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Introduction to the Photograph Resource
- Light and dark Snapshot and Narrative Light is a magical and mysterious medium. Everything that is dealt with in these resources is aimed at highlighting ways to harness and explore the incredible properties that light and its associated twin of darkness or shadow carries with it, through the medium of photography.
All the work here is based on black and white processes and results. So much pleasure can be gained in seeing the cast shadow of an object or the light of the moon against a black sky, the striking contrast of white against black or the subtle silvery greys of light-dappled pavements. There is a lifetime’s work also to be found in colour but the aim here is to highlight the pleasure to be found in tone, contrast, shadow and light.
Photography can be used for a whole range of purposes. It functions as art, as advertising, as illustration, but for most of us is a way of capturing and recalling memories. Though grounded in science, photography is more than a physical process. It is a cocktail of light and chemicals, a form of alchemy and a constant source of surprise. It can be about capturing a moment in time that can never be reconstructed, but is also abstract and unquantifiable. How a photographic image is made The aim throughout has been to keep the workshops as low-tech as possible. Not only is this cheaper than other methods of photography it also encourages experimentation. Digital cameras have made photography accessible to everyone – but these resources encourage us to think about how a photo is made. Many of these ideas explore non-traditional techniques or offer an exploration of methods of photography often taken for granted such as the snapshot. Some of the techniques involve cameras, including handmade pinhole cameras and whole rooms as cameras as in the case of a camera obscura. Other methods don't involve cameras at all such as sun pictures and photograms. In addition, the site offers practical advice including setting up a basic darkroom and making test strips. All the workshops clearly outline methods and materials and where possible offer cheap alternatives to materials that can otherwise prove expensive. The resource is deliberately aimed at inexperienced students as well as more experienced photographers looking for alternative ideas. It can be used by individuals or by groups, by students or by teachers. Let’s not let these skills be lost. Resources in this series: Snapshot and Narrative Credits "Photograph" was funded by The East England Arts Regional Arts Lottery Programme and created by AccessArt. Paula Briggs: concept, web design and development. Sheila Ceccarelli: concept. Photograph was based upon the work and teaching of artists' Doris Rohr and Sarah Horton, both of whom teach at Norwich School of Art and Design. Photographs used in the resource were taken by: Paula Briggs, Malcolm Briggs, Pat Carney, Sheila Ceccarelli, Sarah Horton, Doris Rohr. Poem (in "Snapshot and Narrrative") by Sheila Ceccarelli |
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