Sandy McLea

McLea’s childhood saw him travelling across an array of landscapes that eventually piqued his interest in visual imagery.  Armed with an SLR camera, he began exploring the medium of photography, which led him to study at the National College of Photography. His world view has inspired him to push the boundaries of creativity in interpreting and representing “what the lens sees”. At only 28 years of age, he has developed a unique visual style that defines his imagery and gives his photography widespread appeal.

" I have always been interested in the physical world around me, I traveled a lot when was a child and always appreciated my surroundings. As a fine art photographer my work is quite unique, and that's probably due the way I treat my photography. I'm a mixture of emotions, talents and ambitions, and when I start a project I feel more like and illustrator than a photographer. I am a dreamer and wonderer of the world around me. My art allows me to connect and understand the  world where I travel and live."

Photomontage Series

Panoramic landscapes and city scenes have been the inspiration for Sandy McLea to express his artistic passion in an engaging photomontage series, created over a six year period. The series depicts scenes as varied as graffiti on the streets of Barcelona, harbours and light houses in Cape Town and the desolate vistas of the Karoo. The simplicity of each image belies the painstaking effort that goes into its creation. Very often McLea takes hundreds of photographs of his subject from different parallel vantage points, subtly altering focus, perspective and exposure from one image to the next. Of these, between ten and thirty images are selected for the final composition, which are then printed and laid out on a work table in his studio.  This informal grouping is spread out, often for weeks on end, before the final arrangement crystallises in the artist’s mind. Delicate adjustments are made from day to day until he is pleased with the assemblage.
Lines and subject definition are carefully overlapped and then masterfully repeated to create a rhythmic kaleidoscopic effect. Also part of the series are unique “hand assembled” photomontages, where physical prints are grouped together and pasted on a backing board to create a unique three dimensional illustration. The digital collection comprises 30 limited edition prints, each of which quietly resolves the elusive contradiction between stasis and motion, allowing the viewer to experience the sensation of walking past a picturesque scene whilst standing perfectly still.