Photography. History and Practice

The opening session will focus on the emergence of photography in the context of the art and science of the first third of the nineteenth century. The class will learn the mechanism of a camera and will make a number of shots using a simple handmade camera.

The participants will get a better understanding of the terms “negative” and “positive” and will discuss the differences between a photograph and a traditional painting or drawing, before acquiring practical skills in early photo printing techniques, such as cyanotype and salt prints.

The class is based around the influence of photography on the evolution of applied science and fine arts, and will introduce the categories of “exposure”, “shutter speed” and “aperture”. During the practical block, the group will try to solve a number of visual tasks by changing and fine-tuning different camera settings.

The participants will be introduced with the tradition of ceremonial photo and painterly portrait. They will also learn more about the qualities of the “main light”, discuss composition canons, and work with the medium of classic studio portrait.

During this session, the class will examine the influence of photography on late nineteenth and early twentieth century painting. The group will discuss photography as an “independent medium” before learning to make shots using diffusion filters, long exposure and light brush.

The class is dedicated to various old-time printing techniques. The participants will discuss how the choice of a printing method may impact the perception of the shot. 

The lecturer will introduce direct photography—a new photographic language invented after World War I, explaining to the group the expressive options of pure form, rhythm, and angle. The practical part will focus on creating formal landscapes.