Photomontages may be highly effective representational toolsas they enable the designer to incorporate large amounts ofinformation and atmosphere, and communicate this to theviewer. The careful positioning of the camera when settingup this type of image provides a more realistic view of thebuilding and needs to be from a similar perspective as thesite context, making the montage of these images easier andmore convincing. Further ‘lighting’ may then be added duringthe photomontage stage to provide a more coherent visualrelationship between the design proposal and its surroundings.
1.A physical model is produced as carefully and accurately as possible. This isparticularly important where images are to be enlarged, as even the smallestimperfection will be considerably magnified when the photograph is blown up
2.The same model is placed in a darkened environment and an image isprojected onto it, recreating the effect of illumination across the façade.
3.The ‘realistic’ photomontage of this image is the result of modelmaking, goodphotography and subsequent blending with contextual information usingdigital software.
A Single Lens Reflex (SLR) camera, whether digital orfilm, will typically produce good results, although theeffectiveness of its images will be partly determinedby the scale of a model and how accessible it is. Thewidespread use of digital photography can be a real assetto the modelmaker, as it enables many different viewsand lighting conditions to be tested without wastingvaluable time and printing resources. This processalso grants the modelmaker the ability to carefullychoreograph exactly which shots will be the mostimpressive, and to communicate the essential aspectsof the design. Often, an image of a model alone maynot provide enough information for the viewer, and,indeed, may reinforce the notion of it as an isolatedobject or work of art in its own right. Consequently,photographs of models are frequently superimposedonto an image of the site or context, enabling theviewer to further appreciate the design’s relationshipwith its surroundings. If such images are to be producedsuccessfully, then care should be taken to photographshots of both the model and its context from similarviewpoints, as this will make their integration easierand much more convincing. Modelmakers will alsophotograph their models against the sky or a simulatedsky backdrop to add to the illusion of reality.
