Tiago Photography

Ihave been visiting the Fred Aldous shop in Manchester for years, as it is a usefulresource for any art student. The shop seems to shift every time thatI visit, and since coming back from studying in Leeds, I noticed thata new floor has been utilised for laser cutting and photographystudios.
In university, I was able to use the laser-cutting machine at Leeds College Of Art. I was assisted by workshop technicians, and the machine was quite an old model. My experience of using the Fred Aldous laser cutting machine was much better. I was taught to process my designs on the computer and then taught how to operate the new machine. After I took down instructions, I was then left to my own devices which meant I felt confident about cutting all of my designs on my own.I wanted to use special coloured acrylic mirror for my designs, so I had to source those myself. I purchased my 3mm acrylic sheet from the Sheet Plastics shop on ebay. Thanks to my visit to the laser-cutting studio at Fred Aldous, I now feel confident about seeing my designs through from start to finish. This kind of freedom as a young artist is invaluable.



My designs, laser-cut and photographed in the studios at Fred Aldous.
You can buy my designs at the Folksy shop Ethyl.
For the past 3 months, I have been the Artist In Residence at Nexus Art Cafe and I was given a studio to work in. I must admit, I found it a little difficult to create decent work without all the facilities that an art college provides, so having access to the photography studios in Fred Aldous was really useful.
I arrived at the photography studio with objects to photograph and was provided with lighting, a wide choice of cameras and an experienced photographer to help me with my ideas. On my day in the studio, I wanted to photograph the colours and shapes inside a soap film, and I was provided with some great tips to help me.
Soap film, photographed at the Fred Aldous photography studio.
Overall, I think the studios at Fred Aldous are a great resource to any artist and designer that wants to produce professional looking work for little cost.

Labels: Cut, Fred Aldous, Laser, Manchester, Nexus Art Cafe, Photography, Soap Film

This weekend I went to visit my home city of Manchester, and was intrigued by the title of the exhibition "Dark Matters" at The Whitworth Art Gallery.
I have just finished reading "The 4% Universe" by Richard Panek which explores the idea of dark matter and dark energy within our universe.
The artist Daniel Rozin absolutely steals the show as the first "Dark Matters" exhibit you see on entering, is "Snow Mirror". Silk thread hangs from the ceiling and gives the impression of pretty fairy lights, it is only when you face the installation that you see yourself mirrored in the thread.
I was impressed to say the least, but my mind was blown to pieces when I saw "Peg Mirror" in the next room.


There is a camera placed in the centre of the "mirror", and the pegs oscillate to imitate the surroundings.
I can't begin to understand how Daniel Rozin has created these amazing installations, and for that reason I am absolutely fascinated with them.
If you're in Manchester before the 15th of January 2012, you should definitely check out this exhibition! If not, check out Daniel Rozin's website.

Labels: Artist, Daniel Rozin, Manchester, Mirror, Peg Mirror, Richard Panek, Silk, Snow Mirror, Technology, Thread, Video, Whitworth, Wood, Youtube

This summer I graduatedfrom my Fine Art degree, and was eager to continue making photograms.I had no access to adarkroom, so I was overjoyed when I came across the fabulousStenoflex pin-hole camera at Fred Aldous, Manchester.
The Stenoflex materialsare packaged compactly inside the little black box that cleverlybecomes the pin-hole camera. When opening the Stenoflex, I was alittle worried that the photo-sensitive paper would be exposed tolight, but the photographic paper comes in its own handy little blackvelcro pouch.
Additional to the paperand box there is:
~ A red gel to coveryour light source, mimicking a traditional dark room light.
~ Developer & Fixer, both of which are labelled in French. Developer is labelled as"Revelateur" and fixer is labelled as "Fixateur".
~ Instructions in bothFrench & English.
To make photograms with the Stenoflex Pinhole Camera Kit you will need:
~ A torch to cover with the redgel to use as your dark room light while you are working. (I used aheadlamp from the pound shop and crudely gaffer-taped the gel on tothe torch making sure the red gel covered all of the light.)
~ 3 trays or bowls foryour developer, fixer and water. I bought a small plastic chest ofdesk drawers from the pound shop (again!) as I didn't want tocontaminate anything I use at home.
~ A light source whichyou can turn on and off again very easily i.e. lamp, torch, mainlight bulb.
~ A space that can bemade pitch black i.e. a cellar, shed, attic, bathroom (with windowscovered). This is very important, you shouldn't be able to seeanything unless you have your red-gel light on.
To Make A Photogram Use These Steps:Find something youwould like to make a photogram of. I used these objects: glassbeaker, dead leaves, soap bubbles, a �10 note, hair, nuts andbolts. The most fun part is experimentation and waiting to see whatit looks like as a photogram!
Assemble yourdeveloper, fixer and rinse trays and put them in to your make-shiftdark room. Switch on your red gel light.
Take your foundobjects in to your darkroom along with your photo-sensitive paperand torch / lamp which should be switched off at this point.
Make sure yourdarkroom is only lit by your red gel lamp, and then remove one pieceof paper from its pouch, making sure to close the pouch afterwardsso that you don't expose the whole pack!
Find a flatsurface and position your found objects on top of thephoto-sensitive paper.
Grab your lightsource (torch, lamp), hold directly over the paper and switch on for1-2 seconds. Your found object is blocking the light from reachingthe paper, and this is how your image is "printed" on to thepaper.
Develop, rinse andfix as normal.This technique willmost likely require a little trial and error, but you can work outhow much light you need to use by looking at your photogram after ithas been fixed.
If your fixed photogramhas gone white it is under-exposed.You have not used enough light oryour found object is blocking too much light from the paper.
If your fixed photogramhas gone black it is over-exposed. Too much light has reached thepaper, or your object isn't blocking enough light.
Here are my results:

Found Object: Soap Bubble blown directly on to photo-sensitive paper.

Found Object: Soap Bubble blown directly on to photo-sensitive paper.

Found Object:Dead Leaves

Found Object: Dead Leaves
Found Object: Glass Paperweight
See more of my photograms at Melaniek.Co.Uk

Labels: Artist, Britain, Bubbles, Camera, Cameraless Photography, Chemistry, England, Fred Aldous, Home, Leaves, Manchester, Melanie K, Photogram, Pinhole, Science, Soap Bubble, Stenoflex, Uk, United Kingdom