Rangefinder Magazine
January 2005
Click Here for printable version of this article.
Anatomy of a Mixed-media Photo Collage by Bryan White
 An advantage to being a painter who uses a camera like a brush is the ability to use photographic images as a starting point for a particular concept. I’m very fortunate that over the last 10 years our studio has become very well known for mixed-media photographic collage, oil painting, oil pastels and a host of other alternative ways to portray a person’s inner spirit, personality and relationship with a loved one. Through constant education of our clientele, my wife, Blayne, and I have secured a niche market that is both unique and loaded with potential.
I’m often asked by other photographers about my thought process and about any insight or methods to create unique concepts through mixed media. The majority of portrait and wedding photographers believe these conceptual images can only be created by people with an artistic background or hopelessly lost in the right sides of their brains. The purpose of this diatribe is to dispel this myth and illustrate how any photographer, if they realize their own creative potential, can create similar images to the one described here: images of passion, power and sincerity that can separate your studio from the crowd and, most importantly, solidify the purpose of the maker as a photographic artist.
A mixed-media photographic collage can only be effective in stirring the viewer’s emotions if it first has a well thought out, meaningful concept. “Determination” is a portrait of Zach Bobowski, a teenage Paralympic athlete whose exploits are well known in Georgia and even internationally. Zach was born with spina bifida and is paralyzed from the waist down. Though confined to a wheelchair, he does not consider himself “disabled” because it is all he has ever known. His dream is to compete in the Paralympic games one day.
“Determination” showcases Zach’s inner drive to succeed, his will to perform and overcome, and his desire to be the best. The concept was set: to convey in a singular art piece the hard work in training it takes to achieve these lofty goals. The marriage of commerce and art for “Determination” was realized when the final image became a key visual element for fundraising to help sponsor Zach with travel, equipment and clothing. As it is with any other session at Whitelake Studio, step 1 in the process was the consultation. After discussing all the many options with Zach and his parents, we decided to spotlight the speed and endurance of wheelchair racing and the intensity of training. My strategy was to capture many different angles of Zach speed-training right past me so the final collage would have a distinct flow.
For step 2 in the process, I decided to use T-MAX 3200 black-and-white film for a grainy, edgy effect and elected to get ultra-sharp images as well as many images that were blurry and out of focus (utilizing different shutter speeds) to create movement and increase visual intensity. Figure 1 (page 30) shows some images from the selection process.
Step 3 in the development of “Determination” was one of the most important, which involved selecting the strongest images that collaborated to create the strongest visual impact. Once the images were selected, I drafted a rough layout (as shown in Figure 2) that would allow me to decide size differential and overall flow and discover where the impact “points of interest” would be located. In Figure 3 you can see a more polished version of the layout with many notes and observations to help the collage stay on course as a singular statement.
Even though all of this seems like a lot of work, any photographer who applies his or her knowledge and creative instincts can do this. Be assured, it is not magic. After modifying many versions of the layout to the desired sequence, the final images were scanned and put together a little more precisely in Photoshop (step 4). In Figure 4 (page 104) you can see the collage after the work in Photoshop.
Many artists might prefer this version as a final one, and there is nothing wrong with that.
However, step 5 brings us to a possible point of departure. To reiterate what was stated earlier: Any photographer can carry a similar photo-collage through step 4. Being a painter first and a photographer second, I chose to continue to step 5 by using hand-rendered media (acrylic paint, charcoal pencils) to lessen certain elements and intensify others to the final desired result. Photoshop for me is a layering tool to help place my “elements.” Other photographers, fluent in Painter and other artistic software, can do miraculous things in step 5. I prefer outputting the image onto watercolor paper and then applying other media directly to the print for a more hand-finished, not-digitized look. Make sure you select mixed media or software with caution. Use it only if it fits the integrity of the end result. Don’t fall prey to showcasing “how it was done” or “which tools were used.” Go back to page 30 for the final version of “Determination.”
To conclude this “Anatomy Lesson,” I hope you are not overwhelmed but inspired to push your art, your craft, your imagination to a different level. Believe it or not, over the last three years at Whitelake Studio, we have sold more art pieces (pastels, oils, collages) than we have color enlargements. I attribute this directly to two things: print competition and a concentrated effort to grow our niche market through ongoing education of our clientele. Remember, in print competition you are not competing with other photographers; you are competing with yourself—to push your limits and abilities. Don’t be afraid to spend a little more time using the right side of your brain. If you do, I’m sure you will be rewarded with more creative photography, a higher average sale and a more fulfilling life.
If you are interested in helping Zach Bobowski reach the Paralympics, contact his parents Tom and Sue at sbobowski@ga.prestige.net. If you are interested in a creative “retreat” in the North Georgia Mountains at a historic bed and breakfast with Bryan and Blayne White next spring, contact Bryan at bryan@whitelakestudio.com, visit www.whitelakestudio.com, or call (770) 889-3202. The retreat will focus on recharging your creativity battery and act as a catalyst to take your photography and business to new levels. It will also address the importance of print competition and help you “raise the bar” in your everyday work.
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