Posts from the ‘film photography’ category

Experimental darkroom workshop

Building on my standard intro to analogue photography and darkroom practice workshops, I also offer experimental analogue photography and darkroom workshops. Some of the topics I cover are completely camera-less such as photograms, multi-enlarger photograms, water-grams and chemigrams. Sessions can also include pinhole photography, extreme pinhole photography and cyanotype printing.

The experimental darkroom workshop is popular with schools, colleges, staff development activities and individuals. If you are interested in this workshop, please get in contact and I can call you back for a chat at a convenient time.

Photograms of ripples in water or ‘watergrams’

Photogram of objects using cyanotype process

Broken bones and brake lights – cyanotype

Pinhole image Cheney Court

6 month pinhole photograph Cheney Court near Bath 10″x8″ £85

Photograms and luminograms washing

Photograms and luminograms washing

Tijuana Vertical Film Festival

My art film ‘Grumbling Hive’ draws on a poem written by Bernard Mandeville in 1714 called the ‘Fable of the Bees‘ is to be screened at the Tijuana Vertical Film Festival in Mexico at the end of August. The festival celebrates experimental and art cinema from around the world. All the films in the festival will have been created in the vertical format.

This film was also on show at the Vertical Film Festival in Rome earlier in the year.

The poem describes how a society can only thrive if rules are broken and the citizens all live selfishly and to excess. Mandeville’s philosophy is often referred to by economists and sociologists.

Thanks to WEVAA for their support in producing this work.

Film still from Grumbling Hive

Print sales

image of Ship breakers, Bangladesh

Ship breakers, Chittagong 12″x12″ £180

image of Ship breakers, Bangladesh

Ship breakers, Chittagong 12″x12″ £180

image of Ship breakers, Bangladesh

Ship breakers, Chittagong 12″x12″ £180

Camera-less photography and mobile pinhole workshops and training

It is possible to produce photographs without the need for a camera. The workshop explores the purest form of photography, recording the unrepeatable shadows and reflections of light rays captured in a darkroom and resulting unique and ‘one-off’ images. This workshop explores photograms, luminograms, water grams, cyanotypes, paper negatives and other experimental analogue photographic techniques. The results are unique, original and impossible to repeat.

The workshop is aimed at anyone that wants to explore analogue photography in it purest form or that wants to learn about the basic principles of photography and how it still has something to offer in a world where digital imaging seems to dominate.

This workshop can be combined with a pinhole photography workshop. To deliver the session effectively I either use a large format DeVere 504  enlarger or, if on-site I bring compact semi-professional LPL C7700 enlargers so I can also cover traditional darkroom practice if required.

Photograms and luminograms washing

Photograms and luminograms washing

Pinhole image Cheney Court

6 month pinhole photograph Cheney Court near Bath

This workshop can be delivered to small groups on site using an existing darkroom or, I can bring a compact and temporary portable darkroom. The workshop can be delivered on-site anywhere in the UK or in my small darkroom near Bath in the UK. All I require to run this workshop on-site is a 240V mains socket and a nearby sink. In extreme situations, I can even supply the mains electricity for a short period of time using a portable battery pack.

Prices for the camera-less photography workshop start at £380.

Nova Darkroom Tent, outside (left) inside (right)

For information about my other analogue photography and darkroom workshops, click here

Photogram

‘Broken bones and brake lights’ photogram with road debris

A photogram of ripples in water.

Analogue film photography and darkroom workshops – in-person

I am now offering onsite analogue and darkroom photography workshops and consultancy services to individuals, schools, colleges and organisations. If you want to create a darkroom from scratch or revive and old one, I can help you to get it up and running.

Man wearing black apron in photographic darkroom with Deere 504 enlarger in background

If you do not have a darkroom but would like to learn the basics or introduce your students to analogue photography I can set up a small temporary darkroom in your home, classroom or office.

‘We had Nigel come into school for a day to train myself and another colleague in darkroom photography, to enable us to be confident enough in teaching both GCSE and A-level students the same skills after our photography specialist is no longer able to teach. The day was jam packed and we both learnt a lot about various parts of traditional darkroom photography, the developing process, pin hole cameras, photograms and luminograms. Emma Hart, Sandy Secondary School, Bedfordshire

I can help you with;

  • Setting up a darkroom of your own or reviving an old darkroom that has been unused for a while.
  • If you do not have a darkroom or any of the equipment, I can bring a portable darkroom along with all of the equipment and materials to your home or workplace. All I will need is electricity and a sink.
  • Providing an introduction to cameraless photography, pinhole photography, photograms, water grams, cyanotypes and luminograms.
  • Introduction to black and white film photography, cyanotype printing, staining cyanotypes, film processing, printing and advanced and experimental printing techniques.
  • If you would like to introduce film (analogue photography) into your GCSE / A level / BTEC programme but do not have the knowledge or facilities, I can help you to address common problems encountered by students with film photography and help you to embed the media into a curriculum.
Photogram of objects using cyanotype process

Broken bones and brake lights – cyanotype

Prices start at £380 for a day of onsite training. Follow this link for more information about film (analogue) and darkroom workshops and consultancy services.

Photograms and luminograms washing

Photograms and luminograms in wash

If you have any questions or would like to learn more, do let me know.

Darkroom materials and equipment

Preparing a darkroom

Photograms of ripples in water or ‘watergrams’

 

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