Triptychs are a fantastic way of presenting work, this takes the viewer on a journey with you the photographer. It can tell a story, or it can just be three images that have relation to one another. A definition I found on The National Gallery website defines a triptych as: “A triptych is a painting made up of three sections. Such constructions are usually made of two ‘wings’ or ‘shutters’ attached to either side of a central panel.
Sometimes the panels are hinged so that the wings can be closed to protect the major image painted in the middle.” (Nationalgallery.org.uk, 2016)
Triptychs were originally used for religious paintings or important paintings. The ‘wings’ on either side were meant to protect the middle painting and be decorative on each side so even when closed to still looked aesthetically pleasing.
In most houses today, you will see a triptych but not in the form of hinged paintings, you’ll see it as mirrors or photography. The latter being one image split into three sections and spread across a wall.
In my personal work outside of University I have experimented with this form before, I have done it with an image of my niece on her birthday with much success, the image was of my niece eating her birthday cake, I feel that this image helps to capture emotion and the feeling of a birthday when the child is young.
Sources:
Nationalgallery.org.uk, (2016). Triptych | Glossary | The National Gallery, London. [online] Available at: http://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/paintings/glossary/triptych [Accessed 11 Feb. 2016].
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