What is photogram/Rayograph?
Photograms or Rayographs are cameraless image made by putting objects on a light sensitive surface and exposing them to light. Where the object touches the surface it will protect it from the light, leaving a white pale grey shadow. If light is able to get underneath the object the surface will change its tone. If there is no protection at all the paper will turn black.
How do you make a photogram?
Firstly you choose series of objects. You arrange these objects on a piece of light sensitive photographic paper. This is then put under a light source for a few seconds. The chemicals used in the darkroom are Developer, which causes the silver iodide of the paper emulsion to darken if it has been exposed to light, and fixer, which removes the undeveloped silver iodide from the emulsion. A chemical used to completely stop the development process is called stop bath, and is used between the developer stage and the fixer stage. The final stage is to wash the print in running water before drying it thoroughly.
Here are some examples of photograms I made in the darkroom.
Here are some examples of photograms I made in the darkroom.