Dust: Exploring new ways of viewing the printed photographic image

This paper examines the ways in which the presence and reading of dust within the photographic image opens up new avenues for artistic thought.

The paper was given at a one-day symposium which explored the ways in which contemporary artists are using analogue processes, from photography’s rich and varied history, to create new works.

The Photography and the Archive Research Centre at London College of Communication and Camberwell College of Art are working with the London Alternative Photography Collective to create a symposium exploring the use of traditional photography processes by contemporary artists and researchers. This symposium will be part of the Moose on the Loose Biennale of Research in May 2015 and is programmed by Melanie King, Director of the London Alternative Photography Collective.

Since July 2013, there has been a resurgence of interest in alternative photography processes in the UK and Europe, most notably at Unseen Photo Festival (Amsterdam), Paris Photo, and Brighton Photo Biennial. Michael Hoppen Gallery in London, London Analogue Festival, Analogue Mania (Romania), Nord Photography (Norway), Revelat Festival 2014 (Barcelona), Analog Photography Berlin and the Dutch Alternative Photography Collective.

Internationally, alternative photography processes are also being used widely by organisations such as the Center for Alternative Photography and George Eastman House in New York City, the Goa Centre for Alternative Photography (GOA-CAP), Alternative Photography Symposium, Ontario, Gold Street Studios in Australia and Photo Gallery International, Tokyo.