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).