Tutorial led by Editor Michel Romaggi in collaboration with the author Desmet Patrick
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 21st of January 2026

Back in the '80s, I was the famous DJ Pieter Van Ieper. I mixed records like no one else. Now, I do the same with my photos. I paste and mix them together to create a whole new image. I have my own unique Photoshop technique, which is different from that of someone who has taken a course — I have taught myself everything I know.

I usually start by creating the background.
Then I spend hours, or even weeks, searching and trying to figure out what fits.
Once that's done, I search through my archives for a character or some object that fits the story.

The final image, 'The Battle', was created using these base images 

1. The background is made up of various landscape photos taken on a trip to Gran Canaria.

2. On the far right, there is a small section of an old wall on the cliff face from Tropea.
    I always look to complete my images by adding a piece here and there so that the colours automatically match the other photos.

3. The castle was photographed on holiday in Naples. It is the castle at the port of Naples.

4. The photos of the characters were taken at the commemoration of the Battle of the Golden Spurs in Kortrijk, where I live.

The first photo is the bottom layer that I started with. It's usually one of my other montages, so it's just a base layer to start with.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You could argue that this is no longer photography, but it's not AI-generated.
I photographed all the parts of the montage myself.

I also enjoy taking black-and-white architectural or street photographs without adding things.
Desmet Patrick