Visited: Shadow Catchers @ V&A + collections

An exhibition of camera-less photography. As with all V&A temporary exhibitions it was really good but too short! More info here.

Pierre Cordier's work the most. His 'chemigrams' created really exciting patterns. -

Pierre Cordier (b. Brussels, 1933) discovered the 'chemigram' process in 1956. Over many years, he has explored the potential of the chemigram like an experimental scientist.

Working more like a painter or printmaker than a photographer, Cordier replaces the canvas or printing plate with photographic paper. He applies photographic developer to the paper to create dark areas and fixer for lighter tones. Further changes to shape and pattern are made by 'localising' products such as varnish, wax, glue, oil, egg and syrup. These protect the surface of the photographic emulsion or can be incised to create a drawing, graphic motif or written text. Entrancing chemical and physical reactions can then be made by repeatedly dipping the paper in photographic developer and fixer. This method allows him to create images impossible to realise by any other means. The process has become the artwork and his style is his technique.

My dad is a photography teacher and has his own studio and on a recent visit I made some photograms of a collection of clips I own -

Also while I was there my dad showed me a collection of amazing hand-painted glass slides, that he was given, which he believes to be over 100 years old. He has no idea of their origins but they appear to have been taken all over the world including China and India.