Pablo Thecuadro
This unique and striking image is from Thecuadro's 'Duality of Human' series of abstract photo collages.
I really like how the artist has layered different images over the main image to make it look like they are part of the male model's clothing and to create different pictures within a picture.
He uses female arms to create a v-neck on the original image, another male model's face to resemble the shape of a face mask and a female torso to create a part male, part female form. The combination of monotone and colour creates a dramatic and mysterious mood and gives it more dimension.
Pablo Thecuadro has skilfully pieced together the collage, cutting out the different images digitally. This shows a great sense of composition because he has been able to envisage the final image, whilst working on individual fragments. I also love the way he has experimented with shape and the traditional human form, thus challenging stereotypes of sexuality.
Photoshoot Planning
'Two Faced' - Image produced using photo editing software
A colour image used for the background was converted to black and white using the image adjustment function in the main pull-down menu. Extra shading was then added into the corners of the background to create a softer effect, using the gradient tool. A silhouette of the face and neck was then cut out of the image using the paths tools and coloured flat grey, leaving an outline of long hair.
An additional image was cut out using the paths tools and converted to black and white. It was then overlaid in front of the silhouetted area, so that the arm and shoulder break out of the shape towards the bottom left.
The image was then split down the centre using a dramatic 'torn paper' effect. A photo of torn paper was cropped to select just the torn edge which was cut out using the Magic Wand tool. A strong shadow effect was added underneath this layer to create dimension and depth.
A further similar headshot image was also converted to black and white, cut out using the paths tools and placed in the other half of the composition, to the right of the torn edge. The whole of the right side was then tinted pale pink by overlaying a coloured shape created in the paths tool and converting that layer's properties to colour in the layers palette, which converts it into a tinted duotone.
I'm really pleased with the final image because it accurately reflects the style of Pablo Thecuadro's work, in particular his use of black and white portrait photography.
Original images
Ideas and Intentions
I was inspired by photographer Pablo Thecuadro to create a series of photographic collages. I used my sisters as models and incorporated flower images that I shot last summer.
I linked my work to Pablo Thecuadro by exploring the use of portraits, overlaying images and combining colour and monotone. I was aiming to create a serene and tranquil mood and did this by using natural light and shooting my portraits against plain, neutral coloured walls. I also styled my models in muted tones and pastel colours.
Personal Reflections
Producing the collages by hand was significantly more labour-intensive, as cutting out the individual elements and visualising how they needed to fit together was really challenging. It was also a more limiting process creatively. I am particularly happy with the final result collage 1, as I wanted it to be relevant and to create a sense of safety and protection, which I think the mask and the arms around the model serve to symbolise. I'm also pleased with the end result of Lilac Lillies because the lilac and grey tones compliment each other and the finished work demonstrates a more dramatic style. Using a digital tool to cut out the images, also created a much sharper overall effect.
I would like to have been able to use some male models for my work and experiment more with overlaying different accessories such as hats, hairbands and headphones. As I focused a lot on the styling of my images, I would also play around with camera settings and light more and explore further editing ideas in Photoshop.
Technical Information
In terms of composition, I predominantly took head and shoulders shots from front and side angles. I used the manual camera setting, changing some of the images to monotone and altering the colour vibrancy and saturation during the editing process.
'Lilac Lillies' - Image produced using photo editing software
The original background image of the model wearing the scarf was converted to black and white. Its contrast and brightness was then altered to create a soft, lighter feel using the contrast and brightness image adjustments in the pull-down menu. The image was then cut out using the paths tools to create a background image. An additional layer was overlaid above this, which was coloured pale pink and made transparent to slightly tint the black and white image behind it. The lower section of the image was removed cutting around the hands using the paths tools, as well as the centre area in between the scarf. The stone in the ring was enhanced by adding an additional layer of fresh pink. This involved creating an oval with the oval shape tool, using the rotate tool to position it and making the layer slightly transparent in the layers palette.
An image of a lily was colour corrected using the main pull-down menus to enhance its contrast and saturation. It was then cut out using the paths tools to form a silhouette and this is used in various positions and sizes. The whole flower was positioned on the image to look like it is being held in the model's hand. A section of the flower stem was duplicated using the layers palette, to add the lower stem below the fingers. The lily was then duplicated onto another layer, enlarged and made semi-transparent to enable me to see what was underneath. A section of the whole lily was then repeated 4 more times in different sizes to fit the spaces and composition, using the scale tool to resize, the path tools to crop and the rotate tool to position.
I'm happy with the overall effect because the colour tones I used really compliment the colour of the lily and the cut-out images look sharper and crisp. The finished worked is also distinctly different from Thecuadro's style of work.
Getting to grips with the functionality of Photoshop and how to cut out and arrange my images was complicated and time-consuming.