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Of all forms of photo-art, platinum/palladium prints are considered to be the most luminous, enduring and rare. Nothing else looks or lasts like a platinum/palladium image. Its ethereal luminosity and three-dimensional appearance is due to its enormous tonal scale. This process was initially embraced by the Pictorialists and later by such artists as Alfred Stieglitz, Edward Steichen Frederick Evans, Robert Mapplethorpe and Irving Penn. Today it is enjoying a well-deserved renaissance along with other antiquarian processes.
The primary goal of the workshop is to learn the palladium print-making process and how to overcome basic problems encountered in doing so.
The workshop will take place on June 4, 2022 from 10AM-5PM. Upon registration, participants will receive a previous recording that provides an overview of the history of platinum/palladium printing, an introduction to the process, the chemistry, selection of papers, mixing platinum with palladium and step-by-step instructions on how to make enlarged digital negatives suitable for palladium or platinum/palladium printing.
During the in-person workshop, Gerry will answer any questions that arose from the recording and will guide participants through the guided "hands-on" learning portion of this workshop in Gallery 44's darkroom. Participants will have the opportunity to apply the techniques discussed and make palladium prints from their own negatives (either digitally enlarged or in-camera).
Heavy emphasis will be placed on hands-on printing by participants of their own negatives to learn and practice the coating and printing process. As a result, the workshop is limited to a maximum of 6 participants to ensure that all those attending have adequate one-on-one instruction. At the conclusion of the workshop, participants will have developed the necessary skills to continue printing on their own.
Most platinum print-makers work with a unique mixture of platinum & palladium to achieve the desired warmth and colour in their prints. Rarely are prints made with pure platinum but some printers are making pure palladium prints which seem to be growing in popularity.
Please note: to keep material costs affordable this introductory workshop will use palladium to teach the process. It has the same properties as platinum and both metals can be readily mixed together to create the coating emulsion. While the workshop will not use platinum, participants will learn how to mix the two metals to control warmth and colour.
Digital Negatives must be submitted for printing 2 weeks prior to the date of the workshop. Details of how to create and submit the negatives will be included in the resources provided upon registration. Each Participant can print upto two 5”x7” digital negatives.
Workshop outline including requirements & more details should be read before registering:
Please e-mail lfatemi@gallery44.org with any questions you may have.
Gerald Pisarzowski works with film cameras and enjoys the abstract quality of black & white images. Pisarzowski has had a number of solo and group exhibitions in galleries in Canada, the United States and Europe. His work is included in several public galleries as well as corporate and private collections.
Pisarzowski received his formal education at the University of Toronto. His photographic training came through a variety of formal and informal venues. Mostly however he is self-taught. Pisarzowski has been making hand-coated platinum prints of his own images as well as those of others for over 30 years.
He is attracted by the juxtaposition of unique man-made or natural forms and his images are less about place and more about the picture itself. Pisarzowski's intention is to create images in his world that convey beauty, a sense of mystery, enchant the viewer and garner a second look.
