I’m super excited for this new challenge which is aptly named: Sum of the Parts. And its pretty much exactly what it implies:
“Make two photographs that you feel convey a particular subject when they are viewed together, but that do not convey the same subject when they are viewed separately. This is a way of including the viewer in the creation of meaning in your work. The subject could be an experience, idea, piece of writing, or word.” Carlo Van de Roer, The Photographer’s Playbook
The reason I like this exercise is that it seems perfectly suited to the LEGO mini figure and toy photography. You can take any two photos and put them together and the sum will be greater than the individual parts. The more disparate the images, the more the viewer can insert his or her own story into the narrative. I’m excited about the story telling possibilities with this challenge.
I didn’t put very much thought into the image I presented here. I simply put two random images together that I happen to be working with over the weekend. Even though this particular set hasn’t been very thought out, I still think it raises a few interesting ideas about the nature of time, assimilation and heritage. I don’t know what I will end up creating for my final post, but I know I am going to enjoy the process.
I do hope you will join Kristin and I on this, our third challenge.
Cheers!
~ xxSJC
How do you challenge yourself to stay fresh creatively?
Stay tuned, tomorrows guest from @Krash_override takes a different approach to jump starting your creativity.
I like it :) but I have to ask am I suppose to do a diptych – and I don’t have to make new pictures? Just combine two pictures or should I do two new and combine them? Is both right?
Kristina, I think both methods are valid. It depends on how you want to approach it. Either looking at existing work to see how they might relate in a new way, or create new imagery that can lead to a new interpretation. The artist that came up with this challenge overlays his two disparate images on each other, so I don’t think you need to be feel you have to do a diptych. One of the reasons I liked this challenge is that it is really open to looking at your work in so many new ways. I will probably… Read more »
Great challenge!
From your photos, the narrative that started evolving for me was of an office worker who enjoys reacting Viking stories on the weekend with a small community of others. He’s been keeping it a secret from others at his workplace… Until now
Bwahahaha! I love your interpretation, and probably closer to the truth than mine! See how much fun we can have with this one! I hope you’ll join in! :D
Intresting. Never been doing something like this, quite a challange.
I hope you will give it a try! Who knows where it will lead you. :D