I'm a member of the local amateur photo club, and we're preparing a small photo exhibition with purely analog B&W photography. Although we have a majority of d****al photographers, there are several of us who shoot primarily on film (exclusively, in my case). Mostly I'm to blame for this "analog renaissance", since I got them "hooked" on film, and usually provide other members with film and paper - purchased locally in Croatia from Fotokemika.
Anyway, for the past year or so we've been using a provisional darkroom plus a small office space, kindly provided to us for temporary use by the city authorities. We're actually registered as a non-profit organization, and we even had a mini "photo school" for the local high school kids as a community service and a way of "repaying" the city authorities for the use of thsoe offices we've been allowed to use.
We've had two exhibitions already - nothing serious, but still, we've shown our work to the public. We've also become probably the most active local and regional photo group - and probably the only one with any serious darkroom work.
Now we'd like to present not only the photos of our "club", but also the way we work - analog photography, darkroom and all... This exhibition will also serve another purpose - it will be a way to show to the City authorities what is being done in those offices we've been allowed to use temporarily.
So, the emphasis is not only on showing the final product (B&W photos), but also on presenting the analog process. Sure, we'll exhibit some photos, but the idea is also that the visitors will be able to take a peek in the darkroom, see the equipment, bottles of chemicals, graduates, etc. - perhaps ask some questions about the process, etc... I'll probably also display a part of my equipment - i.e. different cameras, ranging from analog P&S cameras, to Nikons, TLRs and "ancient" view cameras
In a way, it will be a way to present not only the photos, but more importantly, how they are made, and with what kind of equipment.
I've suggested that we also display negatives together with the final prints, to show this "intermediate" step in the process - I've thought about placing negative beside the print under the glass - perhaps with a piece of white paper underneath - i.e. frame the negative together with the final print.
The prints will be mostly 30x40 cm (about 12x16 in.), but I'll probably also display some contact prints - 4x5 and 5x7. I think it might be interesting to visually show the "originals" from which the prints were made - and the contrast between small 35 negative beside a 12x16 print and a 4x5 negative beside a 4x5 contact copy could be revealing
I'm looking for any other ideas which might emphasize the educational aspect of the show.
I've heard about another very interesting and eye-opening concept once - an exhibition under red light, with blank pieces of (exposed) paper on the walls, with buckets of developer under each, where the visitor could apply some developer with a squeegee on the paper, and watch the magic appear
Very nice idea, but not easy (or cheap) to implement - we have very limited funds (self-financed), and this would be expensive and technically challenging..... although I must admit I like the idea very much.
In short, I wanted to ask if anyone has any other ideas we could use in presenting analog photographic process to general public (being what it is today, they probably won't know much about analog process....).
TIA,
Denis
Anyway, for the past year or so we've been using a provisional darkroom plus a small office space, kindly provided to us for temporary use by the city authorities. We're actually registered as a non-profit organization, and we even had a mini "photo school" for the local high school kids as a community service and a way of "repaying" the city authorities for the use of thsoe offices we've been allowed to use.
We've had two exhibitions already - nothing serious, but still, we've shown our work to the public. We've also become probably the most active local and regional photo group - and probably the only one with any serious darkroom work.
Now we'd like to present not only the photos of our "club", but also the way we work - analog photography, darkroom and all... This exhibition will also serve another purpose - it will be a way to show to the City authorities what is being done in those offices we've been allowed to use temporarily.
So, the emphasis is not only on showing the final product (B&W photos), but also on presenting the analog process. Sure, we'll exhibit some photos, but the idea is also that the visitors will be able to take a peek in the darkroom, see the equipment, bottles of chemicals, graduates, etc. - perhaps ask some questions about the process, etc... I'll probably also display a part of my equipment - i.e. different cameras, ranging from analog P&S cameras, to Nikons, TLRs and "ancient" view cameras
In a way, it will be a way to present not only the photos, but more importantly, how they are made, and with what kind of equipment.
I've suggested that we also display negatives together with the final prints, to show this "intermediate" step in the process - I've thought about placing negative beside the print under the glass - perhaps with a piece of white paper underneath - i.e. frame the negative together with the final print.
The prints will be mostly 30x40 cm (about 12x16 in.), but I'll probably also display some contact prints - 4x5 and 5x7. I think it might be interesting to visually show the "originals" from which the prints were made - and the contrast between small 35 negative beside a 12x16 print and a 4x5 negative beside a 4x5 contact copy could be revealing
I'm looking for any other ideas which might emphasize the educational aspect of the show.
I've heard about another very interesting and eye-opening concept once - an exhibition under red light, with blank pieces of (exposed) paper on the walls, with buckets of developer under each, where the visitor could apply some developer with a squeegee on the paper, and watch the magic appear
Very nice idea, but not easy (or cheap) to implement - we have very limited funds (self-financed), and this would be expensive and technically challenging..... although I must admit I like the idea very much.
In short, I wanted to ask if anyone has any other ideas we could use in presenting analog photographic process to general public (being what it is today, they probably won't know much about analog process....).
TIA,
Denis
