In the world of visual storytelling, few artists have mastered the delicate balance between technology and traditional art quite like Dale May. With a career that spans over three decades, May has built a reputation for creating images that are as technically innovative as they are emotionally impactful. His work, often blending traditional photography with cutting-edge CGI, has captivated a diverse range of clients.
In this article, we explore May’s project, Last Trip Home, that has garnered him IPA’s 2024 title of Special Photographer of the Year. The International Photography Awards (IPA) is a globally recognized annual competition that celebrates the achievements of professional, non-professional, and student photographers across a diverse range of categories, including fine art, nature, events, and architecture. View the full list of categories here.
This image, a poignant narrative captured through the fusion of photography and CGI, highlights May’s extraordinary ability to merge the real and the imagined, creating an unforgettable emotional experience for his audience.
ale May’s “Last Trip Home”
About Dale May
Dale May’s career has spanned over three decades, during which he has earned a reputation for blending traditional photography with cutting-edge CGI. With a client list that includes major brands like Sony, Puma, and Universal Music, May’s work is recognized for its richness, character-driven narratives, and impeccable technical execution.
But it’s his recent project Last Trip Home which earned him the title of Special Photographer of the Year at the 2024 International Design Awards, highlighting just how deeply he understands the power of visual storytelling.
A Heartfelt Story Captured Through Artistry and Technology
Last Trip Home is a highly verisimilitudinous image that merges the actual with the surreal. The photograph depicts a pivotal moment in the life of a young woman, portrayed by Emerson Croasdale, as she returns to her hometown to care for her father, a war veteran battling cancer.
The scene is simple yet profound: while tending to the garden, the woman spots black smoke rising in the distance, signaling an event that will change everything. It’s a moment filled with quiet tension.
What makes this image particularly striking is how May combines traditional photography with CGI to convey this emotional turning point. The black smoke in the background, which could not have been captured in a real-life setting, is seamlessly integrated into the composition.
“I created the entire scene with CGI using Blender | Cycles Render. Emily was photographed in my home studio. The old man is a combination of head and body models from 3dScanStore.com. The dog is a low poly model that I added Blender’s Geometry Nodes Fur system to, which looks amazing. The carpet is also Geometry Nodes Fur!” – Dale May
https://www-ccv.adobe.io/v1/player/ccv/Ct_MyEqTcrp/embed?api_key=behance1&bgcolor=%23191919
This subtle yet powerful integration of CGI into the narrative is where May’s true talent lies. Known for his ability to create photo-realistic CGI environments, he is a master at blending the real with the imagined. For Last Trip Home, the CGI serves not as a gimmick but as an essential part of the story—an invisible hand that heightens the emotional weight of the scene while still feeling completely organic to the viewer.
Blurring the Lines Between Photography and CGI
This fusion of traditional photography and digital artistry speaks to a larger trend in visual storytelling, where technology and emotion are no longer seen as separate entities but as partners that work together to enhance the message.
For May, it’s not about using technology for technology’s sake, but rather about using it to create a deeper connection between the viewer and the story being told. May’s ability to combine high-tech visual elements with deep, human storytelling is what makes his work so impactful.
Conclusion
Through his mastery of both photography and CGI, May continues to create images that are not only visually stunning but emotionally resonant, reminding us all of the power of a well-crafted image to capture the essence of life’s most significant moments.
As “Last Trip Home” proves, for Dale May, the line between reality and fantasy is not a hard boundary. It’s a fluid space where the real world meets the imagined.