Photomontage

One of the many surrealist methods used by the New Vision photographers was that of photomontage or collage.

The 1920s saw the emergence of use of a variety of new photographic techniques and methods of visual exploration.

Particularly in Europe, artists such as Man Ray, Andree Kertesz, and Rodchenko were using methods such as solarization, montage and distortion to explore both the conscious and unconscious world and infuse political and social meaning in to their work. This period in photography is referred to as the “New Vision.”

Collage describes a recombination of already existing visual materials effected by pasting them together and, sometimes re-photographing the result.

Montage refers to the combining of camera images on film or paper in the darkroom.

Both methods allow for strict control over the message the artist is trying to communicate as well as the ability to show the fantastic.

In the 70s there was a re-emergence of photomontage work. Photographers such as Bernd & Hilla Becher, Jerry Ueslmann and David Hockney explored new dimensions in montage and assemblage photography.

Hannah Hoch

Dada artists such as Hannah Hoch, Alexander Rodchenko & Edmund Tesky took advantage of found imagery in creating Re-photographed collages.

Alexander Rodchenko

Edmund Tesky

Frederick Sommer

Frederick Sommer used a technique called

negative sandwiching in which he placed

multiple negatives into a single enlarger to

create a layered effect.

Bernd & Hilla Becher

German artsits Bernd & Hilda

Becher are best known for their use

of several similar but different

images arranged grid-like to capture

a feeling.

Robert Flick Contemporary artist Robert Flick also uses the grid-like style but often condenses his grid to create a panorama or continuous series.

Jerry Uelsmann

Jerry Uelsmann is famous having

developed his own technique for using multiple negatives

in multiple enlargers to

combine imagery in the darkroom.

Jerry Uelsmann

David Hockney

David Hockney’s collages are assemblages of multiple still proof prints or Polaroids. While photographing a scene, he will focus in on one particular element. Note how the images overlap to avoid awkward gaps.

David Hockney

David Hockney

David Hockney

Much of his work is an alteration of the scene before him. He makes particular use of repetition for emphasis.

PHOTOGRAPHY II - The Big Idea: I Can Control Light!Assignment #2 - Photomontage Project