Photograms – Darkroom Magic

In addition to classic photography with a camera, there is also camera-less photographic art – in the darkroom, using only an enlarger and photographic paper. Objects are placed on light-sensitive photo paper and exposed for a few seconds. The development is the same as for a normal photo, but the result is completely different. The images, known as "photograms," develop their own unique charm in black and white and fine shades of grey.

As early as the 19th century, the technique of photograms was used in botany to illustrate plants. In the 20th century, artists such as Man Ray, László Moholy-Nagy and Marta Hoepffner rediscovered the technique for art, and even today it plays an important role in artistic photography with its possibilities for exact depiction on the one hand and abstraction on the other. 

In this 2-day workshop, participants will learn the basics of this unusual image production and are invited to experiment with us in the photographic Wunderkammer and create unique artistic works.

Laura Braun is a freelance photographer. She studied art and design at Central St Martins College and photography and sociology at Goldsmiths College in London. She works both editorially and commercially and her work has been exhibited internationally. In 2011 she founded the photo book publishing company Paper Tigers Books.