Joseph Brazan Chino Hills, California
		Listen to this artist. (AU 80K)

Unfortunately, despite the fact that the subtle colors, interesting textures or degree of decay are fascinating as "found art," there's no place to go with the images. Frequently, there's no focal point of interest. There's nothing to give the images lasting impact. In and of themselves, the images have no meaning, nothing to relate to, nothing special to attract attention.

Lately I've been experimenting with digital photography to add that missing element by creating composites of two or more of my photos. Of course, my composites don't have the spectacular impact of a huge tidal wave breaking across the Empire State Building or the inexplicable tail sections of great airliners protruding from a desert landscape, but I enjoy mixing incongruous elements to make them interesting, or just to recreate new-found art. But, as much as possible, I try to keep everything within the realm of reality. I don't want the photos to appear as if they were digitally altered.

"Window Dressing," is one such composite. I took the slide of the vandalized fairy tale castle at an abandoned miniature golf course many pears ago. I loved the vibrant colors, the layers of texture, and the aura of mystery which surrounded the photo. But in and of itself, the photo didn't work until I added a touch of grungy elegance to it by putting the daisies in the beer can on the window ledge -- a macro shot which I took on my desk at home.

Due to long hours spent in my public relations business, I prefer to use outside resources to make my photo composites. I use the expertise of commercial photodigitographers in the same way I use a dark room technician in a custom photo lab to achieve the effect I want. I first make up a cut-and-paste dummy of the various elements, then explain the effect I wish to achieve. For the past year I've been working with Randall Forsyth of RF Images, Santa Barbara, to make my composites.