| Collage an Image into Abstraction: |
Print only |
| 2 entries allowed (each not less than 7" x 9") |
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The object of this exercise is to manipulate an image by slicing and dicing it into pieces and then reassembling it to create a harmonized whole. There are (at least) two ways to do this:
- You can slice and dice it by cutting up your print (for extra effect, you can use multiple copies of the same print to create extra pieces, perhaps printed at different exposures and with different color balancing), and gluing the pieces on to a mountboard to create your collage. If you are really energetic (this is not required), you can re-photograph and print the finished product to create an integrated result (and if you are really energetic, you can slice and dice that image all over again and create even more possibilities).
- You can do all your slicing and dicing and re-assembly in Photoshop, Photoshop Elements or whatever image processing software you use. Hint: place your pieces on different layers, and use the possibilities of layer blending, opacity controls, and layer effects to create surprising results, and feather edges of the pieces into one another (see e-focus, January 2003 on how to use “transition layers”). You can also use Artistic Filters for other effects.
This is an exercise in photographic abstraction. If this is your first such effort, you may want to keep it simple with not too many shapes. Don’t go overboard – abstraction does not mean mess-making! The final result should still juggle a balance between harmony and tension. Try to create interesting tensions, for example, between the pieces by just jiggling them out of their original position by a little bit. Even though this is an abstraction, try to create a center of interest, perhaps by using the right combination of lighter and darker pieces. The principles of composition that apply to real images can still be used with effect in abstractions. You can leave interesting shaped holes scattered between the pieces and around the edges. Think of the emotional impact of the image. The reality of your original image can still be apparent according to your taste, but seen through fresh eyes. Push yourself: be creative!
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