Photomontage

The art of photomontage could be said to have started just after the First World War, but the manipulation of photographs already had a history going back to the invention of photography in the mid 19th century. Photomontage is a form of collage which involves creating a composite image by combining elements from several different photographs. Individual examples of photomontage often achieve their effect by juxtaposing unusual or contrasting objects or concepts in order to startle or provoke the viewer.

Direct contact printing of objects placed on photographic plates, double exposures, and composite pictures made by darkroom masking were all popular in the Victorian era. Besides this practical use of combination photography, Victorians discovered the amusement to be had from postcards of the wrong head stuck on a different body, or the creation of strange or impossible creatures.

But it was not until the revolutionary times following the "Great War" that artists began to see the use of montage as a truly new art form. The centre of this explosion of creativity was Berlin, where a group of artists calling themselves Dada was looking for a new means of expression: one that had more meaning than the prevailing drift into abstraction, but that did not simply return to the traditions of figurative painting.

As Surrealism became the dominant European art form, photomontage gradually faded into obscurity for many years, until there was a revival in the 1960s, partly inspired by a renewed interest in Dada. Several of the artists connected with the Pop Art movement used magazine photos and text to convey the ethos of the age. At this time, and to an extent in response to the increasing populism of art, advertisers jumped on the bandwagon and started to produce more photomontages, a trend that continues to this day.

John Heartfield was one such artist Photomontage is a form of collage which involves creating a composite image by combining elements from several different photographs. Individual examples of photomontage often achieve their effect by juxtaposing unusual or contrasting objects or concepts in order to startle or provoke the viewer. In its manipulation of the viewer's perception of reality, the photomontage was a precursor of the modern-day photo-shopped digital image. The artists of the Dada Movement pushed the photomontage to the forefront of modern art, and, in their hands, it became a powerful form of political criticism. Heartfield's photomontages were particularly politically provocative and often used images from political journals to satirize figures in the German government. On such provocative work was "Use Photography As A Weapon" which depicted Hearfield himself decapitating the police chief of Berlin.

The next great revival in the use of montage in Europe was connected with the politics of the anti-nuclear movement of the 1980s. Much of the imagery at this time was designed for use in banners for demonstrations, producing a very graphic means of communication.

Photomontage Ideas

---

Many couples choose to create a photomontage to display at their wedding reception. Typically you should select photos from birth to present day for each person then photos of the couple together. This allows your guests to see the growing up process of both then see your time spent together dating. It is also a wonderful addition to any Anniversary Parties, Class Reunions, Graduation Parties, Family Reunions, or any Special Events. The possibilities are endless

http://www.lifeinsquares.com/starting_your_collage.html

A photomontage is similar to a collage (pasted paper), however it involves the manipulation of the photographic image and is as old a practice as photography itself.  

1. A “sports or hobby” photomontage.

2. An “awareness” photomontage related to a particular event, occurrence, environmental issue, health issue, war, peace, or invention that you feel people need to be aware of.

3. A landscape montage

4. evil vs. good

5. still life of fruits, vegetables, glasses, and pottery.

•Avoid text.  Have the images, colours, textures and patterns create the message.  Words and text are too easy.

•A strong photomontage is eye catching and holds the viewer’s attention.

•Overall piece is unified and complete.

•Before starting the montage it is important to establish your theme or idea.  

•Collect various magazines that relate to your overall theme or idea.  

•Carefully tear out the pages in preparation for cutting carefully.  

•Collect, cut or tear carefully images, colors, textures and objects from magazines that are relate to your particular theme or idea.

•Cut along contour edges of objects using scissors or an xacto-blade.  Use a strong cutting mat to protect table surfaces.  

•Consider using colours and textures from pages to fill in the background.  

•The importance of the photomontages must be clearly recognized and understood.  

•Imaginative and creative approaches are encouraged.  

•Unifying and overlapping of cut images and words is expected.  

•Arrange or juxtapose objects, colours and textures in an interesting and well-planned format.  

•Avoid gluing things down to hastily.  Move things around until they fit in terms of your theme or idea.  Use quality glue such as Elmer's or rubber cement.

•Clean and proper gluing techniques are expected; no unnecessary glue marks; no torn or frayed edges; pieces need to be adhered to the paper surface.  

•Glue down edges flush with the base.  

•Overall project needs to appear unified, well constructed and well thought out.

•Base paper should not be seen.

•Avoid scrapbook pages and sloppy work.

•Avoid words-let the image speak instead of words

•Elmers glue works best.  Do not use Glue sticks.  They  do not stick for a long period of time