Creating the Photo Montage

Just as a photograph can record fragments of reality, it can also be created out of fragments. This is what a photo montage does. It juxtaposes and melds seemingly disparate objects into a cohesive whole, fragments from many sources, to present a different reality, in the way a dream might present fragments from different times and places. 

Blurring the line between photography and painting, a composited photo can invite the viewer to enter into a world of magic or mystery, of whimsy or the unconscious. It asks us: what realities exist beyond the traditional limits of gravity, linear time, and social convention? It can create an imaginary world, outside of the conventional, into the world of dreams and imagination and fantasy. It permits us to create extraordinary images out of ordinary things.

In this weekend workshop, we will use the tools of Photoshop to create composited images from our own found, taken, and scanned images. We will consider not only the technical issues but also what makes the image work as a piece of art. To create a sense of magic realism or the possibility of a new reality, we will practice making the disparate elements meld seamlessly. In doing so, we will consider masking, edge treatments, color space, shadows and highlights, texture, perspective, depth of field, harmony, symmetry, and of course composition and narrative, all in the service of creating a cohesive image.

The class atmosphere is energetic, supportive and collaborative. Participants receive continual assistance and feedback on their works-in-progress. Frustration and laughter is to be expected and relished! Students will be encouraged to experiment, discover, play, have fun, and the open exchange of concepts, ideas, and techniques. Think of this workshop as a big playground, where you might get a few skinned knees but you’ll do so laughing and learning.

Our explorations will range from altering and enhancing existing images to combining two or more exposures of the same scene to control contrast, or incorporating visual materials into existing images to create dream-like montages. In all cases, students will explore Photoshop’s capabilities for image layering and montage, and each student will work on developing his or her own style and individual works of art.

Further, students will experiment with Photoshop’s painting and layering tools and learn new techniques and technical shortcuts. Students will use a range of options for making global and local adjustments to images, such as color correction, creating black-and-white images, sepia toning, and retouching, and additional tools such as filters, sharpening, and compositing.

Other topics will include: selection tools, masking, adjustment layers, layer groups, layer organization, blending modes, image transformation tools including Free Transform and Warp, Smart Objects that preserve flexibility, simple collages based on image overlays, and multi-layered creations woven from various sampled sources.

As soon you feel comfortable using the tools you've learned and confident enough to start experimenting and making mistakes, you can begin to work independently, creating your own photographic composites. There's no rush. Be prepared to get frustrated, confused, baffled, and to experiment and have fun!

Skill/Experience level: Experience in working with Photoshop and the program's tools and interface is necessary.

Student MUST bring their own laptops loaded with Adobe Photoshop CC.