ART 207 / / PROJECT #1 / / PHOTOGRAMS / / DUE SEPTEMBER 5

A photogram is made 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.

Some materials that work well are bottles, feathers, flowers, leaves, string, hair, seeds, tools, glass (especially textured), plastic, magazine pages, crumpled paper, saran wrap, lacey fabric, cutouts that you have made yourself, negatives strips, the body, etc.

You can make a self portrait 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.

It is very easy to make a mediocre photogram. The challenge is to push the medium to create something truly unique. There is a lot of chance and luck in this, regardless of how well you plan.

Assignment Objective

-- This assignment is intended to broaden your understanding of photography's possibilities. In this assignment we abandon the notion of photography as a window of reality. Instead, alternative processes involving exploration of light and shadow in layered densities are to be undertaken in service of the imagination.

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

-- Understand how light exposes paper, and how to manipulate exposure with different densities, opacities, and translucent materials.

-- Create abstract or representational images.

-- Apply basic concepts of composition and visual emphasis.

Requirements

I want you to experiment with this exercise. It will take a several sheets of paper before you get to your final images.

-- 3 - 8”x10” Photograms

-- Your three prints must utilize a range of tonal values from white to black.

-- Your three prints must show areas of contrast that help to create a visual emphasis in a part of the print.

You'll need an enlarger, photo paper, and some different objects to make a photogram.

Here are the steps:

1. Raise the enlarger head so that light will completely cover the easel and set the aperture to “two stops down” or f/5.6 or f/8 as a starting point. Set the contrast filter to contrast filter #2 (all dials at 0).

2. Cut up some test strips, place your object on the paper (emulsion side up) and do a test strip. See which exposure gives you a good rich black. It may take more than one test.

3. Place a sheet of photo paper on the easel emulsion side up. 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. and then place the objects you want to use for your photogram on top of the paper.

4. Expose the paper using the enlarger using the time you decided on based on your test strips (probably somewhere between five and 20 seconds). Your paper starts white. The more exposure, the darker the paper will become.

5. Process the print and make adjustments to the time accordingly.

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.

SUGGESTIONS

• Multiple exposures, rearranging things between exposures

• Think about the elements of design while doing this assignment. Think about how you are going to fill in the space of an 8”x10” piece of paper using tones.

• Think about how your design will interact with the edges of the page.

• Remember, everything deals with light. Light is what is creating the image on the paper. Light can be manipulated.

• Think about contrast, the difference between light and dark tones.

• Take risks / have fun — You can allow for chance to happen or you can be very calculating.

• Make sure you handle paper with clean and dry hands.

• Remember it's best if your objects are not too readily identifiable (i.e. cd’s, pens, lighters, headphones). If you do use a readily identifiable object try and get it to transcend itself, to where it doesn't matter.

• You can be literal and create images which seem to be landscapes or portraits for instance, or you can be completely abstract, whether free-form or planned.

• You can incorporate text straight off a laser printer, or handwriting. just make sure it is pressed tight to the paper by glass. You can also use transparencies.