PHOTOGRAMS
Photograms are a camera less photographic image. This works by placing objects on a light sensitive paper (photographic paper) and exposing it to light. Depending on how long you expose the photographic paper for the objects make different marks on the paper, this depends on the opacity of the objects for example if the objects is opaque the light won't go through the object therefore it will leave a white print, however if the object is more transparent the objects will leave a more grey print. This process has to be done in the darkroom as if the paper is exposed to, to much light the image will come out black. Photographers who have used this process includes, Man Ray, Christian Shchad, and Imogen Cunningham, Here is one of Man Ray's images that I have anaylised here.
Photograms are a camera less photographic image. This works by placing objects on a light sensitive paper (photographic paper) and exposing it to light. Depending on how long you expose the photographic paper for the objects make different marks on the paper, this depends on the opacity of the objects for example if the objects is opaque the light won't go through the object therefore it will leave a white print, however if the object is more transparent the objects will leave a more grey print. This process has to be done in the darkroom as if the paper is exposed to, to much light the image will come out black. Photographers who have used this process includes, Man Ray, Christian Shchad, and Imogen Cunningham, Here is one of Man Ray's images that I have anaylised here.
HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAMS/RAYOGRAMS
William Henry Fox Talbot was one of the first people to create this photographic printing process, similar to Anna Atkins he used some natural materials such as leaves to create his pieces. His images consisted of a white silhoutte where the objects had been placed. This technique was also used by Man Ray on his famous exploration of Rayograms.
PROCESS
- Firstly we turned the lights off so that the photo paper wouldn’t become exposed to the light and therefore wouldn’t work, we then placed the photo paper below the red lens, (shiny side up) and placed the objects carefully on the paper.
- We spent a long time on the composition so that the image would look symmetrical which may have been unnecessary.
- We then worked out that half a second of light would be appropriate for the right exposure, we knew this because the teacher demonstrated the photogram with more than half a second of exposure and the images came out over exposed and therefore black.
- We then switched the light and then after half a second switched it back to red lens.
- After, we took the objects off the exposed photo and placed it into the developer for two minutes (by now we can see the image forming) , then into the stop for 1 minute, in the fix for two minutes. and finally in the water for 2 minutes.
- We finally hung the finished image up so that it would dry.
- Our images were revealed when the light was turned on however we had to make sure that the photo paper wasn't out otherwise it would exposed and therefore unable to be used again.
Man RayMan Ray, born Emmanuel Radnitzy spent most of his career in Paris, France as an american modernist. He is said to be a significant contributor to the Surrealist and Dada movement. Although he is most famous for his photography he is actually considered a painter overall because of his renowned portrait and fashion portraits.
He used the photographic technique of photograms to create his images that he most famously called 'Rayograms' Using the knowledge he learnt from the surrealist movement of which he was involved in, he took images based on that. This is the reason why his images appear quite dreamlike. His images consist of an arrangement of household objects, presented in surrealist ways. For example in the images below they are arranged so that the objects are noticable and clear however because they are composed in a way that fits them together, almost like jigsaw pieces, its creates a even more surreal image. |
Moholy NagyBorin in Hungary, László Moholy Nagy was a designer, abstract painter, typographer, film-maker, theorist and photographer. Although he studied law at university he developed a passion for drawing at the age of 23.
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MY OWN PHOTOGRAMS
I did three photograms in total, some better than others. For my first one I exposed it for 5 seconds and the objects made a very contrasting mark. I used three very opaque objects and two not so very opaque objects, the opaque objects came out to bright so I knew i had exposed the image for too long. Also the composition didn't suit the opacity to the objects as I had overlapped an opaque object with a more transparent object and it looked messy. Overall although the composition wasn't quite right I did like the contrasts in the image as it made it extremley vibrant and grasping on a whole.
My second photogram came out badly I thought as the composition was to overpacked and very messy. There wasn't enough negative space in the image therefore the objects weren't clear. There was also a fogging in the image which ruined it as it added to the 'messiness' of the image. Although I could see the faintly the negatives in the image but they weren;t quite clear enough however what I did like about the image was the clarity of the leaf that gave it texture and the different tones provoked in the image as there were contrasts but also gradual tones.
My last photogram was my overall favourite as it was appropriately composed and the objects came out how I wanted them to. I deliberately places the objects in a line to make it more appealing I also did this to show the comparisons of all the objects opacity and how they differed from each other whether they were natural objects or man made objects. For example the leaves opacity contrasted with the opacity sunglasses as you could see the detail of each stalk in the leaves however in the sunglasses you could see a different sort of texture as the material was thicker. I also wanted this image to have a lot of texture in it from the thickness and detail of the sunglasses to the images on the negatives. I'm pleased with this image as I feel like the composition really helps bring the pictures subject alive however next time I wouldn't use the headphones in the image as although they create a nice texture is makes the sunglasses look less clear.