Lecture 2: Imagined Landscapes

Landscapes represent the way of people live and the city. Natural scenery provides a place for people to create art between imaginary and real spaces. By observing landscape, it explores our relationship to place, both real and imagined. Painter observe nature firsthand, drew it into their art piece, recorded and made the perfect moment for viewers who will never see in reality; photographer combine landscape into their photograph and possesses properties not available to painting.

Lissitzky wrote: ‘The language of photography is not the language of painting, and photography possesses properties not available to painting. These properties lie in the photographic material itself and it is essential for us to develop them in order to make photography truly into art’ (Sovetskoe foto, No.10, May 1929).

El Lissitzky used the techniques of montage to layer images one over another and keep a message in every layer, he used photography as a tool for communication and for personal expression. His work provided a new visual impact to the viewer to understand a picture and reconsider the world. He demonstrated a completely brand new way of how photography could be used to create art.

Imagined Landscapes Approaches

‘I get inspiration from all things around me. Anything from things I see in my daily life to other artist’s work and music. I think it’s a lot about looking at the world from a different perspective.’ — Erik Johansson

Erik Johansson is a photographer and realistic surrealism retouch-er. He doesn't capture moments, he captures ideas. He produces and modify his work by combining different elements and using retouch techniques in Lightroom and Photoshop; make the scenes look as realistic as possible but also use his imagination to create fantasy kingdoms. In order to produce a work, there are 3 stages he mentioned when he create a photo. It is just like the stages when I create my collage work.

First is to find a landscape, most of the background of his work is a landscape, he never uses stock photography in his personal projects. Therefore, he will spend time to collect the images with a full consideration of perspective, reflections, materials and light etc. in his planning. In my project, I have to consider 5 key elements: What, why, when, where and how; question myself and answer those elements were my first step to do before I start my collage work.

Second is to collect/ shoot objects and materials. Base on the topic that I set in my proposal, I have to think of what elements to put in my work in order to represent the message and story that I want to tell to my audience.

Last but not least is putting the photos together and make adjustment to the scene to make the image be more realistic.

‘Most importantly, don’t create what you THINK people want, create what YOU want.’ — Erik Johansson

So as to make a good work, Erik Johansson believe that the best way of learning is by trying, it requires a lot of patience and practice and there are no shortcuts. Make different version of collage image and compare them to each other is a best way to decide which work out better; like what I did when I choose a storm sky instead of blue sky, also the composition of the elements in my work.