NM3223: Digital photography and imaging

Assignment 1: Photogram or Photogenic Drawing

Most of the early images chemically captured on a flat medium did not use any optical device (camera). They directly placed simple objects on a surface coated with photosensitive chemicals and exposed it to light. In those days these were called “photogenic drawings”.

This form of image creation never died. Man Ray and Laszlo Moholy-Nagy experimented with this technique as an artform during 1920’s and 1930’s. The term photogram was coined by Moholy-Nagy. These artists experimented with various objects placed over light sensitive paper. Moving objects from one place to another during the exposure also revealed some interesting results. Contemporary artists continue to make photograms to this day.

Assignment:

You’ll make your first photogram using flat bed scanner instead of photosensitive paper. The theory is similar. By placing objects directly on the scanner bed in an interesting composition you can create an image without a camera.

Things You Might Use:
Leaves, seeds, flowers, tools, keys, fabric (including lace), glass (especially textured glass), crumpled up tissue paper, negative strips, toys, your hand, marbles, in other words anything with an interesting shape. You can make a "self portrait personal photogram" using objects that say something about you.

Be careful when using sharp objects that might scratch the glass. It is also best to avoid liquid/wet objects unless you want to fry your scanner or worse electrocute yourself.

Note: Keep it simple. More objects lead to clutter.

Mounting and display: Print out your artwork on A4 size photo quality paper and mount it on a board.

Submission: Next week tutorial (tutorial 1)

You need:

  • A flat bed scanner (preferable with transparency adapter)
  • Image processing software for cropping and colour correction
  • Good quality photo printer

Links for reference:

Examples for artistic inspiration

Man Ray - Rayographs

Laszlo Moholy-Nagy - Photograms and other work

Picasso, Miro, Dali and Tapies -Photos and Photograms

Anne Ferran: Photograms

Links to other Photogram Artists