THE ALCHEMY OF SUNLIGHT
- Advanced Anthotype and Experimental Cyanotype Explorations
with Malin Fabbri
DATES:
June 2 - 7
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LOCATION:
Saga - Inderøy - Norway
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Join Malin Fabbri, editor and founder of AlternativePhotography.com, author of books
on alternative processes, including Blueprint
to Cyanotypes and Anthotypes, for a week of exploring, experimenting, and creating
with light and plants.
WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:
We begin our workshop with anthotypes, one of the earliest and most ephemeral photographic methods, where plant pigments and sunlight form delicate, slow-growing images.
Participants will extract colour from flowers, leaves, and botanicals, transforming natural dyes into handmade emulsions. You will learn how different pigments behave, how to prepare papers, and how to create both photograms and prints from digital positives.
The pigments we extract will naturally carry into the cyanotype toning process, creating a subtle dialogue between the two techniques. This meditative work invites a slower way of seeing, a way of noticing how colours change, accepting that nothing stays the same, and working closely with the physical qualities of the pigments themselves.
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We then move into the deep Prussian blues of classic cyanotype, grounding the workshop in the traditional formula and foundational techniques of coating, exposing, and printing.
From there, the workshop expands into a range of experimental cyanotype practices: layered exposures, wet cyanotypes, chemical interventions, pigment integration, toning, and then moving on to lumen printing and cyanolumen.
Participants will work both outdoors with sunlight and indoors with UV lights to explore repeatable and unpredictable results.
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Throughout the workshop, the emphasis is on the techniques becoming a tool for artistic development and expression, whether you are working with textures, building layers, pushing contrast, or creating botanical photograms that echo the earliest days of photography. You will be encouraged to explore your own themes, refine your visual language, and challenge habitual ways of working.
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Individual guidance and critique sessions will help you identify artistic directions and integrate these processes meaningfully into your broader practice.
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By the end of the workshop, participants will have a collection of cyanotype and anthotype prints that reflect their own creative vision, along with a deeper understanding of how light, pigment, and material can shape artistic expression. More than learning a set of techniques, artists will leave with the confidence to continue experimenting independently, and with a renewed sense of curiosity, play, and possibility in their work.
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This class is open to artists and photographers at all levels.
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WORKSHOP TUITION:
NOK 16.000,- (deposit NOK 6.000,-).
+ NOK 500,- to cover the cost of material/ chemistry used.
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All the material you need for the different prosess will be covered by the listed material/ chemistry fee. ​
The tuition does not include travel costs, accommodations or meals. Scroll down to PRICE ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS for more details.
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Shortly after registration for your workshop you will receive an invoice for the deposit. You will also receive an invoice for the rest of the tuition at the same time as the deposit. This invoice is to be paid no later than one month before the workshop starts. All fees are to be paid in Norwegian Kroner.
PAYMENT:
Norwegian participant: we will send an invoice to your e-mail.
International students: You have 3 option of payment - please list your preferred payment method when registering for a class:
CREDIT CARD: you can make a payment directly from our website. For CC payments there is a transaction fee of 4 % that will be added to the tuition.
PAY PAL: For PayPal payments there is a handling fee of 6 % that will be added to the invoice.
INTERNATIONAL BANK TRANSFER: For bank transfer there is a transaction fee. Check with your bank for the amount, and make sure the transaction fee is not deducted from the payment for the class. In our experience bank transfers have the lowest transaction cost.
Await payment until you have received a confirmation of your seat and an invoice from NORD-photography.
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SAGA / ACCOMMODATION:
The workshop takes place at our creative center SAGA in Norway.
Saga is a creative retreat center, with large spacious rooms, a homely atmosphere, an outdoor sauna, swimming dock and beautiful nature right outside the door. The stress of day to day life is left behind when you enter our center, so you can focus all your energy on expanding your creative talent and adopting new skills. SAGA has a hotel section, which offers accommodation for participants during the workshop. If SAGA is fully booked we will organise alternative accommodation nearby in the same price range.
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​There are single beds in all of SAGA’s hotel rooms. We hope that most participants are open to share hotel rooms with one other participant (of the same gender) during your stay at SAGA. This way we can house the whole class at our hotel. If you are a group traveling together, or you have a preference when sharing a room, please make a note when registration for the workshop. If you prefer a single room, let us know, and we will accommodate you.
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MEALS:
Saga is known for its fresh homemade food. We will start each day with a healthy breakfast, before heading to class, or out shooting. We serve warm lunch at SAGA every day. Breakfast and varm lunch, coffee/ tea and fruit throughout your stay is included in the accommodation fee.
If you are not staying at our hotel you can still be part of the meal plan.
Meal Plan: breakfast, varm lunch, coffee/ tea and fruit pr day: Nok 760,-.
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If you have any food allergies please let us know when you register for your class and we will try to accommodate your needs.
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For dinner: the options will be discussed with the group on arrival. There are one restaurant in walking distance to SAGA, and several in driving distance.
Saga has a full liquor license.
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PRICE ACCOMMODATION AND MEALS:
Shared Twin-room: NOK 1.460,- per person pr night.
The price includes:
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shared double room
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healthy breakfast
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warm home-cocked lunch
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coffee/ tea and fruit throughout your stay
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a free session in Saga Sauna.
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Dinner is not included in the accommodation cost.
To get a shared Twin-room requires that we have another participant of your gender, that can share. If we do not, you will get a private room - see price below.
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Private room: NOK 1.760,- per night.
The price includes:
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a private room
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healthy breakfast
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warm home-cocked lunch
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coffee/ tea and fruit throughout your stay
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a session in Saga Sauna.
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Dinner is not included in the accommodation cost.
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Payment for accommodations and meals is done directly to SAGA, before you depart. SAGA accept Visa and MasterCard.
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GETTING TO THE LOCATION:
By Plane:
The closest airport to SAGA is Trondheim International Airport. From the airport, take the northbound train (towards Steinkjer), which stops at the airport terminal about every two hours. You will disembark the train at Røra Station (about 1 hour and 10 minutes) where NORDphotography’s van will be to greet you and transport you to SAGA.
Estimated travel time to SAGA from (Time include direct flight to Trondheim Airport + train to SAGA): Oslo: 2 hours / Bodø: 2 hours / Copenhagen: 3 hours / Stockholm: 3 hours / New York: 12 hours (NYC+Oslo+Trondheim)
By Train:
You disembark the train at Røra Station and NORDphotography’s van will be to greet you and take you to SAGA. Estimated travel time to Røra by train from: Oslo: 9 hours / Trondheim: 2 hours / Bodø: 9.5 hours / Storlien (Sweden): 3.5 hours. For the local train schedule see: vy.no
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By Car:
Follow E6 to Røra, then RV 755 to Straumen.
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Travel expenses are each participant's own responsibility.
WORKSHOP TUITION:
NOK 16.000,-
+ NOK 500,- to cover the cost of material/ chemistry used.
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Deposit: NOK 6.000,-
Se payment details in the workshop description.
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The amount is listed in Norwegian Kroner (NOK)
REGISTRATION ON OUR COURSES ARE BINDING!
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We ask that you do not book your ticket until we have confirmed that the minimum number of participants have signed on. The confirmation will happen no later than a month before the workshop start.
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We recommend everyone who travels to have travel insurance.
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For our cancelation rules and withdrawal and refund policy, scroll to the end of the description and read the info in the blue banners.
WHEN TO ARRIVE:
The workshop starts on the evening of the 2nd of June at 19:00 (7PM).
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WHEN TO DEPART:
The workshop ends after lunch
on the 7th of June at 13:00 (1PM).
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WHAT TO BRING:
You should bring an apron, and clothes and shoes you do not mind getting chemistry stains on.
Protective eyewear,
and gloves we will supply. ​
ABOUT
Malin Fabbri:
Malin Fabbri is the editor and founder of AlternativePhotography.
com, and a author of books on alternative processes, including Blueprint to Cyanotypes and Anthotypes – Explore the Darkroom in Your Garden.
She has over two decades of experience experimenting with traditional darkroom techniques, cyanotypes, anthotypes, photopolymer gravure, and other alternative photographic processes.
Malin runs workshops and events, exploring both technical mastery and artistic expression in light-sensitive media.
Based in Stockholm, Sweden, she continues to create her own work while supporting a global community of alternative process photographers.
Withdrawal and refund policy:
We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance.
Enrolment is limited in our workshops, so once you have registered for a class – we are counting on you to attend. The registration is binding. We do however understand that sometimes plans fall trough and offer the following cancellation policies: Withdraw more than 60 days before the start of class and we will refund all monies paid, minus an administration fee of NOK 1500,-. Withdraw 60 days or less before the start of class and we will charge you with the full workshop tuition. NORDphotography is not responsible for cancellations due to medical emergencies.
Cancelation Rules:
We ask that you do not book your ticket until we have confirmed that the minimum number of participants have signed up.
For workshops to run we need a minimum of five participants, unless otherwise noted in the workshop description. If we for some reason are not able to reach our minimum number, the workshop will be canceled and you will receive a full refund. NORDphotography is not responsible for reimbursement of non-refundable airline / train tickets in the event of a program cancellation. Our line of liability is to return all monies paid to the workshops. Please check on your workshop status before making travel arrangements. There will be a maximum of 10 students in each workshop, unless otherwise noted in the workshop description.
Instructor Replacement:
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It is the nature of our business that occasionally a listed instructor cannot participate because of unexpected events. If we are forced to replace an instructor we will do so with someone with equal or similar credentials. When time permits we will inform everyone who has registered.