What is fine art photography - with Don Munro + Triptych Homework

7:40pm, Wed, 4 Feb 2026

Event Details

Type of event: Presentation
Start time: 7:40pm
Duration: 2 hours
Venue: Lindfield Uniting Church Hall
Cnr Pacific Highway & Provincial Rd
Lindfield.
  See map below
Description:
Image by Janice Gursanscky
 

Homework - Three images that tell a story

The opportunity for this first meeting of the year is create a story, rather than focusing on a single perfect shot. So we invite you to share a triptych. This can be either an EDI or print. Your choice.

Please just submit one triptych, as we do have a busy schedule that night. Remember to enter your images into the competitions page (though its not a competition!) on the Sunday night 8pm, prior to the meeting i.e. 1 Feb. 

So what is a triptych? 

Triptych photography ideas focus on creating a cohesive story or visual flow with three connected images, using themes like sequential moments (action, growth), different perspectives (same scene, different time/angle), complementary subjects (different flowers, feathers, textures), or narrative storytelling (portraits showing different moods, abstract colour/shape studies).

The key is continuity, often starting with the middle panel as the focal point, using visual elements like colour, shape, and direction to guide the eye across the whole piece.

Theme & Subject Ideas
  • Nature's Cycle: A flower blooming, a wave crashing, or a sunrise/sunset
  • Urban Life: Cityscapes from different vantage points or candid shots of street life
  • Portraits: Show different emotions, poses, or even silhouettes/double exposures of a person
  • Abstracts: Focus on textures, patterns, or colour palettes like sand dunes, water, or clouds
  • Movement: Use burst mode to capture a sequence of action, like a pet running or a splash of water
  • Objects: Group similar items (feathers, shells, tools) with slight variations in background or lighting. 
Composition Tips
  • Start with the Middle: Design the centre image first as the main focal point.
  • Guide the Eye: Use lines, shapes, or colours in the outer two photos to lead the viewer to the centre.
  • Create Continuity: Ensure a consistent theme, lighting, or mood across all three panels.
  • Vary Backgrounds: Slightly different backgrounds can add interest without being distracting (e.g., different parts of a forest). 
Creative Twists
  • Intentional Mistakes: Use blurred or out-of-focus shots to add mystery.
  • Double Exposure: Combine images for ethereal, layered effects.
  • Vary Sizes: The three panels don't have to be the same size in print. 
Here are a couple of websites with good examples:
https://mdhsart.wordpress.com/triptych/
https://www.thephotoargus.com/triptych-photography-examples-and-ideas/ 

You can create triptychs in print, by printing out separately and then matting into the three panels. You can also create them using photoshop or Lightroom or other editing software. 

There are many YouTube videos and other help available via Google - search - creating a triptych with Photoshop or Lightroom. However, if you'd like any help, just sing out. Any questions, ditto. 

We plan to have a popular vote (although it is NOT a competition). It's for fun and trying new things! 

Incidentally, the language of contemporary image creation is the three image story! 

 

What is fine art photography - Presentation and workshop with Don Munro  


NOTE: Bring (i) your camera and (ii) two things you would ordinarily throw out as rubbish (e.g empty can, broken toy).

Many of you said in the survey conducted in October 2025 that you were keen to learn more about Fine Art Photography.

Don Munro will outline the nature of such photos, which use subject matter, composition and lighting amongst others to convey emotions and ideas.

About Don
Don Munro is a landscape and portrait photographer who specialises in making hand-crafted Kallitype prints.  Don started learning photography at the Australian Centre for Photography in 2011.  He was a member of the Pennant Hills Photographic Club from 2014 to 2024, and is now a member of Easts Photography Club.  Don was elected Secretary of the NSW Federation of Camera Clubs in 2022, where he also coordinates the FCC’s Judges Training program and produces DIY resources for Clubs.

Don’s COVID-era photos can be seen at https://drdrm13.wixsite.com/donmunro   

Fine art photography is unlike snapshots which are descriptive or records, photojournalism which is narrative and objective, commercial photography which is persuasive - fine art is personal and expressive and typically has high aesthetic values. It can include landscapes, still life, architecture and portraits.

Historical and Contemporary examples of fine art photography include: Pictorialists (the first photographers creating fine art photography), Surrealists, Conceptual photographers (such as Cindy Sherman) and Contemporary photographers (such as Jenny Fine). This workshop will explore what fine art photography is and what steps we need to take to (i) develop ideas and stories and (ii) convert them into visual form.

Don Munro is leading this presentation and workshop and will incorporate the concept ‘the beauty of decay,’ one of our upcoming competition topics, into the workshop.

Map

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