Go back in time and experience hundred years old photography, hone existing skills while exploring early image making process, hand crafting photographs on tin with a 100 years old Victorian method of wet collodion. This short course can be an investment into your journey of developing your own style or a unique experience for photography enthusiasts wishing to explore how photography was born and how far it has come since 1800’s.

COURSE AGENDA

This one-day 6h course will introduce you to wet plate collodion- a historical process using silver and light to obtain a unique images on surfaces like glass or tin.

LEVEL

This is a beginner wet plate session- all levels are welcomed. Prior experience with large format photography & darkroom is advisable but not necessary. You will be guided from start to finish.

WORKSHOP AGENDA

1. Health & Safety Information

2. Information on wet-plate darkroom equipment-studio work and field work

3. Preparation of chemistry-glass cleaning agent, cadmium-free salted collodion, silver bath, developer , standard fixer. Note on maturing and shelf-life of chemistry

4. Introduction to large format camera and collodion plate holders.

5. Collodion studio lighting set-up and notes on exposure measuring methods

6. Plate preparation and glass cleaning methods including troubleshooting.

7. Creating wet plate portraits/still life (it will be up to you, you are welcome to bring any objects you would like to use) .

8. Varnishing and various varnish types

9. Troubleshooting tips

WHAT YOU GET

You’ll gain the basic understanding of the process and opportunity to create 2 plates of still life or taking self portraits. Keeping groups small-up to 4 participants-allows for more personal experience.

LOCATION

Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London, Earls Court.

TESTIMONIALS

I did a one day wet collodion workshop with Magda and it was fantastic - a really great walkthrough of the process giving us time to learn how to create a few images and troubleshoot any issues. Magda was a great teacher and really adapted to helping all skill levels. Really great workshop!

W.Kamovitch.

Read more testimonials here >>>

Terms&Conditions

Backstage Photographs: Mela Hilleard, Jay Hayden

Kirlian Photography is a contact printing technique using high voltage to obtain images on photographic paper or film, capturing the phenomenon of electrical coronal discharges.It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is subjected to a strong electric field, an image is created on the plate.

Kirlian made controversial claims that his method referred to supernatural auras-Kirlian promoted the idea that the resulting images of living objects were a physical proof of the life force or aura which allegedly surrounds all living beings. This claim was said to be supported by experiments by the Kirlians that involved cutting part of a leaf off - the Kirlian images of such leaves, it was said, still showed the leaves as whole, as though the cutting had never happened.

During this 3 h extended session you are welcomed to bring a variety of objects to create multiple contact prints which will be scanned at the end of the session.

LOCATION

Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London, Earls Court.

Make sure to bring comfortable darkroom clothes as they may get stained !

T&C

Press release:

Tales is the first book by Magda Kuca comprising a decade worth of work concerned with eastern European identity and storytelling, examining the relationship between the supernatural and folklore. By working hands-on with historic photographic processes such as wet collodion, Kuca’s work explores narratives around craft and materiality of photographic medium. Book invites the viewer to slow down and embark on a journey through the author's family history by incorporating portraiture of her grandmother juxtaposed with customs and traditions long forgotten. Hand printed and hand bound by Lee Elkins , Tales stands as a poignant and intimate dialogue with the modern era's relentless surge of visual content, reminiscent of the slow photography movement. Kuca's dedication to traditional methods invites readers to takea step back and reflect on one's own heritage.

BOOK INFO

Publisher: Lost Light Recordings

Foreword:  Martin Barnes, senior curator of photography V&A 

180x240mm, Limited edition of 100 copies. First 3 copies are special edition 

Hardback and hand bound

Kirlian Photography is a contact printing technique using high voltage to obtain images on photographic paper or film, capturing the phenomenon of electrical coronal discharges.It is named after Semyon Kirlian, who in 1939 accidentally discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is subjected to a strong electric field, an image is created on the plate.

Kirlian made controversial claims that his method referred to supernatural auras-Kirlian promoted the idea that the resulting images of living objects were a physical proof of the life force or aura which allegedly surrounds all living beings. This claim was said to be supported by experiments by the Kirlians that involved cutting part of a leaf off - the Kirlian images of such leaves, it was said, still showed the leaves as whole, as though the cutting had never happened.

During this 3 h extended session you are welcomed to bring a variety of objects to create multiple contact prints which will be scanned at the end of the session.

LOCATION

Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London Earls Court/West Brompton, SW6 1TT

Make sure to bring comfortable darkroom clothes as they may get stained !

Learn how to approach cyanotype-one of the first photographic printmaking process discovered in 1842 using watercolor paper, cyanotype paint and light to beautiful botanic blueprints.

This two hours workshop will introduce you to the basics of the cyanotype printmaking-process discovered in 1842-using watercolour paper, cyanotype paint and light to create your own images. This process allows one to create beautiful floral prussian blue prints -join me and learn about its history and chemistry.

LEVEL

This is a complete beginner workshop suited for any kind of ability and no previous experience is necessary.

AGENDA

1. Introduction to history of early photographic printmaking

2. Chemistry and technology of the process

3. Creating prints using botanicals in relaxed and friendly atmosphere

4. Troubleshooting tips

All materials will be provided

WHAT YOU GET

You’ll learn a new skill in botanical printmaking which you can continue beyond the session, which you will finish with 2-3 prints ready to take home and get framed.

LOCATION

Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London Earls Court/West Brompton, SW6 1TT

This one-day 6h workshop is an an introduction to wet plate collodion- a historical process using silver and light to obtain a unique images on the glass plate.

LEVEL

This is a beginner wet plate session.

WORKSHOP AGENDA

1. Health & Safety Information

2. Information on wet-plate darkroom equipment-studio work and field work

3. Preparation of chemistry-glass cleaning agent, cadmium-free salted collodion, silver bath, developer , standard fixer. Note on maturing and shelf-life of chemistry

4. Introduction to large format camera and collodion plate holders.

5. Collodion studio lighting set-up and notes on exposure measuring methods

6. Plate preparation and glass cleaning methods including troubleshooting.

7. Creating wet plate portraits/still life (it will be up to you, you are welcome to bring any objects you would like to use) .

8. Varnishing and various varnish types

9. Troubleshooting tips

WHAT YOU GET

You’ll gain the basic understanding of the process and opportunity to create 2 plates start to finish-using still life or taking self portraits. Keeping groups small-up to 4 participants-allows for more personalised experience.

LOCATION

Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London Earls Court/West Brompton, SW6 1TT

Make sure to bring comfortable darkroom clothes as they may get stained !

Learn to create prints right from your garden using leaves, spinach,turmeric and explore one of the earliest photographic processes.

This short but compact workshop will introduce you to a very unique anthotype printmaking process discovered in 1842 using watercolour paper and crushed flower petals or plant juices like turmeric or spinach to create botanical images and prints from digital photographs. I will teach you how to prepare your own emulsion- after the workshop you will be able to take home and use the skills you have learned here to create your own work. I will also show you how to make anthotype print using digital photograph (you can see a sample photograph on the video here)

LEVEL

This is a complete beginner workshop suited for any kind of ability and no previous experience is necessary.

AGENDA

1. Introduction to history of early colour processes

2. Chemistry and technology of the process

3. Preparation of dyes with pestle&mortar using plant material, in relaxed and friendly atmosphere

4. Creating digital film for printing

5. Introduction to printing on leaves & selecting appropriate plants for the process

6. Troubleshooting tips and directions for finishing prints at home

WHAT YOU GET

You’ll learn a new skill in botanical printmaking which you will need to continue beyond the session( due to the nature of the process, you will need to continue exposing your prints after taking them home-all materials needed will be provided)

All participants have to submit one digital photograph ( this can be taken with phone or camera) ahead of time, preferably A5 in 300 dpi to kucamagda@gmail.com

LOCATION

Workshops will take place in my studio space in West London Earls Court/West Brompton, SW6 1TT

Learn how to approach cyanotype-one of the first photographic printmaking process discovered in 1842 using watercolor paper, cyanotype paint and light to beautiful botanic blueprints.

This two hours workshop will introduce you to the basics of the cyanotype printmaking-process discovered in 1842-using watercolour paper, cyanotype paint and light to create your own images. This process allows one to create beautiful floral prussian blue prints -join me and learn about its history and chemistry.

LEVEL

This is a complete beginner workshop suited for any kind of ability and no previous experience is necessary.

AGENDA

1. Introduction to history of early photographic printmaking

2. Chemistry and technology of the process

3. Creating prints using botanicals in relaxed and friendly atmosphere

4. Troubleshooting tips

All materials will be provided

WHAT YOU GET

You’ll learn a new skill in botanical printmaking which you can continue beyond the session, which you will finish with 2-3 prints ready to take home and get framed.

LOCATION

Workshops will take place at a partner venue in Travel Cafe ( Islington)