Photogram

Photogram: n. a silhouette photograph made by placing an object directly on sensitized paper and exposing it to light.

In my own words: a photogram in like taking a black and white picture without a camera.

For example, here's one I had to do as a project for class.

A closer look:

In order to make a photogram, the following is needed:

• Photopaper

• Objects (to set on the paper)

• An Enlarger

• A Darkroom/ Room sealed off from light (that could potentially harm the photopaper)

• 4 Trays

• Developer

• Stop Bath

• Fixer

• Water

Be sure the darkroom is set up correctly with the chemicals in water in the correct trays and the englarger is on a flat surface.

Once all requirements have been met take the photo paper out and lay it on the flat surface of the enlarger.

Take all of the chosen objects and arrange them on the paper.

After the items have been placed, set a timer* to 5-10 seconds.

I used no more than 7 seconds because other students had difficulties with 10 seconds.

*The timer is used to measure the amount of time the paper has been exposed to light.

Allign the paper underneath the light of the enlarger and turn it on at the same time as starting the timer.

Turn off the light as soon as the time is up.

Take the objects off and place the paper in the liquids in this order for the amount of time shown:

Developer: 1 minute and 30 seconds

Stop Bath: 30 seconds

Fixer: 5 minutes

Water: 5 minutes

(These are the times used in class.)

Each time the paper is inserted into a chemical, shake the tray a little to make sure the photopaper is completely covered.

Once the paper has stayed in the water for 5 minutes, take it out and lay it to dry (drying racks were used in class.)

The paper should take a day to dry completely.

To spice it up, make a "display" for the photogram. Take a white piece of paper, decorate it, and then paste the photogram onto the paper.

A couple other photograms I did for the fun of it:

(The last one doesn't say "love." A part of the chain fell off and I hadn't realized it.)

I find it easier to accomplish if a specific theme is picked out (which we had to do for class anyway) before jumping right into the process.