Sandwiched Imagery and Digital Composite

Jerry Uelsmann

Sandwiched negatives (also called double exposures) and composite imagery are important explorations in creating alternative photographic imagery. A straight photograph is a beautiful thing, but equally as beautiful is creating something new and different by using the traditional camera. Both of these types of imagery play with idea and surrealism—they make your audience think. Try creating imagery that stops your audience and makes them wonder and ponder what it is you are saying. This is your chance to create environments where dreams feel a bit like reality. 

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Assignment:
You must photograph several images that give you options for sandwiching and compositing together. You will be passing in one final sandwiched image and one final digital composite on google drive—you will be printing your favorite of the two images. 

A portrait works well for sandwich and the composite image is an open project focused on creating a completely surreal environment. You should use 2 images for the sandwich and several different images to piece together your composite. You can photograph people, objects, or landscapes. Take multiple images of different subjects and at different angles to help the editing time in photoshop. Use your imagination and think about how the final image will look. 

Steps:

• Think about how many different images you'll need to create your composite—some of you will have only a few while others may have 10 or 12 images that they are pulling pieces from. 
  
• The sandwiched image only needs 2 photos and should work together as whole images, you will not cut and paste the sandwiched piece the will only overlap one another.
  
• Making images black and white may work better for the final product so the colors and tones don't have to fit together. 

Resources: Composite Imagery pinterest board