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Photogram projects by Lloyd Godman - photogram artists

Light Sources to create photograms


The relative sharpness of the shadow cast on the paper by an object and the corresponding image is dependent upon the nature of the light source. A light focused through an enlarger will produce a much different effect sharper shadow than the soft light of a fluorescent tube. Also the size of the light source an play a part in the shadow cast by the object.

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Although enlargers are used to make most photograms, the process where light is directed for a predetermined period of time at objects laid on a light sensitive emulsion means that almost any light source can be used. Because such a wide range of light sources can be used, it means the technique can be used in a wide range of situations

In some situations care make need to be taken not to pre-fog the material before the exposure. A special holder similar to a cut film double dark slide or a light tight tube can be used to transport the material to a location distant location. Combinations of light sources can also be used.

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Some light sources that can be used to make photograms


Sun light -

This is often the main source of light used for many alternative processes like the Cyanotype, Van Dyke Brown, or printing out paper, or platinum paper but it can also be used to make photosynthetic photograms on grass or the leaves of plants. UV lamps can also be used for some of these processes.

Fluorescent Tubes. -
The colour of Fluorescent tubes varies but the light quality is usually consistently soft and indirect.

Neon Lights - These vary in colour and intensity.





Flash lights - (Strobe Lights)
These can either be small hand held units, studio flashes, or even attached to a camera. When working with colour materials colour filters can be placed over the front of the flash unit. I have made large photograms with 3-4 people laid on the paper during a photogram workshop I ran with Peter Fitzpatrick from Sydney Australia.

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I have also used an on camera flash to both record the process and make the exposure during a photogram workshop.

Thomas Barrow used this method for some of his work firing the flash many times to penetrate dense materials.

Tungsten lights -
This includes a wide variety of readily available lights from floods and spot lights to house hold bulbs. It includes room lights desk lamps etc.


Quartz halogen -

Polarized Light -
Photograms can be made with polarized light in a number of ways.

A piece of clear plastic will reveal another colour dimension when placed between two polarizing filters with a light source on one side and the sensitive paper on the other. The effect works best with colour materials.

 

Torch lights -
While portable torches vary from large units small pen lights, light can be painted over the objects with a hand held torch to expose specific parts of the image. In the case of Luminograms the torch can be used to paint a light image on the paper.

Moon Light-
With the right materials and experimentation it is even possible to use the light from a full moon to make photograms.

Mobile phones - In this image I used the light from a mobile phone as part of this photogram image

 

LCD screen of a digital camera -

Ultra Violet lights (Black lamps)-
Some materials transmit UV differently than light.

Street light-
Street lighting can vary considerably from Fluorescent, mercury vapor to sodium vapor, not all will produce sufficient light to enable an urban exposure with some materials. For instance low level sodium vapor light produce a very orange colour which is fairly safe to black and white paper. I have used a row sodium vapor street lights along a road by a beach as a safe light to help set up photograms made by laying paper in the ocean and exposing it with a flash light.

Magnesium Powder-
This flash powder can be used to make photograms.

Projectors -
Slide, movie, OHp and Data projectors can be provide an excellent source of focused light than can be projected from an extremely oblique angle to the paper. For the Disturbance in the field work, and the larger @ the Speed of Light, I use a projector to not only project an image onto the photographic paper, but to develop the image through the action of light.

Fire -

Fire works-

Television Screens-
The light and radiation for a television screen can also be used to create photograms

Candles -

Lightening-
While it is hard to control, lightening can produce sufficient light to enable an exposure

Anti static guns-
static charges fired at the sensitive material can produce unpredictable marks on the paper.

X-rays-
With the right materials and equipment, x-rays can be used to make photogram images.

Chemical light sticks-

Luminous materials -

Luminous creatures

 

Want to learn more? - do a workshop or one on one with Lloyd Godman