9 Photograms

Photogram

Jocelyn Carlin

Photograms

The technique of creating photographic prints without using a camera (photograms) is as old as photography itself – but emerged again in the early 1920s.

Artist Man Ray refined and personalized the technique to such an extent that the new prints eventually carried his name ‘Rayographs’.

Ray-o-gram by Man Ray

How to Make a Photogram

• Start in a darkroom.
• Arrange objects onto a light sensitive surface (photo paper). 
• Once happy with your composition, you are ready to expose. 
• Set your enlarger timer to 3-15 seconds (Maybe try a test first)
• Expose your photogram. 
• Then develop your Photogram in developer (1-2 mins), stop (30 secs), fix (5 mins), and wash (15 mins).
• Put on drying rack (careful not to overlap with other prints).

 

9 Lumen Printing

Lumen prints are made by taking sheets of unexposed black-and-white photo paper and placing objects or negatives on top as if you were going to make a photogram, but instead of using an enlarger you take the paper out into the sun. 

Results will vary due to exposure times, density of photogram or negative, quality of light and, most importantly, the type of paper. Each paper will have a different color, depending on whether it was old or new, fiber or resin, and the manufacturer. 

Lumin Materials

• Black and white photo paper, preferably out-of-date paper (or film)
• Photogram materials solid shapes or organic things like plants semi-translucent.
• A strong base: panel board with glass and clips
• The Sun/Natural Light

Darkroom set up:

• Fix
• Water wash

The process

1. Select lumen materials. Consider a composition to create with your objects (semi-transparent objects are really effective: flowers, leaves, fruit).
2. Place photo paper onto a sold base/board then arrange your lumen materials on the photo paper.
3. If your materials are flat enough, and might shift, then place glass on top of your lumen arrangement, clip to the boards.
4. Take your lumen composition outside to expose in sunlight. The exposure time depends on you – some people expose for 30 minutes, others as long as a few hours and still others for several weeks. It all depends on the strength of the sun, time of year, location, humidity and how you want your image to look. 
5. Check the exposure time. You can see the difference if you lift the objects a little without moving them. You should see a tonal difference between the exposed paper and underneath the object.
6. After your exposure, bring your lumen print back into the darkroom.
7. Do not develop! 
8. Fix the print using diluted fix for 5 mins.
9. Wash your print for 5 minutes. [Fibre based paper 30-40 mins].