SU23 Alternative Processes

Day/Time: 8 Thursdays starting June 22, 6:00-8:30pm

Location: E38-391

Instructor: Jacob Geiger

While the silver-gelatin process has been the dominant mode of analog photographic print-making since the 1890s, many other chemical processes have been used historically to sensitize paper to light in order to make prints. Students will explore several non-standard processes for making chemical photographic prints, including cyanotype, Van Dyke brown, salt printing, and, if facilities permit, wet collodion. These processes will allow students to work in greatly different tonal scales from the ones offered by conventional darkroom processing.

No prior experience in darkroom photography is necessary. All prints will be made as contact prints or photograms. Students will work towards producing a handbound booklet of work made over the term.

Chemistry, transparency film, access to an inkjet printer, and a limited amount of basic paper for printmaking will be provided. Students who choose to work with analog cameras should provide their own black-and-white film, and students may wish to purchase their own paper if they wish to work in sizes or paper types other than the ones provided. These materials will be discussed in the first class session.