1. What is a Photogram?
A Photogram is a photographic print made by placing objects onto light sensitive paper and exposing it with light. Usually done under an enlarger, with timer, so that amount of light exposure may be precisely controlled.
(1)

2. Any object can be placed on the photographic paper and exposed to light, however, transparent objects and objects with interesting silhouettes are most effective.
Multiple-exposure photogram; using wig, lipstick lip print on cellophane taped to paper cut-out, some waste 35mm film, a wine glass and artist’s hand….with extra exposures to “burn” in corners.
Tiina Kirik, 2014.

3. Famous Photogram Artists
Lotte Jacobi  
(August 17, 1896 – May 6, 1990)
was a German-American photographer.
Christian Shad  
(August 21, 1894 – February 25, 1982)
was a German painter.
Man Ray
(August 27, 1890 – November 18, 1976)
was an American visual artist who spent
most of his career in France.
(1)
Lotte Jacobi - When Jacobi left Germany, she had already established herself as a leading photographers of major cultural personalities. She built her reputation on the strength of her portraiture, but later in her career as her surroundings changed, so did the character of her work: in the 1950s, she began to make abstract images and landscapes. Her "photogenics" of the 1950s are cameraless photographs, in which pieces of glass or twisted cellophane were used to interrupt the beams from a flashlight positioned above a piece of photographic paper.
*Christian Shad - Beginning in 1918, while living in Geneva, Schad created his own version of the Photogram (which later was named "Schadographs" by Tristan Tzara) where a contour picture is developed on light-sensitive platters. He preferred worn materials, such as scraps of paper and bits of fabric, often searching for these things on the streets and in garbage cans. Schad frequently extended his assault on artistic tradition by cutting a jagged border around the schadographs, "to free them," as he explained, "from the convention of the square.“
*Man Ray - His style capitalised on the stark and unexpected effects of negative imaging, unusual juxtapositions of identifiable objects (such as spoons and pearl necklaces), variations in the exposure time given to different objects within a single image, and moving objects as the sensitive materials were being exposed.

4. Other, related imaging techniques…
Chemogram – is the creation of images by combining light exposure with ‘Painting’ of development chemistry….e.g. Pierre Cordier.
Developer – creates dark areas
Fixer – removes areas of emulsion
Localizing agents – block chemical
contact with the emulsion
Pierre Cordier (born Brussels, Belgium, 1933) discovered the chemigram process in Over many years, he explored the chemigram like an experimental scientist. Working more like a painter than a photographer, applying developer to the paper to create dark areas and fixer for lighter tones. Further control of shape and pattern are made by ‘localizing’ products such as varnish, wax, glue, oil, egg and syrup. (2) 2.

5. Luminogram - A luminogram is an image created by exposure of photosensitive materials to light without the intervention of an object…(3)
e.g. László Moholy-Nagy ( July 20, 1895 – November 24, 1946) and
Michael Jackson (currenly active…)(4).
Controlled by varying
light intensity, use of filters
or gels or motion of the light.
Choice of developer and development process also play a roll. Eg. Solaraization* 3. 4.

6. Xerox Art (aka. Copy art, or Xeroxography)- an art form that began in the 1960s. Prints are created by putting objects on the glass, or platen, of a copy machine and pressing ‘start’ to produce an image. If the object is not flat, or the object is moved, the resulting image is distorted in some way….e.g. Charles Arnold, Jr. and Wallace Berman. (5)(6)
Direct imagery
Collage
Multiple exposure/ Over-printing
Colour copying
and colour manipulation 5. 6.

7. Techniques – How to Photogram
Enlarger, lens, and paper….start by creating reference ‘Grey Scale’.
Goal is to establish basic exposure times for palest grey to full black, where nothing lies between light/lens/paper.
Goal is to establish basic exposure times for palest grey to full black….

8. Simple – Direct image photograms
Any object can be used, however, transparent objects and objects with interesting silhouettes are most effective. *Modify image contrast through use of gel light filters….
With some enlargers, as filtration is increased exposure time also must increase (Beseler 23C11)* Some enlargers with built-in filtration – as filtration increases the exposure time stays constant (Omega chromega)….
No filter
3.5 filter
5 filter

9. Effect of Shape and Distance
*Different shapes of objects – light bends around curved objects. *Object outlines become blurred and light leaks around them, with increased distance from the paper.

10. Multiple Exposures… Two-exposure image (hand & x-ray)
Two-exposure self portrait
Two-exposure image (hand & x-ray)
Self-love – T. Kirik, 2014.
Best friends – T. Kirik, 2015.

11. Combine Printing from film negative or paper neg
Combine Printing from film negative or paper neg., with photogramming (use of objects)…
Paper cut-out shape and hand, with eyes from film negative (two exp).
Paper neg. (from inkjet printer), face and knit scarf (single exp.).
Portrait of Sarah – T. Kirik 2014.
Breath of life – T. Kirik 2015.

12. Combine photographic printing with drawing…
Enlarged 35mm film negative, with drawing on glass (single exp.).
Enlarged 120mm film negative, with contact printed letter (single exp.).
Chalk drawing #1, Death of a shadow – T. Kirik, 2015.
Love letters – T. Kirik, 2015.

13. Thousands of combinations to Explore!
Objects only – shape, density, texture, distance from paper, multiple
exposure, use of filters (contrast control)….
Combine objects with photographic images-
film negatives, paper negatives…
3. Combine drawings with photographic images -
drawing or writing on paper, glass, plastic…
Combine drawings with objects…
Combine objects/photograpic images or
drawings with various substances
(liquids)- water, oil, wax, soap bubbles…
(chemigram techniques)

14. it’s inverted image… Diptych.
6. Combine a finished
photogram image, with
it’s inverted image… Diptych.
Photograms created on film or other sensitized objects – use of ortho film and liquid light.
8. Chemograms – painting with chemistry
Luminograms – painting with light (may also involve print solarization*)
Xerox Art – creative photocopy imagery
Scanner Art – creative imagery using flat-bed scanner
Combining digital with analogue??? – digital negatives and analogue printing, analogue photography (scanned) and digital printing….
No more chicken – T. Kirik, 2014.

15. Thank you 
Paper dolls – T. Kirik, 2016.