Unit 6 Activity 4

Unit 6 Activity 4: Artistic Photomontage

Maggie Taylor

Thomas Barbey

     Both of these photos are from a fine art background and were designed for that purpose. Although these artistic photos were created for different reasons compared to those reasons of the political photomontages, there are similar techniques used in both to create such images. For example, in both of them there is an element of seeing through the lies, contrast, exaggeration of scale and recognizing the familiar.
     The message I see in Maggie Taylor's photo is the idea of seeing is believing. You never know what is actually below the surface. The cliche of the fish with a shark fin is the whole idea of "don't judge a book by its cover." In the second picture, the woman is pulling away her face, revealing her alter-ego, maybe there are some connections she has with the old style town behind her.
     If there were to be another photograph in a Maggie Taylor series, it would be something surreal. Maybe another scenic image, but instead of water it would in the mountains or something. For another photo in Thomas Barbey's collection, I would imagine a black and white photo with a male figure revealing something about himself.


Resources:

Learn to make your own photomontages by checking out Serena Fenton's blog here!

More by Thomas Barbey HERE!

Unit 6 Activity 3

Unit 6 Activity 3: Power over Media Enhancements

As editors exercise their ever increasing power over information control, what limits would you impose on them as to the extent to which they can manipulate the photographic image? Devise a series of guidelines that will control the release of images that have been constructed for media use so that the public are aware as to the extent of the manipulation.

Here are the guidelines I would establish to limit the amount of manipulation of photographic images.

• No editing or changing body types. 
• No slimming a model down, no creating skinnier arms or legs or smoothing out wrinkles or curves
• Only foundation and other make-up products can be used to enhance a models features, no computer editing of skin, etc. 
• Merging pictures for a commercial use should not be allowed
• Photomontages should be allowed artistically or for political use only if there is a disclosure that states the image has been tampered with
• Using another persons work and making small changes should not be allowed unless permission by the original artist is given
• The basic integrity of the picture should be preserved!!!

Headline: "Shark Attacks Helicopter"

... but does it really?

Original photographs:

See more photo manipulations here

Unit 6 Activity 2

Unit 6 Activity 2: Photomontage

Capitalism With Its Friendly Dean Acheson Mask - Alexander Zhitomirsky 1952

     This political photomontage was created during the Cold War, a time when Zhitomirsky "employed the imagery of the surreal to evoke a world of false facades and hidden conspiracies, where the world of capitalism lurks behind a friendly mask..."
      I think this is a very effective expression of the message Zhitomirsky is trying to convey. You have to do a double take to fully grasp the concept of this image, but once you look at the growling wolf and the fact that it lays underneath the mask, it is easy to understand the deception Zhitomirsky is trying to capture.
      The most apparent technique that was used to create this photomontage was "Seeing through the lies." This image invites the viewer to "look behind the surface or see through something to gain greater insight into the truth" (Chapter 6).

Global Warming - Voice in the Dawn Design 

     A popular and somewhat controversial political topic is seen above in this contemporary photomontage which shows the struggle of global warming.
     This montage effectively conveys the struggle between fact and fiction when it comes to global warming. The artist utilizes a strong emotional appeal by using calming blues and purples, as well as using a young girl to be the face of the problem, evoking strong emotions in the viewers.  
     Some techniques that were used to create this photomontage include contrast and exaggeration of scale. In this, there is a very apparent difference between the water and ice and the dried out desert. The girl also stands out int his montage because of how big she is compared to the rest of the scenery.


Resources:
Check out the "Capitalism with its friendly Dean Acheson mask" photomontage here! Learn more about Alexander Zhitomirsky and his work.
Check out the Global Warming photomontage here!

Unit 6 Activity 1

Unit 6 Activity 1: Photomontage

Fading Away - Henry Peach-Robinson 1858

     Painters of the Victorian period might have criticized early photomontages because they altered the visual reality of what was actually being photographed. While painters could manipulate reality in their artwork, photomontages were a much more realistic form of manipulation, making the scene seem real. On the other hand, photomontages might have been extremely popular with the general public because they would be able to escape into a different world.
   
     There are two reasons I can think of for this revival of an old technique. One would be because nowadays it is much easier to do photomontages with computer programs like Adobe Photoshop and other editing software, and the second would be because the alternate reality that an artist can create is always popular among the general public, creating a demand for that type of artwork.

Resources:
Check out Henry Peach-Robinson here!