As a darkroom technique, photograms offer an alternative way of making photographic images. They require no camera or film and give a unique and often surreal point of view of three dimensional objects.

The photogram is simply the shadow of an object cast onto a photo-sensitive paper surface. At the very dawn of photography, the photogram was recognized by pioneers of the art as capable of recording exquisite detail.

With many variables to suit every photographic aesthetic, photograms are one of our favorite darkroom techniques and if you approach making them with an open mind and a will to experiment, you’ll find your patience and creativity very well rewarded.

Each edition of LabNotes is a downloadable PDF introduction to a different analog or alternative darkroom process to help you get started on your own journey through these fascinating cameraless darkroom adventures.