#compositingphotography

      Have you ever wanted to create a photograph that executes your imagination? Well, you’ve wandered along the right path. Com·pos·ite - the process of combining two photographs into one image. Compositing steered me into the right direction, learning how to stitch different photographs to create a fantasy outlet, sparked my inner child. Last week we discussed Step By Step Compositing, today we’ll continue onto the FINAL steps to creating your own piece of art.

     As a child, my mind would wander into a land of goblins and monsters. Some call this “la la land” others call it creativity, consistently having a photo in my head to execute. Before I dive in, I want to share the inspiration that got the ball rolling inside of my own mind when starting compositing. A favorite artist of mine, Brooke Shaden reminding me that having “different” ideas should be a special experience and not shamed by the mind of your own, for creating a different world outside of reality. Thank you so much for lending your eyes, I hope you enjoy my finished piece.  

Step 4- Editing!

     I find when compositing, shooting each element individually makes the process simple and uncomplicated. I start by taking a photograph of the background. Then, taking a seperate picture of my subject in-action, you want your audience to react and comprehend the purpose for creating this image. Afterwards, I will take a photo of each object incorporated separately. Taking shots of each props individually, radiates strong detail. Once all have been captured within the story, I’m onto the next and FINAL step of all!

Step 5- Compositing!

     Is this where I insert a crowd victory yell? Continuing with editing, I select any image my client is wanting to use in the final piece. This is where the sketch and sentences of ideas, from Step 2 will come in handy. Starting with the background, remembering the goal is to convey emotion and curiosity to whom is viewing. Next, I select the photograph of the subject and edit to liking, then cut out and place onto the background. Lastly, I edit each photographed object to my clients desire and as doing previously, cut each out and paste onto background. I fidget, until it feels as if the piece is complete to the intense and complex vision! If you are creating and feel bewildered or don’t know where to begin, I have attached photographs to help connect the dots:

Background:      

      This can be any landscape or drawing of choosing. I took this on a weekend trip out of the city. A simple shot of a tree reflected onto the pond, that was far too eye-catching to ignore.

Subject:

       As I mentioned above, it is easier to photograph each part of your piece individually. I took many photos of my model spinning, in case I wanted to collide two images into one. I really liked how her skirt looked in the picture on the left, so I cut out the bottom half and added it on the photograph on the right. Adding more motion to the skirt, I think it made the image more fascinating.

     This image as you can imagine, was very simple. Taking a photograph of the arm by itself, adds more detail when stitching this part of our subject into the final image.

- FINALLY! The finished product:

    After an hour of stitching and brightening detail, this is the finished product.

“In The Twirl Of A Finger”

Do you have a secret outlet that helps your mind disappear from reality? I will be showing content through compositing and the brainstorming that is work put in, before even creating. Being a Nashville fine art freelance photographer, my work centers around photographing people within the journalistic and fine art styles. I begin by capturing the personality of my subject, intertwining the use of nature, anatomic objects, and landscapes through the creation of layered composition. The result of my work is nostalgic, enchanting, and magical. Used in publications for unique marketing, campaigns for artists, musicians, and other creative conceptual products or service uses.

Remaining within the mindset of a mystical photographer. Creating diverse imagery, which leads my audience mind to a fairytale of my own. As a fine art and journalistic artist, unfolding each creation with a kaleidoscope vision. Inspired by a childlike mind, others often attempt to outgrow with age. I hold the illusions of my craft, tightly within grasp. The unraveling pages of my creations beneath my subjects’ mind, brings to life the hidden fairy tales that often go unseen. Below is my first composition I created called,”I Find Myself At Four AM, Again.”

After studying photography earning a bachelor's degree for Nossi College Of Arts. It was there, when I discovered my direction for my work. Learning how to combine photos in post, offering a view of my creative imagery. Into my work allows me to bring the dreams I have within the night, into the bright of day with each manipulated photograph I capture within my realm. The unrealistic nostalgic feel comes from a personal place of memory and experiences of my dreams. The art I create on a daily basis, portrays the footprints marked along the unharden pavement.

“Disturbed” is the next photograph I created recently, while down a wrong turn on my pathway. I really wanted to add clouds to perform a “dreamy” piece of work. Next was the ropes hanging the clouds and the moon, as if the mind of the one girl created it within her imagination. Envisioning the ropes had been lowered, almost as if she was in a play. Lastly to pull everything together, I wanted to make sure her spine was very detailed when bending over to symbolize pain. Reminding myself, although the girl bent over doesn’t have the strength to glance at her moon. One day, someday, she would be able to. Which is why the other is looking up at the night sky. To remind myself and my viewers, that even though I am the one on the left, soon enough, i will be able to lift my head again. 

In a single image I create and generate emotion within composition. Using landscapes and other imagery in composite form to produce diverse and single handedly my own work. I use the present and past of dreams and emotions as key concepts to incorporate into each final piece.

Jerry Uelsmann is a great “hero” of mine, although I wouldn’t consider any other photographer to that high power. Glancing at his work and easily being intrigued, it is simply impossible to not think so highly of an artist, as i do him. He was a photographer within the 1960’s when photoshop wasn’t even thought of yet. He fully started compositing in the dark room with many negatives into one image, assistants hired to help were unable to tell anyone how exactly he did it. Agreeing to Uelsmann that no words would be told as to how he executed his imagination. I think I will somehow cross paths with Uelsmann and become great friends, a sense of understanding another's mind, that's what’s important.