Luminous Landscape Forum

The Art of Photography => Discussing Photographic Styles => Topic started by: jerrygrasso96 on August 29, 2007, 08:07:20 am

Title: Who to study...
Post by: jerrygrasso96 on August 29, 2007, 08:07:20 am
I would like to study a few recommended photographers who are noted for their innovation and abstract approach to montage and superimposition. Can anybody recommend someone?

I would like to read any articles that discuss their techniques and their compositional drivers, ie, the reasons they did what they did.

I find myself drawn to the symbolic and sense of mystery that some of these creations can portray.

Thanks for whatever help anyone can give me.
Title: Who to study...
Post by: Lisa Nikodym on August 29, 2007, 11:24:19 am
The only one I know of and am impressed by is John Paul Caponigro, though his montages may not be quite the type you're thinking of (then again, they might).  His web site:
http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/gallery/ (http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/gallery/)

He uses artificial symmetry to get some very interesting, semi-abstract effects, while some of his images are clearly montages of multiple images (stones floating in the sky, for example).

Lisa
Title: Who to study...
Post by: jerrygrasso96 on August 29, 2007, 11:57:39 am
Quote
The only one I know of and am impressed by is John Paul Caponigro, though his montages may not be quite the type you're thinking of (then again, they might).  His web site:
http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/gallery/ (http://www.johnpaulcaponigro.com/gallery/)

He uses artificial symmetry to get some very interesting, semi-abstract effects, while some of his images are clearly montages of multiple images (stones floating in the sky, for example).

Lisa
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=136194\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

Good start, Lisa, thanks for the help!
Title: Who to study...
Post by: alainbriot on August 29, 2007, 03:25:40 pm
Hi Jerry,

Jerry Uelsmann is also a very important photographer to study in regards to collages:

Uelsmann Website (http://www.uelsmann.net/)

He started doing collages in the darkroom and now continues with digital.  I have always found his work inspirational, both because of the imaginative world his images open up and because of his approach to photography as not being the documentation of actual events.
Title: Who to study...
Post by: jerrygrasso96 on August 30, 2007, 06:59:35 am
Thanks, Alain, for the link. Jerry's images are very provocative and exactly what I had in mind. Do you know of any others? Can you point me somewhere I can learn how to start to do this in Photoshop?

I am trying to explore and understand other works as you suggest in your essays. Thanks again for your help!
Title: Who to study...
Post by: Chris_T on August 30, 2007, 01:20:07 pm
And don't forget Maggie Taylor. She was Jerry Uelsmann's student before becoming his wife. I can imaging their conversation at the dinner table. "Honey, you must try this PS plugin..."

http://www.maggietaylor.com/ (http://www.maggietaylor.com/)

Julieanne Kost is my favorite PS Evangelist. I was at her talk once, and was blown away by her rapid fire tutorial on how to arrive at the image on the right in her home page.

http://www.jkost.com/ (http://www.jkost.com/)

While her free tutorials at the following site are not montage specific, they are by far the most generous, comprehensive and accurate ones I can find on the Net. After all she's Adobe's official trainer.

http://www.adobeevangelists.com/photoshop/psindex.html (http://www.adobeevangelists.com/photoshop/psindex.html)

Start with the one on blending modes. BTW, I'm a straight shooter and my work is nothing like theirs. But I'm an admirer.

Quote
Thanks, Alain, for the link. Jerry's images are very provocative and exactly what I had in mind. Do you know of any others? Can you point me somewhere I can learn how to start to do this in Photoshop?

I am trying to explore and understand other works as you suggest in your essays. Thanks again for your help!
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=136347\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Title: Who to study...
Post by: jerrygrasso96 on August 31, 2007, 10:18:14 am
Thanks, Chris for the feedback. I'll give them all a try!
Title: Who to study...
Post by: jule on November 30, 2007, 08:15:16 pm
Quote
http://www.adobeevangelists.com/photoshop/psindex.html (http://www.adobeevangelists.com/photoshop/psindex.html)

Start with the one on blending modes. BTW, I'm a straight shooter and my work is nothing like theirs. But I'm an admirer.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=136402\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]

I can't seem to find the tutorial on "Blending Modes". I was wondering whether the link you were referring to in August Chris, is still there?

Julie
Title: Who to study...
Post by: walter.sk on November 30, 2007, 08:44:21 pm
Do a Google search on Jerry Uelsmann.  He's been doing surrealistic montages since the 50's.  He has several books out of his work, and, even though he still uses film, his work isw sure to stimulate your creativity and imagination.

Quote
I would like to study a few recommended photographers who are noted for their innovation and abstract approach to montage and superimposition. Can anybody recommend someone?

I would like to read any articles that discuss their techniques and their compositional drivers, ie, the reasons they did what they did.

I find myself drawn to the symbolic and sense of mystery that some of these creations can portray.

Thanks for whatever help anyone can give me.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=136150\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Title: Who to study...
Post by: wolfnowl on December 01, 2007, 01:44:33 am
I'd add John Reuter to that list...

http://www.johnreuter.com/ (http://www.johnreuter.com/)

Mike.
Title: Who to study...
Post by: Chris_T on December 01, 2007, 08:34:40 am
I was referring to the pdf file "Blend Mode Magic" which is still available on the page. There are many other tutorials there that can be useful for abstract editing. JK is very generous in providing these excellent tutorials for free.

Quote
I can't seem to find the tutorial on "Blending Modes". I was wondering whether the link you were referring to in August Chris, is still there?

Julie
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=157377\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Title: Who to study...
Post by: Chris_T on December 01, 2007, 08:49:12 am
Apparently, Uelsmann has not been converted to digital by his wife, yet.  

Here's his comment on the traditional and digital darkrooms:

http://shutterbug.com/techniques/pro_techn...mann/index.html (http://shutterbug.com/techniques/pro_techniques/0907ueksmann/index.html)

Quote
Do a Google search on Jerry Uelsmann.  He's been doing surrealistic montages since the 50's.  He has several books out of his work, and, even though he still uses film, his work isw sure to stimulate your creativity and imagination.
[a href=\"index.php?act=findpost&pid=157385\"][{POST_SNAPBACK}][/a]
Title: Who to study...
Post by: Rob C on December 03, 2007, 02:41:55 pm
I guess the world of photography is firmly divided between those who do, and those who do not like, exactly the sort of work that SeƱor U produces.

Rob C