Photograms (Assignment #1)
The Photogram or Photogenic Drawing

Early attempts at finding suitable compounds that would respond to light in very predictable ways included, what early practitioners called, "photogenic drawings". These camera-less images were produced by coating a support (leather, glass, metal, paper) with a light sensitive compound of silver-salts and placing objects such as botanical specimens or lace over the light sensitive emulsion and exposing directly to sunlight. The exposure would continue until the area not covered by the object would turn dark (physical development). When sufficient exposure had taken place, the plate was given a treatment in sodium hyposulfate, which made soluble all the unexposed silver-salts and removed them from the support. The image that remained was a perfect silhouette (only light in tone).

This technique is not something practiced in the beginnings of photography and then abandoned. Man Ray and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy were significant figures in the art movements of the late 1920’s and 1930’s and made a significant number of photograms and "Rayographs". These artists experimented with various objects placed over light sensitive paper. Experiments with glass objects were intended to discover how the light could be modulated or changed as it passed on its way to the paper. Moving objects from one place to another during the exposure also revealed some interesting results. Contemporary artists continue to make photograms to this day.

First Assignment: 

You will make your own photograms or photogenic drawings in our darkroom by placing objects directly in contact with photo paper and exposing that paper to light, then processing the paper normally. The objects you use can vary widely. Keep in mind that opaque objects placed directly on the photo paper will produce a high contrast outline of the object while transparent or translucent objects will have varying tones and will show detail.

Leaves, seeds, flowers, tools, keys, fabric (including lace), glass (especially textured glass), crumpled up tissue paper, cutouts that you have made yourself, negative strips, toys, your hand, marbles, in other words anything with an interesting shape. You can make a "self portrait personal photogram" using objects that say something about you. You can use printed material like photographs from magazines but keep in mind that any text or pictures on the back of the image will show through also.

Set the enlarger to a height that will allow the light to cover your paper with some room to spare all around. Cut up some test strips. Place your object on the paper and do a test strip. See which exposure gives you a good rich black ( It may take more than one test). Next, place your objects on a sheet of photo paper, arrange your composition. expose. Develop the paper normally. Try moving the objects around for a better composition or change your objects and create another photogram. You might also want to try raising the objects off of the photo paper slightly to see what effect you get. To do this you will need a piece of glass larger than the photo paper by a few inches. Place the objects on the glass to see how that changes the edges of the image on the paper. You might want to try moving the object during the exposure.

This assignment will get you familiar with the use of the enlarger, controlling exposure of light sensitive materials, processing photographic paper, dry mounting photographic prints and how to arrange objects and forms into interesting compositions.

If you have the time and the inclination you might want to try making an image using your flat bed scanner. The theory is similar. By placing objects directly on the scanner bed in an interesting composition you can create an image without a camera. (Make sure you don’t scratch the glass or use any liquids!)

Overall exposure. Try to get an image that has white, gray and black tones.

Overall design. Many times simple is the most effective. Try and arrange objects on your paper in an interesting design. Too many objects, and/or too many objects of the same size usually create a "busy" image with no center of attention.

Mounting. Check: The position on the board, if the image securely mounted on the board, trimmed neatly and the board is clean and free from dings.

Please submit one photogram dry mounted on 11X14 board.

There are many examples of photograms which can give you great ideas to get started.

Man Ray - Rayographs
http://www.geh.org/amico2000/htmlsrc/index.html

Laszlo Moholy-Nagy - Photograms and other work
http://www.geh.org/fm/amico99/htmlsrc2/moholy_sld00001.html

Photos and Photograms by Picasso, Miro, Dali and Tapies
http://www.zonezero.com/exposiciones/fotografos/fontcuberta2/index.html

Anne Ferran: Photograms
http://www.abc.net.au/arts/visual/stories/s586494.htm

Many Links to Photogram Artists
http://www.photogram.org/frame.html