SUMMER PROJECT 2021
LOW TOXIC FILM DEVELOPMENT
FREE RESOURCE
A series of lectures & research workshops, filmic try-outs and presentations hosted by Filmwerkplaats, Rotterdam.
The Photographic Garden project sees Filmwerkplaats researching (and developing) photochemical processes that do not unduly burden the environment. This involves developing processes based on plants and home-garden-kitchen ingredients with low toxicity. An alternative chemistry that will yield a different, new film aesthetic. One in which the (chemical) components and their origin come to the fore and the physical processing of the (film) emulsion during the DIY process is emphasised.
Working with analogue film involves a large number of chemical processes. To make the invisible (latent) image that is formed by the exposure in the light-sensitive layer of photographic film material visible, a number of “development” steps are necessary. This laboriousness is an intrinsic part of the changed process of making film, the transformation from a once industrial production process to an artistic, hands-on (Do-It-Yourself) ‘alchemically’ oriented production process. It is this fascination with materials and processes that increasingly characterizes analogue film culture. Film as an empirical and tactile research field, a photochemical playground!
PHOTOGRAPHIC GARDEN
LECTURE DETAILS
There are 6 online public lectures,
available to anybody with an interest in film.
The lectures are intended as practical modules, a kind of starters guide to practice the topics discussed hands-on at home. Filmwerkplaats wants to encourage personal experimentation and try-outs through formulas and processes provided during the lectures.
Filmwerkplaats has committed to making sure these techniques are available online to all, as a free resource publication, maintained after the project ends.
ONLINE LECTURES
LECTURE ONE
Alternative image making processes
Lecturer: Hannah Fletcher
LECTURE SERIES 1-6
View the entire lecture series online below. Click on the title for video and lecture notes.
LECTURE 2
LECTURE 3
LECTURE 4
LECTURE 5
LECTURE 6
Topics of Lectures:
Alternative image making processes
– Lecturer: Hannah Fletcher
Silver-gelatin (light sensitive) emulsion making
– Lecturer: Esther Urlus
Developing with plants
– Lecturer: Ricardo Leite
Tinting toning with plants and other materials from nature
– Lecturer: Joanna Mayes
Pioneering to capture an image with light
– Lecturer: Mark Osterman
Regenerating outdated film materials
– Lecturer: Adrian Cousins
Videos of the lectures can be viewed below, or on the Filmwerkplaats page on Vimeo.
LECTURE FOUR
Tinting & toning with plants
Lecturer: Joanna Mayes
LECTURE TWO
Silver-gelatin (light sensitive) emulsion making
Lecturer: Esther Urlus
LECTURE FIVE
Pioneering to capture an image with light
Lecturer: Mark Osterman
LECTURE THREE
Developing with plants
Lecturer: Ricardo Leite
LECTURE SIX
Regenerating outdated film materials
Lecturer: Adrian Cousins
LECTURE 1