Darkroom Magic: Photograms!

Hoorah!

I have been in the darkroom for three days now, and although I have really struggled at times and things have gone wrong a lot I am so thankful for the experience, it is teaching me an awful lot about myself and the way I work.

On our first day in the darkroom, we did photograms. Photograms are awesome because they need no film! You basically put objects on photo paper, expose the paper to light and then develop it - the area that have been covered stay white while the exposed areas turn black!

There is something truly magical about putting your first ever print into the developer and watching the photo slowly appear under the red lights, it is enough to give you goosebumps and it took a lot of printing for me to eventually get over the wonder (and I don't think I have yet!)

I based my series of photograms around the concept of people in the sex industry - perhaps a little outside of my comfort zone photographically, but it was an idea that I had been playing with for a long time. I took in a bunch of different items - a lace garter belt, jewellery, a made-up budget, eyeshadow and other dust which was meant to look vaguely drug-like and condoms. My first attempt technically was fine, but compositionally left a lot to be desired.

The first attempt!

I spent a good part of the day trying different techniques and by the end of the day I was so happy with my result. The only thing I would like to have done would have been to darken the lace a little, but I still love this result and plan to frame it :) The final result is called Belle di Nuit, a french colloquialism for prostitute :)

Darkroom progress is going awesomely! I will have another couple of posts about the darkroom up very soon!

Until then,

Unicorn nuzzles,

Artifex x