Manipulation of the photograph is as old as photography itself. From its roots in European art movements such as Dadaism, Constructivism and Surrealism the emerging techniques of montage/collage allowed artists to manipulate the visual. Using anything from newsprint and magazines to maps, tickets and photographs new visual constructions were created to challenge and subvert the social and political climate of the day as well as the materiality of the visual elements themselves.
Today, images are used extensively in our communications, whether print, digital or social media, and often with invisible and unknown manipulations, these images provide context and even the source for stories, opinion and truth(s).
Drawing from historical visual subversions, late 20th century montage art and contemporary fake-news realities the student will learn to read and apply a range of compositing techniques - from hands-on montage work, to seamless digital layering - in the planning and production of the elements for purposefully constructed images.
Contextual background
Historical and contemporary use of compositing techniques in the construction of visual narratives.
Photo manipulation concepts
Layers & channels, adjustment layers, blending & transparency.
Working non-destructively
Non Destructive Imaging (NDI) principles and manipulation of composite images: selections, saved selections, masking, paths, layer masks.
Text in composite images
Image-text relationships, distortion, scale & opacity.
Project elements
Project development, asset management, digital output, workbook documentary and evaluation.
Lectures - to present the key concepts and practices;
Readings - to provide the student with background context;
Workshops - to enhance practical and technological skills and knowledge;
Tutorials (on-line) - to demonstrate the range of approaches and methods to achieve a desired result;
Group and individuals tutorials (student/tutor) - to provide feedback to the individual and group.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |