Lumen is a type of cameraless photography made using the power of the sun. You place objects on photographic film or paper and then expose the composition to sunlight (or UV lights, if it's rainy), creating beautiful abstract images. Unlike many other darkroom-based processes, lumen prints are not monochromatic and often give surprising results due to their bright colors and dramatic hues that vary wildly based on the paper or objects used. Workshop leader Leni Wiegand will share her extensive archive of collected photographic papers and film, her experience, as well as tips and tricks with lumen prints, as we learn and create together with this fun and often variable process!

In this workshop, we will use a variety of expired photographic darkroom papers to learn the basics of the lumen process. In addition, we will experiment with both black + white and color 4 x 5 film to push the limits of the process further, capture even more vibrant colors, and see how transparency can impact the final result. We will also discuss how to digitize your work so that you can preserve it — many lumen techniques are not light stable, and this will also allow you to post and share your amazing lumens online. 

All necessary materials and chemistry will be provided on-site, including a variety of flowers, plants, and fun objects to start your compositions. Participants are encouraged to bring their own items to compose with — either organic objects or objects with some degree of transparency work best. Some ideas include flowers from your garden, hand written notes, pages from a magazine, or leaves from your favorite tree. 

This process can get messy, so please, don’t bring objects that are irreplaceable or you do not mind potentially getting wet. This workshop is best suited to artists 16 and above; minors must be accompanied by an adult.

Leni Wiegand is a transfeminine lens-based artist and current MFA candidate at Indiana University. She received her BA in Business Management from Benedictine University in 2022 and their Associate's Degree in Applied Science in Photography from the College of DuPage in 2020.