through this piece, that we don’t always need more, we just need to pay attention and we will find there is creativity in everything. That’s also why I chose a simple black and white aesthetic for my blog. Stripping things back to let the everyday details speak louder.”

Conclusion

• “In this piece, I’ve tried to make space for reflection, to notice the ordinary and let it feel extraordinary.”
• Fade out of nature sounds music playing.

Film Storyboard

This storyboard illustrates a short narrative in which the protagonist learns a valuable lesson about romanticising the mundane. Initially struggling with the belief that her everyday life is dull and uninspiring, she begins to shift her perspective through the act of Journaling. As she reflects on the small, overlooked details of her routine, her mindset gradually transforms. The sequence of shots visually captures this journey from her initial feeling of dissatisfaction to her deciding to embrace the beauty in the ordinary. By the end of the day, she finds joy and meaning in simple moments, choosing to fully engage with and appreciate her daily life.