Most expect photographs to be straightforward depictions of a place, a person, an event, etc. This is one way to use a camera. But the camera can also be a creative tool to generate another kind of fine art, a more organic outcome.

The photographs in this portfolio were created by blending two or more photographs. The result is a new kind of artwork, a subjective expressive work.

The artmaking process is not random. The blending process starts in the field. Often, an image is taken with clear intent to blend it with another image. The images often are taken in the same geographic area and sometimes during the same photo outing. Even if this isn’t the case, selecting images for blending requires forethought. There are technical considerations, density, contrast, color, etc. But more important is the concept. What’s the story, the mood to be conveyed, the idea to be shared?

A successful outcome requires visualizing the final blend. Will one image dominate? Should one be a background or backdrop? My intended message drives these decisions.