Collaboration with Dora Đurkesac/Isabelle Goossens/Nadja Tobias from Plantango collective and Elvis Halilović from ONDU: Exploring the island through chromatography, wet plate photography, sunprint techniques, botanical toning, and herbal developers
This hands-on workshop invites participants to explore traditional artistic techniques:
19.-21. Sep 2025
SLOW PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Collaboration with Dora Đurkesac/Isabelle Goossens/Nadja Tobias from Plantango collective and Elvis Halilović from ONDU: Exploring the island through chromatography, wet plate photography, sunprint techniques, botanical toning, and herbal developers
This hands-on workshop invites participants to explore traditional artistic techniques:
- Glass plate photography using large format cameras and pinhole photography with Elvis Halilović, founder of ONDU, a family of creators making photographic instruments from premium natural materials at their workshop on the sunny side of the Alps, Slovenia.
- Making miniprints with a camera obscura and herbal developer
- Cyanotype printing, a sun-powered process rooted in the 19th century
- Botanical toning, following the techniques of Anette Golaz, using plants sourced directly from the island
- Soil and plant-based chromatography, a visual technique that separates and reveals the hidden pigments and chemical compounds in natural materials, creating unique patterns that reflect the biochemical makeup of plants and earth
These 3-day workshops invite you to reconnect with nature through hands-on exploration of historical photographic techniques, using local plants and soils as both subjects and materials. By engaging directly with the landscape of Vis, participants develop a deeper awareness of the natural world’s subtle systems and resilience. In a time of climate change, ecological collapse, migration, and conflict, this practice becomes an act of resistance—reclaiming slowness, care, and attention as tools for healing and support. Through creative experimentation, we learn from nature and honor it not just as inspiration, but as a companion in restoring balance.
Working with paper, glass, and fabric as mediums, you’ll create photographic collages by combining traditional techniques with natural materials. Using plants and soil collected from the island, you’ll experiment with toning and chromatography and produce unique visuals.
The workshop pays tribute to Anna Atkins, considered the first female photographer, who pioneered cyanotype for botanical illustration. Participants will also learn about the rich local flora — its medicinal uses, cultural significance, and its role in everyday life on Vis.
All materials are provided; no prior experience with alternative photography is required, and the workshop is open to all ages, starting from 5 years old. The children between 5 and 10 will be under close adult supervision.
Max 20 participants. To register for the workshop, please contact us at this email:
issa@issa-school.org
More details about location, schedule, and further guidelines will follow up soon.
We invite you to create, experiment, and explore with us. Pomalo.
Workshop Structure
19./20.09.
Introduction & Inspiration
- Overview of the cyanotype process and its historical context, highlighting the work of Anna Atkins
- Introduction to the workshop goals, working with pinhole cameras and large-format cameras, materials (paper, fabric, and glass), and techniques for developing film with plant-based developers, chromatography, and toning cyanotypes with botanicals.
Preparing the Materials
- Step-by-step guidance on mixing and handling chromatography chemicals
- Preparing the soil and plants
Creating Chromatography
- Hands-on session creating chromatography with plant elements and soil
Preparing the Materials
- Step-by-step guidance on mixing and handling cyanotype chemicals
- Preparing surfaces for printing: treating paper and fabric
Creating Cyanotypes
- Hands-on session creating cyanotypes with plant elements and glass plate photographs
- Exposure using sunlight and arranging compositions
- Experimentation with different materials and collage techniques
Botanical Toning
- Presentation of botanical toning and the work of Anette Golaz
- Introduction to plant-based toning using local flora
- Guided experimentation with toning techniques to transform your prints
21.09.
Pinhole and large format ONDU cameras’ photography and developing film with plant-based developers
- Presentation of Elvis Halilović and ONDU handcrafted cameras
- Introduction and work with a pinhole and a large format camera
- Hands-on session developing photographic paper/glass plates with plant-based developers
Review & Reflection
- Group review of participants’ work with discussion on technique, results, and variations
- Tips on how to adapt the process at home using accessible materials
Closing
- Final reflections on learning and creative outcomes
- Suggestions for continuing cyanotype and alternative photography practices independently
19. – 21. rujna 2025.
Radionica spore fotografije
Suradnja s Dorom Đurkesac, Isabelle Goossens i Nadjom Tobias iz kolektiva Plantango te Elvisom Halilovićem iz ONDU-a:
Istraživanje otoka kroz kromatografiju, fotografiju na mokrim pločama, cijanotipiju, biljno toniranje i biljne razvijače
Ova praktična radionica poziva sudionike da istraže tradicionalne umjetničke tehnike:
- Fotografija na staklenim pločama uz korištenje kamere velikog formata i fotografije s camerom obscurom (prethodnica fotoaparata) s Elvisom Halilovićem, osnivačem ONDU-a, obitelji stvaratelja koji u svojoj radionici na sunčanoj strani Alpa u Sloveniji izrađuju fotografske instrumente od vrhunskih prirodnih materijala
- Izrada minijaturnih otisaka s camerom obscurom i razvijanje u biljnom razvijaču
- Cijanotipija, fotografski proces koji koristi sunčevu svijetlost, razvijen u 19. stoljeću
- Biljno toniranje prema tehnikama Anette Golaz koristeći biljke prikupljene izravno na otoku
- Kromatografija temeljena na tlu i biljkama, vizualna tehnika koja razdvaja i otkriva skrivene pigmente i kemijske spojeve u prirodnim materijalima, stvarajući jedinstvene uzorke koji odražavaju biokemijski sastav biljaka i tla
Ova trodnevna radionica poziva vas na ponovno povezivanje s prirodom kroz praktično istraživanje povijesnih fotografskih tehnika koristeći lokalne biljke i tlo kao temu i materijal. Kroz izravan kontakt s krajolikom Visa, sudionici razvijaju dublju svijest o suptilnim sustavima i otpornosti prirodnog svijeta. U vremenu klimatskih promjena, ekološkog kolapsa, migracija i sukoba, ova praksa postaje čin otpora – povratak usporenosti, njege i pažnje kao alata za iscjeljenje i podršku. Kroz kreativno eksperimentiranje učimo od prirode i poštujemo je ne samo kao inspiraciju, već i kao suputnicu u obnavljanju ravnoteže.
Radom na papiru, staklu i tkanini kao medijima, stvarat ćete fotografske kolaže kombinirajući tradicionalne tehnike s prirodnim materijalima. Koristeći biljke i tlo prikupljene na otoku, eksperimentirat ćete s toniranjem i kromatografijom te stvarati jedinstvene vizualne zapise.
Radionica odaje počast Anni Atkins, prvoj fotografkinji koja je pionirski koristila cijanotipiju za botaničke ilustracije. Sudionici će također upoznati bogatu lokalnu floru – njezina ljekovita svojstva, kulturni značaj i ulogu u svakodnevnom životu na Visu.
Svi su materijali osigurani; prethodno iskustvo s alternativnom fotografijom nije potrebno, a radionica je otvorena za sve uzraste, s najmanje 5 godina. Djeca između 5 i 10 godina moraju biti pod stalnim nadzorom odraslih.
Maksimalno 20 sudionika. Za prijavu na radionicu molimo kontaktirajte nas putem ove e-mail adrese: issa@issa-school.org
Detalji o lokaciji, rasporedu i daljnje upute slijede uskoro.
Pozivamo vas da stvarate, eksperimentirate i istražujete s nama. Pomalo.
Struktura radionice
19./20. rujna
Uvod i inspiracija
- Pregled procesa cijanotipije i njegova povijesnog konteksta, s naglaskom na rad Anne Atkins
- Uvod u ciljeve radionice, rad s camerom obscurom i kamerom velikog formata, upoznavanje s materijalima (papir, tkanina, staklo) i tehnikama razvijanja filmova biljnim razvijačima, kromatografijom i toniranjem cijanotipije pomoću biljaka
Priprema materijala
- Detaljne upute za miješanje i rukovanje kemikalijama za kromatografiju
- Priprema tla i biljaka
Izrada kromatografije
- Praktična radionica izrade kromatografije s biljnim elementima i zemljom
Priprema materijala za cijanotipiju
- Upute za miješanje i rukovanje kemikalijama za cijanotipski otisak
- Obrada papira i tkanine za ispis
Izrada cijanotipija
- Praktična radionica izrade cijanotipija s biljnim elementima i fotografijama na staklenim pločama
- Ekspozicija na suncu i aranžiranje kompozicija
- Eksperimentiranje s različitim materijalima i tehnikama kolažiranja
Biljno toniranje
- Prezentacija biljnog toniranja i rada Anette Golaz
- Uvod u toniranje biljnom osnovom koristeći lokalnu floru
- Vođena radionica toniranja i transformacije cijanotipskih otisaka
21. rujna
Fotografija s cameron obscurom i ONDU kamerama velikog formata + razvijanje pomoću biljnih razvijača
- Predstavljanje Elvisa Halilovića i ručno rađenih kamera ONDU
- Uvod u rad s camerom obscurom i kamerom velikog formata
- Praktična radionica razvijanja fotografskog papira i staklenih mokrih ploča pomoću biljnih razvijača
Pregled i refleksija
- Grupna analiza radova sudionika s raspravom o tehnikama, rezultatima i varijacijama
- Savjeti za nastavak rada kod kuće s dostupnim materijalima
Zatvaranje
- Završna razmišljanja o naučenom i kreativnim ishodima
- Prijedlozi za nastavak cijanotipije i alternativnih fotografskih praksi
