Historical Processes
PhotoWerkBerlin
Despite the dire predictions of the death of analogue photography, there has been a noticeable resurgence of interest in non-digital, silver-based photography. With every “advance” in photography, while speed and ease has been gained, a describable and indescribable quality has been lost.
The Daguerreotype was replaced with the faster WetPlate Collodion Ambrotype which was subsequently replaced by the cheaper Tintype. With each step, image detail and tonality declined. Salted Paper printing was eclipsed by the Albumen Print, which was in turn abandoned for gelatinsilver paper. Today ink (digital prints) has replaced photography‘s use of noble metals, most commonly silver, gold, or platinum/palladium.Again, “ease of use” outweighed image quality and, arguably, stability (archivalness).
In this weekend Discussion & Workshop, participants will experience the evolution of photography through numerous historical processes. Saturday will include a discussion of various “antiquated” processes as well as demonstrations in Cyanotype, Salted Paper Printing, Silver-Gelatine Printing, Albumen Printing and WetPlate Collodion (Ambrotypes). At the end of the day participants will collectively decide which printing process (Cyanotype, Salted Paper, or Albumen) they would like to personally practice on Sunday.
Workshop will be held in English
09. August 2015 | 12:00-14:00 Optional as an introduction: Guided tour through the exhibition Handmade Photography with the curator Norbert Wiesneth at the Projektraum | PhotoWerkBerlin
15. August 2015 | 10:00-17:00 Introduction, presentation of various historic photographic processes with David Puntel
16. August 2015 | 10:00-17:00 Hands-on practice with one historic printing process, among Cyanotype, Salted paper, Albumen. with David Puntel
(All materials for the workshop are included)