Fallen

Through composite image making photographers unite diverse components to transform basic concepts into powerful visual stories. A recent project included photographing the instant when a girl sank into water surrounded by floating flowers and swimming fish. The composite image conducts the audience through an unrealistic tale that merges reality with fantasy while showing the tale of surrender and beauty and change.

This piece sought to illustrate the moment of falling through both physical descent and symbolic liberation and change. The symbolic meaning of water as a fluid representation of change directed me toward using this element for my investigation. The girl sinks beneath the surface in the scene while her body drops through a free fall next to a magical underwater realm filled with colourful flowers and swimming fish. The image achieved harmony and contrast through its water and flower and fish elements to produce a peaceful surrender effect.

I started my work by taking photographs of the girl. I arranged her body to convey a feeling of motion and exposure while she dropped through the air. The image needed this element to establish its mood since it would transmit the sensation of floating while showing her acceptance of the water’s support.

I moved my camera to capture other components after completing the girl’s photograph. The flowers I chose represented purity and renewal through their delicate and soft appearance. The composition received its organic feel when I picked floating flowers that would spread throughout the water. To enhance the dynamic quality of the scene I added fish that swam elegantly near the girl while contributing to the fluid motion of water.

The genuine magic of the composite emerged during the post-production stage. The photographer combined the girl’s image with the water to create a seamless connection between her and the surrounding elements. Realistic reflection of the soft light needed to appear on the water’s surface to create a dreamlike effect. I adjusted the girl’s lighting to match the water’s ambient light so she appeared fully absorbed in that fantastical underwater environment.

She surrounded the girl with flowers and fish which appeared to move naturally like they were part of the water’s natural motion. The fish circled her body as flowers floated effortlessly through the water current so that each component seemed organically placed within this magical space instead of being added afterwards. The water received its depth and movement from gentle ripples and reflective effects which enhanced the scene’s realism and dynamism.

The last step required the development of an overall atmosphere. Soft blues and greens combined with the subtle warm tones of the flowers and fish produced a tranquil ethereal atmosphere in the final piece. The cool water against the vibrant blooms created visual interest and wonder while the moving fish added a sense of fluidity and peace to the scene.

The photograph displays a narrative of surrender and transformation by showing the girl floating in water surrounded by natural beauty and peaceful underwater movement. The artwork leads observers to stop and think about what it means to surrender to life’s current while surrounded by nature’s basic yet effective elements.

Through its symbolic and surreal beauty this composite image shows the fine line between actuality and fantasy while providing an unusual visual encounter that surpasses regular images. The image presents a tale of descent while showcasing serenity and beauty which becomes an open invitation to explore an area where transformation and peace coexist.