Depicting Venice 2 – Ian Coulling

Depicting Venice 2 – Ian Coulling. The UK photographer presents a further series of unique Venetian composite images, to stir the imagination. A single original photograph, together with three other horizontally and vertically reversed images; were combined to form a new composite.

Photographs were selected, for showing how direct and reflected light acts at the interface of air and water; to produce the magic, of “reality and illusion”, or in other terms “solidity and liquidity”. Others were were chosen, capturing reflected light only, giving a more abstracted composite effect.

As presented in my first post “Depicting Venice – Ian Coulling”, the inspiration to investigate the potential of the composite image-making process, to explore the effects of multiple image planes, altered perspectives and space in Venetian urban scenes; essentially came from two sources.

The first, was from quotes made by artists, writers and poets over the centuries; regarding the floating nature of Venice, its magical direct and reflected light and its mirror effects.

Secondly, it was from the work of the English artist, Patrick Hughes. From his deep understanding of Renaissance art and perspective painting; he invented a unique optical illusion technique, termed “reverspective”. His artwork, painted onto reverse perspective structural bases, allows the viewer to explore perspective and space; when moving both laterally and vertically, in front of the artwork. His work is the subject of a previous post, linked below.

In these composites, a whole new Venetian world opens up and strange image components appear; such as new and rather “fantastical” structures and biomorphic forms. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. They are best viewed online at a fairly large image size; so that you can really look into and explore the new visual world created.

Venice is: “a city, floating in its own lagoon”….. “a city rising out of the waves”…. “a city like a water-lily”…. “like a Venetian woman, Venice dived from the bank to glide afloat.”….”a city of stone, water, colour and texture”….”a city where, direct and reflected light acts at the interface of structure and water, to produce the magic, of reality and illusion”….. “It is the city of mirrors, the city of mirages, at once solid and liquid, at once air and stone.”

Left. Original image, shows direct light acting on building structure; with reflected or “mirrored” light at the interface of air and water.

Centre. In my studio. Selfie, April 2023.

Right. Composite block of four, made from the original image on left, by horizontal and vertical inversion. An alternative vision of Venice is born. New structures appear: solid and fluid, real and illusionary. By changing the order of images combined on the background when making the composite; an entirely different final image; can be made. Fun and exciting to make, it is difficult to predetermine the end result. The magic is in selecting the original image.

Depicting Venice 2 – Ian Coulling. New composite images

Above. From the same original image as top left, an alternative vision is born to the composite top right. This composite was made just by just re-ordering the images onto the carrier background.

Look at the two examples below, where the four images were re-ordered to make the composite. To my eyes, the right hand image is more powerful; as a more interesting new structure appears, which dominates the central space.

Below left. Image made A>B>C>D Below right. Image made D>C>B>A (columns to the outside: then to the inside)