Composites

The basic definition of photographic composites is the combining of two or more images to create a new one. Optical compositing or matte photography combines every image “in camera” with control of colour balance, exposure, etc. from the selected transparencies to be used to create the composite photo.

I use high contrast film as the basis of all my composites, since each composite will be added one at a time, using multiple exposures on a single frame ( whether I’m exposing on a large format analog camera or a full frame mirrorless digital ).

My composites / mattes are created in the darkroom using contact printing methods on high contrast orthochromatic film. I expose large format Ektachrome transparency film combined / sandwiched with my pin registered mattes.