Analogue photography is an industry of many moving parts; photographs are made of precious metals and materials that have complex histories. This series unpicks some of the politics of colonial projects and environmentalism, and how these link to analogue industries. We will draw on these discussions to enable us to develop more sustainable thinking and practice in photography.
This is a three-part, online workshop taking place over three Tuesdays in August: 1st, 8th and 15th from 5-7 GMT pm online. Experience open - we welcome practitioners wanting to build critical thinking skills.
Session 1: Groundwork: Towards A Decolonial Ecology (1st August)
Engagement with debates surrounding empires, environmentalism and analogue industries, and how these entangle in our present epoch of the Anthropocene:
How was colonialism rationalised and how does this continue to permeate contemporary photographic industries and worlds? What are some critiques of environmental movements? Who or what was sacrificed to make way for analogue industries?
In session activities include show & tell and short writing tasks
Self-directed work includes watching a video lecture by Dr. Malcom Ferdinand
Session 2: Material Mapping (8th August)
In this session we will analyse the material base of photographs and examine the many worlds that they entangle with. What are the metals, minerals and animal products that form photographic film and papers ?
You will be guided through how to trace materials relevant to your own practice (ie dye/ toner / paper) and generate a map of images that poetically describes the relations between this material and wider human and more-than-human worlds.
Self - directed work includes reading an article and preparing images for the final session.
Session 3: Light & Leaf: Connecting Worlds (15th August)
This final session culminates in a chlorophyll printing workshop. Chlorophyll printing is a simple photographic process that uses sunlight to print images directly on the leaf surface.
This session aims to combine the critical explorations of the first two sessions, with ecological printing methods.
Image, Empire & Ecology: Critical Perspectives
Alice Cazenave, co-director at the Sustainable Darkroom
Online, 1st, 8th, 15th August 2023
£80-95
Book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/image-empire-ecology-critical-perspectives-tickets-668066483837
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