Activity 4

The below pictures are both examples of a fine art background photomontage. The artists of both pieces use multiple fine art pictures and edit them to create the final products. In the first image, the artist used contrast to make the colors and tree branches pop out more. In the second image, the artist used contradiction because the trees are floating in the air instead of planted in the ground. 

If the first artist were to make a series of similar pieces, they would more than likely be the same concept except the colors and designs would be different. If the second artist were to make a series it would be similar with contradictions, messing with the viewer. 

http://www.etsy.com/listing/92741579/fine-art-print-giclee-archival-print

http://creativitysymposium.pressible.org/lizhoelzle/photomontage

Activity 3

As editor exercise the increasing power over information control, there should be limits on them to the extent to which they can manipulate the images. Some guidelines that they should follow are:

• No altering body images
• No editing an image and claim it to be your own
• Give credit to original artist
• Ask permission to use a person/image for montage

Edited Example:

President Obama Answers the Call

Original Image:

Original Obama Photo

More examples on Photo montages click here

Activity 2

Adolf, The Superman - John Heartfield

This political photomontage entitled Adolf, The Superman by John Heartfield was created during the Nazi reign in 1932 in his homeland. The montage was banned in his homeland in Germany. The image was used as an anti-Hitler poster during an election, it refers to the financial backing Hitler received from wealthy industries who feared a Communist government. 
Adolf, The Superman is effective in communicating the message because it shows Hitler as himself with the only thing in his soul is Nazism and the coins from the wealthy industries.
The technique that he used was Seeing Through The Lines. He made the subject as if he was in an x-ray, showing his bones and the coins he swallowed.

Defended To Death - Peter Kennard

This political photomontage named Defended to Death by Peter Kennard was the face of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament in the early 1980's. The picture was a part of the 'Peace Posters' with the radical Greater London Council from 1982-1986. It was used to promote peace for schools, community centers and tree unions.

Defended to Death is an effective photomontage because it shows the United Kingdom and the United States protecting the world from nuclear bombs and Cold War. 

The technique that Kennard used was Recognizing the Familiar. He used images that are familiar to the public and combined them to create a bigger meaning. 

Unit 11: Photomontages

Activity 1

Fading Away by Henry Peach-Robinson

I think Victorian painters might have criticized these early photomontages because the photographers, such as Henry Peach-Robinson and Oscar Gustave Rejlander, were altering reality. They took multiple negative and combined them together to create a new picture allowing the public to view it as it is. Some of the photographs that they took were beautiful and were destroyed to create these photomontages. 

I think there are two main reasons for this revival of the old technique. One reason would be because of computer programs such as Adobe Photoshop, making it easier and quicker to make these photomontages. Another reason would be because of public opinion. The public has grown to accept and demand an alternate reality. With this demand, more photographers are leaning towards this type of work.