Intervenciones Fotográficas

In this workshop, participants will explore the combined use of film soup and colour mordançage to create multicoloured images with lifted emulsions and complex textures. The session brings together two experimental processes to expand the visual and material possibilities of colour film.

The workshop begins with a discussion of film soup techniques, reviewing examples and selecting different chemical approaches to alter colour film. Each participant will work with one or two sheets of large format colour film, with the option to use additional formats, focusing on how chemical treatments transform colour and surface before the image is even exposed.

After rinsing and drying the film soups, participants will learn the basics of shooting with a 4×5 field camera and make photographs during a short walk near Pati Llimona. The exposed film will be developed using C-41 chemistry with a bleach bypass, allowing silver to remain in the emulsion so it can later react with mordançage. This stage emphasizes the transformation of the negative through both exposure and chemical intervention.

In the final phase, the film will be immersed in mordançage solution, where the emulsion lifts into veils and bubbles that can be manipulated by hand. Once rinsed and dried, the emulsion re adheres to the film base, producing negatives ready for scanning or printing. The workshop concludes with a collective discussion of the results and material effects achieved.

Outline

1. Introduction to film soup and mordançage processes

2. Preparation of film soup, rinsing and drying film, loading film holders, and brief camera demonstration

3. Lunch break

4. Photo walk near Pati Llimona using 4×5 cameras

5. Introduction to C-41 development and bleach bypass, followed by film development

6. Mordançage experimentation on colour film, including emulsion lifting and veil manipulation

7. Drying film, clean-up, and discussion of results