Behind the Collage: Three Become One
This post shows the source material behind one collage, next to the finished piece.
The Sources
Three photographs, found in succession on social media, build the foundation of the image:
• A beach under an overcast sky
• A single man with cap
• A group of celebratory young men
The Changes
Color: the original ground is muted in tone. In the finished collage, the sky and water shift to a saturated blue, and the skin tones warm. This shared color brings three unrelated images into one palette.
Scale: the single figure is enlarged to dominate the collage. He is head and shoulders above the horizon line, achieving a godlike presence that suspends the laws of nature.
Placement: the horizon line divides the composition in half, the single figure sitting above, the group of men below, cropped at the bottom edge so they press toward the viewer.
The Result
Seen side by side, the sources show how little the three photographs have in common at the start. The finished collage shows what they share once color, scale, and placement are adjusted: one beach, one sky, one dream.
— Behan
