Special Projects: Photocollages

Traditionally a photographer composes unique images with visual elements seen within the camera's immediate frame. The technique of real-time photocollaging requires that the photographer simultaneously compose a larger image that evolves through shooting many related frames. The "big picture" must always be kept in mind even if it's only a vague, intuitive notion at the time. This means shooting individual frames that may not be exciting in themselves yet may, nonetheless, play a significant role as essential elements of the whole. The problem is to make both photographic space within the image and graphic space with its erratic shape as it lays out on the page.

There is a distinctly cinematic feel to the process.

Real-time photocollage elements are gathered over a period of time with the result that time, itself, plays a significant role in the nature of the piece. The collage is not an illustration of just one visual moment, but really an "event" - an intelligent collection of space and time connected elements. Exploiting this feature of the process yields images extraordinarily rich in information and visual excitement.

In order for the elements of the puzzle to come together with an acceptable degree of credibility, there can be very little wide-angle distortion within the individual, adjacent frames. This requires the use of a "normal" or "long" (focal length) camera lens. Use of this type of lens enables the photographer to capture a wide angle of view without the familiar distortion and spatial compression of a wide angle lens. The illusion of normal depth relationships is preserved, resulting in the stunning impression of spatial presence.

Because of its inherent great exposure latitude, the use of color negative film makes it possible to include within the same collage, areas of dramatically different brightness, contrast and color temperature. This flexibility gives the photographer the freedom to shoot without restrictive technical issues (viz., no elaborate lighting). With less equipment to carry, the photographer travels light, takes less time to setup and can concentrate on more creative aspects of the shoot. This is also an advantage of working with the new digital cameras.

The process of assembling the photo elements is as important to the success of the final collage as is the initial gathering of the raw data. The final image can be a tiled window onto the world or an abstract puzzle with only rough clues as to the original relationships amongst its elements.