So the last assignment for the week was to look at some surrealist artists and create a composite photo that was inspired by one or two of these artists.  If you have ever had the honor of studying surrealism you may agree that it is some pretty horrific art and falls under the "for real" category with Dadaism and the stack of campbell's soup cans.  Well as we all know art is interpretational and what some might find interesting or beautiful others may find appauling.  So for you surrealist fans out there no offense and we will agree to disagree.

Anyhow, I had to do a composite and really had no idea what I was going to pull out of my hat.  As if hating Surrealist art wasn't enough I have zero talent when it comes to composites.  There are people who are talented, when you look at their work you scratch your head trying to figure out how they did it and if it truely is a composite or real.  Well, I am the one that has choppy borders and perspectives that are so far off one could get dizzy just looking at my creation.  I sat and pondered and sat and pondered and watched the minutes tick away on the ol' clock.  I checked in on Facebook and checked my email accounts and checked again...you never know someone could have updated their status in the last minute and a half or sent me an email.  If there was a wall behind my desk chair I would have banged my head against it until there was either a hole or I had a concusion. 

In the end I decided to create a tribute of sorts to our little girl that passed away two years ago.  Many of you know she is my inspiration and the driving force behind my photography.  I took items that had meaning to me and that represented her in our lives and created my composite.  Below you will find a portion of my write up for this particular assignment and what everything in the image represents.

"Our daughter passed away two years ago as an infant; she was stillborn after a full term + 4day pregnancy. I decided I wanted to use the hand impressions we received from the hospital and the baby blanket we used at the hospital as we said our goodbyes. I photographed a pile of dead tree branches and leaves to represent her death and the loss of my own spirit and zest that I have not yet regained. Coming up from the dead branches is a cross-sort of an out of the ashes thing. I also placed in the branches the words love and faith, together these three things represent my faith that our little girl is indeed in a better place with our Lord and Savior. I placed the handprints in the center of the angel wings to represent her, our guardian angel. I made the image a bright black and white with an ethereal like glow again representing the angelic idea of heaven."

What do you think?  It did not turn out quite like I had envisioned in my head (nothing ever does) and some of my ideas were complete bombs so I had to play around quite a bit.  I am getting better with Photoshop and layer masks.  I know, I know you are wondering what the heck I mean when I say I am getting better with Photoshop.  I am a photographer don't the two go hand in hand?  Well, for some photographers, yes they do go hand in hand.  However, for some of us, Lightroom is the bomb diggity bomb and that is the program of choice.   

Here is my impression of VanGogh.  I did this when I first started classes and took an art apprecitation class.  I can't find my Dada piece, bummer.  Don't worry, I'll keep looking!  AHHH the joys of attending an art school...