The Future of Photography: Camera-less and alternative photography

Suitable for adults of all ages, no experience required. All materials will be provided.

Have you ever wondered how and when photography really started? Is it true that nothing else existed before the invention of the camera in 1839? Artists and scientists have been capturing images using cyanotype, anthotypes, and lumen photography since the 19th century. In recent years, analogue and camera-less photographic processes are experiencing a renaissance including chemigrams, phytograms and cyanolumen.

This two-day workshop will bring you on a 200-year journey through photography’s rich history and introduce you to some of the earliest camera-less photographic printing processes and techniques. Far from being outdated, alternative photographic printing practices are experiencing a significant comeback, both thanks to their appealing visual qualities and the fact that they are more sustainable and environment-friendly.

This two-day workshop is for either beginners or intermediate learners who wish to develop their analogue and camera-less photographic skills and develop specific alternative photographic projects with a strong focus on Fine Art (e.g., composition, exposure, and image editing). Learners will be taken through the historical, technical, and creative aspects of fascinating alternative photographic processes.

• Historical and contemporary uses of cyanotype, lumen, and chemigrams.
• Safe preparation of the required chemicals, including plant-based alternatives.
• Coating and preparation of different papers for printing.
• How to expose, UV-print, develop, fix, wash and dry prints.
• How to protect, store and archive prints.
• Participants are encouraged to revisit, with the support of the tutor, a technique and/or process of their choice.
• Participants will have the opportunity to focus and experiment working towards an outcome.
• This will be followed by an informal Q&A session, celebrating each other’s outcomes in a supportive learning environment.

Material
All materials will be provided: Photographic paper, Photographic chemicals, A4 picture frame glass
Participants are invited to bring: a selection of dry and/or fresh flowers/plants including petals and leaves, a selection of watercolour and/or cotton-based papers (sizes up to A4).

Optional: expired photographic papers.

Tutor
Aindreas Scholz

Date
Saturday & Sunday, 3 & 4 February 2024, 10am-5pm