Camera obscura is a forerunner of the modern photographic camera, literally meaning “dark room”. In practice, it is a box with a small opening that allows rays of light to pass through, projecting a reversed image of the object before the opening on the back wall of the box. If light-sensitive paper is put there, the projection is imprinted on paper as a negative, creating a photograph. Through the camera obscura workshop the participants will get to know basic principles of photography. They will build their own simple pinhole cameras, use them to take a few pictures and develop those themselves in the darkroom. On the first day of the workshop we will get acquainted with some theoretical background and principles of physics applied in the use of camera obscura in transferring images to paper, then we will build our own cameras. On the second day we will use those cameras to photograph motifs of choice and develop the photographs in a darkroom. The participants are to bring a metal, wooden or cardboard box that can be closed so it doesn’t allow any light to pass though and is no bigger than a shoe-box (i.e. metal coffee, tea or biscuits boxes).
“A pinhole camera is a simple camera without a lens but with a tiny aperture, a pinhole camera – effectively a light-proof box with a small hole in one side. Light from a scene passes through the aperture and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box, which is known as the camera obscura effect.”
What will you learn?
+ basic principles of photography
+ building a pinhole camera
+ taking a picture
+ developing a paper negative in the darkroom
+ making a contact copy / positive image
+ drying the print
Who is it meant for?
+ institutions (art museums, galleries)
+ art festivals
+ schools
+ individuals
DARKROOM WORKSHOP
The course is meant for photography students and other individuals who wish to gain skills of developing black and white negatives and making silver gelatin prints in the darkroom, as well as toning the silver gelatin prints. Beginner and advanced courses available.
The courses are held in a fully equipped darkroom in Ljubljana, or at an equipped facility that you provide. The course is based on an individual approach.
“In a darkroom, an enlarger, an optical apparatus similar to a slide projector, that projects light through the image of a negative onto a base, finely controls the focus, intensity and duration of light, is used for printmaking. A sheet of photographic paper is exposed to the light coming through the negative, resulting in a positive version of the image on the paper.”
What will you learn?
+ using darkroom equipment and chemical safely
+ developing a b&w negative film
+ making an index print
+ making a silver gelatin print on rc paper
+ how to control contrast of the print
+ how to correctly dry the print
. . . advanced sessions . . .
+ push/pull b&w film developing
+ making a silver gelatin print on fb fine art paper
+ dodge and burn techniques
+ selective bleaching
+ toning the print
+ storing and archiving negatives and prints
Who is it meant for?
+ individuals
+ photography and fine arts students