Martin Osner Art Photography

29/05/2026

ABANDONED No.36

A short road trip to Klaarstroom while visiting Prince Albert led to an unexpected discovery — a forgotten car on a hill, standing silently beneath the wide Karoo sky.

I have always believed that some photographs are not the ones we go looking for. Sometimes, they seem to find us. This was one of those moments.

Abandoned No.36 has a story that reaches back to a family journey through the Swartberg Mountains, a visit to De Hel, and a creative process that changed the way I approached this collection.

I’ve shared the full story behind this artwork on the blog — from the road trip to the discovery, and how this forgotten car became part of my Abandoned series.

Read the full blog ; https://martinosner.com/the-story-behind-abandoned-no-36

Artist: MARTIN OSNER

27/05/2026

What makes a photograph feel lifeless — and what gives it the power to become a masterpiece?

In this special conversation, I sit down with legendary photographer Freeman Patterson for a thoughtful exploration of photography beyond the rules.

Together, we look at what gives an image its deeper meaning — design, emotion, symbolism, personal vision, and the quiet soul that lives within truly expressive work.

If you have ever felt that your photographs are technically sound but still missing something more, this discussion may offer a powerful shift in the way you see and create.

Watch Part 1 here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8xP7rNGOPiQ

What makes a photograph 'God Awful' or a masterpiece? Join me for a rare, deep-dive interview with legendary photographer Freeman Patterson as we explore his...

14/05/2026

LET'S DANCE — A Tribute to David Bowie | Martin Osner

There are artists, and then there is David Bowie — a man who didn't just make music, he made worlds. From Ziggy Stardust to the Thin White Duke, from Space Oddity to Blackstar, Bowie's career was a masterclass in reinvention, fearlessness, and pure artistic genius.

Martin Osner's Let's Dance is a hand-built 3D photo collage — physically constructed from album covers, newspaper cuttings, portraits, and cultural references, then photographed under studio lighting to give the work dimension, shadow, and life.

The piece celebrates Bowie's mystique, his Britishness, his theatricality, and his timeless influence on music, art, and fashion. Look up here — he's in heaven. And this artwork makes sure we never stop looking.

This forms part of Osner's Celebration Series — a collection of large-format lounge-room tributes to iconic artists including Elvis, Freddie Mercury, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Bob Marley, and more.

🎸 1947 – 2016. Forever a starman.

13/05/2026

TOO HARD TO HANDLE — A Tribute to Marilyn Monroe | Martin Osner

She was an icon, a symbol, a superstar — and yet somehow, the world still managed to misunderstand her. Marilyn Monroe was far more than the image that was sold to the public. She was Norma Jean: complex, brilliant, funny, fragile, and fierce.

Martin Osner's Too Hard to Handle is a hand-constructed 3D photo collage — layered with film posters, newspaper headlines, candid photography, and intimate imagery — then photographed under studio lighting to give the artwork real depth and shadow.

This piece goes beyond the glamour. It captures the full arc of a remarkable woman's life: the Hollywood machine, the private struggles, the unshakeable charisma, and the enduring legend. She was, in every sense, too hard to handle for her time.

This artwork is part of Osner's Celebration Series — a collection of large-format lounge-room tributes to iconic artists including Elvis, Freddie Mercury, Jimi Hendrix, Michael Jackson, David Bowie, Bob Marley, and more.

🌹 Goodbye Norma Jean. The world still isn't ready.

12/05/2026

BLACK & WHITE — A Tribute to the King of Pop | Martin Osner

There has never been, and may never be again, an artist quite like Michael Jackson. His music, his movement, his presence — all of it transcended boundaries of race, culture, and generation.

Martin Osner's Black & White is a hand-crafted 3D photo collage — physically built, layered with newspaper headlines, film strips, imagery, and symbolic elements, and then photographed under studio lighting to give the work true depth and dimension.

The piece captures the duality that defined MJ's world: the icon and the man, the adoration and the scrutiny, the music and the noise. It is more than a poster — it is a moment frozen in time for a legend who will never be forgotten.

This artwork forms part of Osner's ongoing Celebration Series — a collection of large-format lounge-room tributes to iconic artists including Elvis, Freddie Mercury, Jimi Hendrix, David Bowie, Marilyn Monroe, Bob Marley, and more.

🎵 The music lives on. The legacy is eternal.

11/05/2026

Part 2 of my conversation with fine art photographer and artist Sandy McLea has just been released on YouTube.

In this concluding episode, Sandy takes us deeper into the creative process behind his remarkable Idle Quarters collection — from panoramic stitching and complex 3D assembly to watercolour finishing.

What I love about this conversation is how clearly it shows that photography does not need to end as a flat print. In Sandy’s hands, it becomes something layered, tactile, expressive and deeply personal.

If you haven’t yet watched Part 1, I encourage you to start there first.

Watch Part 2 here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81KZroR2eug

Sign up for Osner Atelier:
https://martinosner.com/atelier

In this concluding episode, we dive deeper into the world of fine art photography as Sandy McLea reveals the intricate art photography techniques behind his ...

06/05/2026

EARTH WIND AND FIRE No.3

This popular print forms part of an extended portfolio by Martin Osner and continues the exploration of photomontage as a fine art process.

Created from twenty-five individual photographs of rock formations, the images were reassembled to portray Table Mountain at the base of the composition, with Devil’s Peak and Lion’s Head positioned on either side, all beneath a dramatic winter sky.

The result is a powerful landscape that feels both familiar and imagined — a reminder of how photography can be reconstructed to create something entirely new.

Artist: MARTIN OSNER

04/05/2026

EARTH WIND AND FIRE No.2

This popular print forms part of an extended portfolio by Martin Osner and is a beautiful example of how photography can be transformed into art.

Created from individual photographs taken of a single landscape scene with dramatic clouds at sunset, the images were later reassembled into a loose arrangement to suggest the illusion of the original view.

The result is a layered photomontage filled with atmosphere, movement and quiet drama — a reminder that photography does not always need to capture a scene exactly as it was, but can also express how it felt.

Artist: MARTIN OSNER

04/05/2026

EARTH WIND AND FIRE No.1

This popular print forms part of an extended portfolio by Martin Osner and explores the creative possibilities of photomontage.

The artwork was created from individual photographs taken of a single landscape scene in Hout Bay, Cape Town, capturing the clouds from horizon to horizon. These images were then reassembled into a loose arrangement, creating an impression of the original view while allowing the atmosphere, movement and drama of the sky to take on a life of its own.

It is a beautiful example of how photography can move beyond documentation and become a work of art.

Artist: MARTIN OSNER

24/01/2025

Are you ready to move beyond just capturing images and start creating art worthy of exhibition? 🎨✨

Watch my latest video where I walk you through 7 essential steps to transition from photographer to exhibiting fine art artist.

Whether you're just starting or looking to elevate your work, this video is for you!

Click below to watch and take the next step in your artistic journey! 🎥👇

Are you ready to move beyond capturing images and start creating art worthy of exhibition? In this video, I share a clear, seven-step roadmap that guides you...