Artist Richard Dennison’s photo collages take months to complete and involve hundreds of photographs. Enjoy his work and visit his website to learn more.
“World Beach (sand)” Photography, Limited edition print on DaVinci Archival White Cotton Rag Paper, 120cm x 90cm
I come from an advertising background. Advertising, at least the glossy creative part, is an industry constantly looking for new ways to tell familiar stories.
“Where Are They Going?” Photography, Limited Edition Print on DaVinci Archival White Cotton Rag Paper, 120cm x 90cm
And that’s what I think I’ve done with my images. I’ve taken familiar views and given them a simple twist that makes them different. I choose places I think you’d like to be. Or views you’d like to see. So they’re a positive and uplifting subject matter to start with.
“World Beach (pebbles)” Photography, Limited Edition Print on DaVinci Archival White Cotton Rag Paper, 120cm x 90cm
Applying my technique simply gives them another layer of enjoyment, enhancing the way they make you feel when you view them.
“London Parks” Photography, Limited Edition Print on DaVinci Archival White Cotton Rag Paper, 120cm x 90cm
I make them big too. Sometimes they can be up to two meters across. It makes them more immersive—you can lose yourself in the place and enjoy it all the more. It gives the images more depth too. There’s something new to see each time you look at them. They make you think “Where is that beach?” “Where is that plane flying to?” “Is that fake grass among all the real grass?”
“London Skies” Photography, Limited Edition Print on DaVinci Archival White Cotton Rag Paper, 120cm x 90cm
Each image takes a long time to create. I have a picture in my head when I start out but when I come to assemble the final collage, I never really know how it will turn out. I’ll shoot hundreds, if not thousands, of individual photographs for each one. It can take months, and in some cases, even years to have enough options.
“London Leaves” Photography, Limited Edition Print on DaVinci Archival White Cotton Rag Paper, 120cm x 90cm
That’s followed by weeks of putting it together. I have to save countless versions and go back and forth all the time. It’s trial and error and trial and error and so forth. It’s like trying to do a jigsaw puzzle without a picture on the box lid to refer to. I start out sort of blind, and feel my way along until I reach that final image that feels right.
“Fishnets” Photography, Limited Edition Print on DaVinci Archival White Cotton Rag Paper, 120cm x 90cm
If all this sounds like a chore, it’s not. I love every part of every stage. And each time I’m out shooting one I think of more and more ideas to explore.
Artist Richard Dennison at work on “World Trees” (Work in progress)
Although there are only seven photographs on my website at the moment, there are many more in various stages of completion. So, watch this space!
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