Photography Meets Ecology
We were thrilled to be involved in a pilot workshop with Art Walk Projects and artist Scott Hunter which gave participants from Access to Industry’s Photographic Arts Group Empowerment (PAGE) group the opportunity to learn about alternative photographic processes and methods of developing analogue film using plants, as well as having the opportunity to come to the ASCUS Lab and get a different perspective on some of the elements involved in these processes.
Over the course of 9 weeks we explored post-industrial landscapes surrounding Portobello. Perhaps a little to the participants' surprise, much of the programme did not involve cameras at all, but rather foraging for plant samples and learning how one can create photographs without a camera. Using a variety of chemicals, plants and soil, some beautiful “photographs” were produced, namely cyanotypes (which ended up being a crowd favorite), phytograms, chemigrams and soil chromatographs.
Exclamations of excitement and wonder were heard throughout the room each week with a sense of pride and accomplishment immediately becoming evident amongst the group which supported people who are out of employment and included those in recovery, experiencing homelessness and struggling with their mental health.
When we did do some more traditional photography, for some this was the first time using an analogue camera while for others, it was a way of bringing back memories from the “old days”.
After some guidance from Scott and the shooting basics, we headed out to Meadows Yard Local Nature Reserve, along the way shooting landscapes and objects that were of interest. With only 32 shots on the film, resisting the urge to snap a photo of anything and everything was a hard feat for some. At the reserve, participants were given tasks of items to shoot. “Textures”, “lines”, “shapes”, “photograph the smells”, “what a fox would see”, “photograph the sounds” which got everyone thinking a little more carefully and becoming mindful about not only what they were photographing, but also the smaller details of those objects.
“It can be hard to see beauty in things we see everyday, but by looking differently or trying a different approach will bring the beauty out”
When it came time to develop the film, where conventional photography uses chemicals which have a negative impact on the environment, Scott introduced an eco-friendly alternative developer - made from moss. Participants fumbled in complete darkness in the Stills photography darkrooms, hoping the images they had taken a few weeks ago turned out ok. We think they are incredible!
Some of the materials used in the Phytograms, as well as the moss developer are ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and sodium carbonate (washing soda). As a way to get participants to see different perspectives of the processes they were being introduced to, in the ASCUS Lab, our lab manager Keira showed the group how to prepare slides of these chemicals to view their crystalline structures and beauty with polarised light microscopy.
Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) viewed under a polarised microscope.
“I hadn’t done anything like this before and it was great to try it out and learn new skills”
In addition, Keira explained the process of growing microorganisms and how they are able to co-create works of art. After foraging for natural samples, participants sacrificed some of their negative film developed in earlier weeks to the micro-world by placing them on the surface of the growth media in addition to the collected samples and thumb prints. Fungi, bacteria and yeasts growing from these samples, started breaking down the emulsion on the film creating a new version of the negatives that when scanned, created some incredible works of art.
“My favorite part of the course was using bacteria to decay [an] image because of the element of chance and lack of control to the overall end result. Nature plays its part in the art”
Process of culturing microorganisms on developed negative film.
The artwork produced from the group will be exhibited at the Portobello Library from the 26th August 2023 to the 9th September 2023. We’d love to see you there!
