| Introduction to the History and Practice of Cameraless Photography - Online

NOTE: This course will be held in a live, online format using the Zoom Platform. 
Class meets Tuesdays for four weeks, 7-9pm ET

Some of the earliest photographic experiments of the 19th century were made without cameras. Called “Photogenic Drawings,” these images were created by placing objects – leaves, lace, etc., – on a light-sensitive substrate, so that the shadow of the object created a somewhat abstracted image. Though lens-based images represent the vast majority of photographic representation, the allure of abstract cameraless photography continues to intrigue and inspire artists in the digital age. This online workshop will introduce techniques of using light-sensitive media to create photographs without a camera. We’ll study the history of cameraless image-making, starting in 1834, through a resurgence in the 1920s, to the concerns of contemporary practitioners. Three weekly projects will give students hands-on experience with cyanotype and lumen prints on gelatin-silver media. For this workshop, both materials are accessible for the home workspace, as only water is needed to process the cyanotype. Each project will conclude with the presentation of the week’s work and a group critique.

Students will need to preorder the following materials:

Pack of pre-coated cyanotype paper:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/762390-REG/Blue_Sunprints_1616711_Cyanotype_Paper_8.html

Pack of Ilford Multigrade RC silver paper:
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1527781-REG/ilford_1180673_multigrade_rc_deluxe_paper.html

Black construction paper:
https://www.dickblick.com/items/blick-construction-paper-9-x-12-black-50-sheets/

All images: ©David Ondrik