Montage: Activity 4

Find two examples of photomontages that are either from a commercial source or from a fine art background. Discuss in what context they have been produced and what techniques they share with political photomontages.
What messages, if any, are communicated through these photomontages and how effective do you think they are? Consider different ways that each image could have been tackled by the artist and come up with an idea for ‘another in the series’.

Image by Thomas Barbèy

Image by Léopold Lambert

Both of these photomontages are from a fine art background. Techniques they share with political photomontages is manipulating photos to expose what is wrong in the world. These two images show the effects of how we have treated our planet. The first shows rhinos walking around an icy setting. This is poking at the global warming issue. It shows that the glaciers are going to totally melt, and a climate suitable for animals, such as rhinos, will be created. The other image shows a massive building raised on tiny stilts, with the ground under it crumbling and a destructive fire in the background. This image is also showing that we are destroying Earth. We continue to build large structures and not care how they may affect its surroundings. It is referring to the fact that we are destroying our planet so much that one day it may be completely destroyed and take us down with it. The global warming image could have added a sun for effect (the heat is making the ice melt) and the building picture could have added mutilated trees.

Montage: Activity 3

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 is aware as to the extent of the manipulation.

Editors that manipulate photographic images should not:

• Pretend their altered images real
• Change peoples views to make them believe something that is not true
• Alter the picture so that it changes the entire meaning of the picture
• Alter the picture so that it comes off as offensive
• Manipulate political images

Image Found On http://www.vincentphoto.com/blog/2011/11/18/friday-links-7/

Editors should:

• Clearly state the fact that the image is altered
• Keep the picture relatively similar to how it was before
• Ensure that their alterations are inoffensive

Image By Michael Oswald

Montage: Activity 2

Find two examples of political photomontages that are either from a historical or contemporary source.
Discuss in what context they have been produced and how effective you think they communicate their intended message.
Discuss the techniques that have been used to assemble the examples you have chosen and offer alternative ways that the artist could have put over the same message.

Image found on http://emilygreensphotos.blogspot.com

Image found on http://emilygreensphotos.blogspot.com

   The image on the left shows a city from our past, with a city from current times on top. It was produced to make us think about how much we have advanced our cities. The bottom image shows shorter buildings that are no more than 3 stories, while the top image shows tall skyscrapers that reach towards the sky. It effectively communicates its intended message by showing just how different the buildings are. The artist puts the skyscrapers in the background behind the city, making our eyes first start on the bottom, older picture, and then moving up towards the skyscrapers. They could have made it look more like the skyscrapers are a part of the picture and make it look as if they are right behind the buildings.

   The image on the right shows a gas mask with missiles coming out of it. In the eye holes, the American and Soviet Union flags can be seen. I believe that the author was trying to compare the United States and it's once-enemy Soviet Union. It is showing that even though we say that the Soviet Union is bad and does not do the right stuff, we are much more similar to them then we may believe. It essentially symbolizes the repercussions of what will happen should the nuclear war happen and how it will affect the whole world.

Montage: Activity 1

Briefly discuss why you think painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages and why the pictures were popular with the general public. (This technique of piecing together separate images to create one picture is again very popular with both artists and the media).
What two reasons can you think of for this revival of an old technique?

 Painters of the Victorian period might have criticized these early photomontages because they are unrealistic and might not be considered art. The pictures were popular with the general public because they are interesting and makes the audience try to figure out what the artist is trying to say through their pictures. One reason that this old technique has been revived is because it is unique and different. It also makes the audience think about its inner meanings and metaphors. Using photoshop today, we can make much more advanced images that look more bizarre.