Photograms

Learn to produce a photogram: Definition: A photogram is a photographic image made without a camera by placing objects directly onto the surface of a photo-sensitive material such as photographic paper and then exposing it to light. The result is a negative shadow image varying in tone, depending on the transparency of the objects used. Areas of the paper that have received no light appear white; those exposed through transparent or semi-transparent objects appear grey. Photograms have come through three phases in history: Phase 1: To record the shapes sizes of natural objects Phase 2: As an artistic expression Phase 3: Contemporary art

Phase 1: To Record The first period of “photogram” exploration was to gain scientific record of natural objects . Anna Atkins was working at the very dawn of photographic development. Her work can be seen below: British Algae: Cyanotype Impression, 1843 Poppies: Cyanotype Impression, 1850

Phase 2: Artistic Expression The second period was a rediscovery of the artistic potential as illustrated by Christian Schad, Man Ray and Lazlo Moholy-Nagy in the Dada, Surrealist and Constructivist periods of art. Christian Schad, “Schadograph” 1918 Laszlo Moholy-Nagy, “Self Portrait”, 1926 Man Ray, “No Title (comb, knife and needle)” 1922

Fuss deals with themes such as Life, death, motion and experiment. Phase 3: Contemporary re-discovery More recently, photogramists have utilized the photogram as a means of artistic expression to produce a wide variety of designs and surreal imagery. Artist such as Adam Fuss and Susan Derges use the very basic science to create some complex artist works: Susan Derges takes camera less photography to the limit. She uses nature to create her images. Working with rivers, coasts and sound waves. To the right: “Shoreline 5”, 1998 “River Bovey May 07” 2007 Adam Fuss, “Untitled”, 1994. Fuss deals with themes such as Life, death, motion and experiment.

Follow the instructions on the worksheet to produce your photogram. When making your photogram consider the following: Transparency: Solid objects create a different effect to glass for example Shape: How about creating your own shapes out of materials to enhance the image...? Composition: A key factor of any art work. Try to make it visually interesting. Thin about where to lay the objects. Practice this before your Exposure. Suggested materials: Cut card (shapes), tissue paper, newspaper, bubble wrap, glass, flowers, liquid in jars, things in jars, yourself, soil, gravel, transparency sheets with writing or sketches....the limits are endless!

The process Make sure the lights are off and the red safe light is on. Put your photo paper on the base plate in the right place and arrange your objects on the paper. Turn the enlarger lamp on for up to 12 seconds. The longer you leave it the darker the image will be. Turn the enlarger lamp off and put the photo into the developing solution for a minute. Moving the photo around in the tray with the tongs being careful not to scratch the image. Take it out of the first tray and put it into the second tray for a minute moving it around in the tray. Take it out and put it in the third tray for a minute. Take it out with the tongs and wash the chemicals off with running water. Then dry the image carefully. You will now have your finished photogram.

Other effects Put flat translucent items in the negative housing as this will shine a ‘background’ onto your image. Double and triple expose your pictures so the same object can be used 2/3 times on the image. Draw on transparencies and put these over the photo paper then lay the objects on top. Use glass bottles bowls etc.

Remember… Don’t take any undeveloped paper out of the box if there are lights on as this will ruin it. Try not to touch the chemicals, they aren’t dangerous but will make your hands smell. Don’t open the door when people are developing photos as this will ruin them.

Prep work Present your photograms in your sketchbook adding an explanation of the process and evaluating to say if they were successful or not. Produce a research page on Man Ray’s photograms - Include images of his work Information on how he created photograms Analysis of one image

How do we analyse Images .... ... What exactly do we write/say?

Top Tip When we look at a body of work (a collection of images/exhibition/artworks) You may find it helpful to think about ....

Medium The ‘medium’ is the means by which information or meaning is conveyed. For example: oil painting, sculpture in stone, black and white photography, newspaper, radio, TV, pencil drawing on paper, colour photography etc.

For example: a person, an object, an incident etc Subject What the image is OF For example: a person, an object, an incident etc

Style This is a somewhat vague category. Think about what style means in fashion and music to give you a clue about its meaning … Discuss! In photography the Style tells us something about the WAY that the photographer produces their particular images ..... Discuss!

Feelings How does an image or set of images make you feel ... what emotions are being conveyed ? Are the images just about the subject or are do they tell us something deeper – something about ourselves, society, the human condition, modern life etc?