Portfolio: Michel Lamoller's space and time-bending tautochronos project

*** IMHO *** Photography is a 2D representation of 2D or 3D subjects / objects. Photographers have been cutting & splicing photographs for more than 100 years. While Lamollers work is EXTREMELY well executed, there is NOTHING in the examples shown which cannot also be created / reproduced in Photoshop / Barco Creator or similarly capable software. In fact, it can ALL be done on computer quicker, cleaner AND BETTER in 2D representation than THE MOST dexterous person on the planet would be able to achieve without computer.
Pro Photographer - 45yrs photography experience - own studio 37yrs - computer graphics / image retouching 34yrs

Regardless of whether I like or not, I have to applaud the effort and execution of this concept.

Great idea but, personally, I find these examples missing the artistic potential of illustrating interesting connections in time and the same location, or connections in space at different times. The obvious use of layering is distracting.

But there's potential here for something interesting.

Not photography in the traditional sense of capturing a viewpoint. At least not a technical geek's sense of what photography is. This is abstract, legitimate, art. Not only extremely complex to put together (requring much skill on the part of the artist), but also a great play on the metaphor of peeling back the layers on an onion. Although personally I don't really see much of the time-shift aspect, so perhaps different subject matter would bring that more to the fore.

So in other words, this doesn't jive with the majority of DPReview thinking. Not enough brick walls to detect vignetting and barrel distortion.

It's creative, certainly. The concept of "space and time bending" is intriguing, but I don't see that on these images; I see layering.

The phrase "tautochronos" suggests some sort of "time equivalence", but I don't see that either.

I like the goal of showing a time shift in a single image. I'm not seeing it in these images. Maybe this technique could be used in a more obvious way.

I do find the method of excavating image compelling, and it does not strike me as gimmicky, as some suggest. Physically altering photographic prints is a well established vein in the history of art photography. I certainly do agree with some that certain works here are stronger than others. But overall these physical alterations of surfaces successfully invite investigation and contemplation.

Very interesting / cool!

Some people mention it's too chaotic, but that seems to me to be intentional, to throw off the senses, if it was too perfect it might be too slick and "easy". Just my 2c.

Execution doesn't quite match from what I expected from the description. Overmanipulated. Underwhelmed. Great potential if done subtly.

Interesting idea but the execution is too chaotic in some shots, not in a good way.

Nice work. Creative. Thanks for sharing these.

Anyone who thinks these are odd or strange, well, you've seen something new. And that's not a bad thing.

Thanks DPR for posting these. I'm not going to enter the debates in the preceding posts about whether it's art, photography, useful, pointless or whatever. As far as I'm concerned those debates are pointless because they revolve around classifying these pieces. They simply are as they are, and I simply enjoyed them. Original, different stuff from my own, and entertaining.

Great work! Thanks for sharing :)
The fact that he uses hands on techniques with a scalpel just makes it all the more impressive. I wish more photographers would think outside the photoshop box.

SURREALLY TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHER & FANTASTICALLY ACCURATE POSING FROM MODELS!

AMAZING & INSPIRING PIECE OF PHOTOGRAPHY.

More predictable than the sun rising, the collection of people here calling someone else's work nonsense and worthless. Probably the same people who walk into a modern art museum claiming, "I can do this...what's the big deal?" Well, here's the thing: you did NOT do it. Someone else did, and this is the case here, too. Maybe one day your pictures of puppies, cute kids, sunsets, and flower macros will be in an art gallery, but until then, try to be more respectful and understanding. Maybe you'll actually learn something.

Interesting work and well-done, reminds me of Hockney's "joiners". I think he needs more of an "idea".

Art using photographic images for base material. Interesting, unique and clever stuff.

Interesting. Confusing, too. Art is supposed to speak to me, and this does, but it seems to be mostly saying "I like playing with exacto knives." ;-) Kidding aside, this seem to be much more about layers than "space and time-bending."

As the saying goes- "To each his own".

Any photographer/artist doing something creative and showing something different is way better than the armchair critic who has no work to show.

Paper layers instead of Photoshop layers.

Brilliant idea!

This must be art!

Gimmickry, not photography.

Seems like something you could do a lot more easily with digital layers and save loads of printing paper.

Yes, creative and inspiring!