Our assignment is to use images from your first shooting assignment and to create a collage using nothing except images from the actual contact sheet. You will not be allowed to download or use any images from the Internet or another person’s creation. The work will be based on selected slides of Jerry Uelsmann from the class presentation. I would like you to be able to master several important PhotoShop skills in this project including: layers, filters, Gaussian blur,
transparency, scaling, rotating, distorting, feathering, adjustment layers, and proper file preparation.
The first step is to analyze your contact sheet and look at all the items you have to work with. Many items are not meant to be used as a whole image, just as individual parts. Also look for an image to be used as a background. Many of you have some beautiful sunsets or other landscapes to use for this. I recommend some kind of land/sky or sky/water image that might look good “mirrored”.
Work out some sketches for some compositions. Remember that Uelsmann often used backgrounds and settings as the base environment in which several symbolic, often mysterious images, were place into the environment. Sometimes they are merely placed next to each other, sometimes blended together, often times floating (and creating realistic shadows). Use the rule of thirds, or other designed planning system. DO NOT JUST RANDOMLY PLACE OBJECTS ON THE CANVAS! You should limit the number of large objects in your composition. Many objects could become small accessories or strange additions to the image. Remember to use unnatural size differences to create a sense of the surreal to the image. You must somehow incorporate something from ALL the categories on your contact sheet! I will get you started with the file preparation and canvas creation.
Remember to constantly be aware of the symbolic or metaphor potential in all subject matter. Little in art is put into an image without it meaning something or to enhance the design of the piece (balance, unity, dominance, etc.).
Open up the file you would like to use as a background.
Check the “Image Size” information panel.
Write down the pixel dimensions, the output size, the file size, and the resolution.
Resolution will probably be at 72 DPI.
Go to File > New.
Go to Image>Canvas size.
Set the Width to TWICE the original size.
You may want to add an extra inch or so to the width to provide a white area for brush testing or creating a palette of colors or textures.
Go to View > Show Rulers
Open or select your background image.
Go to Select > All > Copy
Paste into the New file and move your image to the far left or right depending on the design.
Paste another copy of the image into the New file.
Go to Edit > Transform > Flip Horizontal.
Drag the flipped image over to blend with the first image.
Go to Layer > Flatten Image.
Go to Layer > New Adjustment Layer > Levels.
Make necessary color adjustments to your liking.
SAVE the level adjustment so that you can apply the changes to all of your images! (Load the level into any new images.)