Workshops and Classes 
I’ve been teaching for nearly 30 years — college composition, writing and reading comprehension, African, Asian and European social studies to middle schoolers, and taught photography full-time and as a guest lecturer to elementary, middle and high school students as well as college students and adults…even a group of girl scout leaders.
I teach individual tutorials, small group workshops and special courses at the Woods Edge studio in Chapel Hill, NC. In addition, I offer guest lectures and workshops at alternative sites upon arrangement. Courses range from beginner to advanced.
Woods Edge offers an exceptional darkroom facility large enough to handle up to 3 students at one time.
Basic Black and White Course (9 weeks)
Start from scratch. Working with black and white film, this course explores the basic tools, techniques and aesthetics of photography. Bring your own 35mm (or larger) camera and learn about film speed, camera controls and how to control your camera. In the darkroom, lab safety comes first. Process your own film and learn how to make prints. Processing and printing puts you on the fast track to making well composed images. Learn basic composition techniques and principles. In addition, you'll be exposed to the work of photographers from the 19th century forward, examining photo composition and various darkroom techniques.
Advanced Black and White Darkroom Course
Once you know the basic camera control, lab safety, film processing and print enlargements, you’ve started on a path that will lead you to making archival, exhibition quality prints. Learn about fibre-based papers, double developers and two-step fixing. Once you’ve got your finished print in hand, cutting the mat completes the process of displaying your work.
Alternative photography generally, though not exclusively, refers to non-silver photographic methods. Most of these methods were developed in the first 50 years of photographic history when experimentation was the norm. Images produced today using various alternative methods are as beautiful and varied as ever. Learn about special lab procedures and equipment, how to enlarge negatives, size your paper, apply photo sensitive materials to the prepared paper and then expose the print — either outdoors or indoors under a bank of UV lights. Many methods will be examined and you will gain hands-on experience in methods such as albumen, cyanotype, VanDyke, and gum bichromate photography.
Alan Dehmer's Gum Bichromate Workshop (4 day)
When you get down to the particulars, there is no one particular way to make a gum print. Everyone seems to have their own unique way to do this or that. But putting aside the particulars, there are two fundamentally different approaches to gum printing. One way is to start with a single black and white negative to produce a single or multi-coated/multi-exposed/multi-colored print. The other way is called three color or tri-color gum printing. Three color printing produces a full color image using three (or sometimes four) black and white separation negatives -- CMYK.
I work with a single black and white negative. A finished print has been coated and exposed anywhere from three to twelve times before it is "done". I use dried pigments derived from plant matter or from earth minerals instead of the more typical watercolor tube pigments. Aside from the more organic nature of dried pigments, which appeals to me personally, they also come in a lot more colors and most of the time they're a lot cheaper. You can even gather/extract your own!
I'll teach you about special lab procedures and equipment, how to make digital negatives, size large batches of paper with gelatin (summer workshops only), mix and apply the dichromate-pigment-gum arabic solution to the sized paper and then expose the print (indoors or out) and finally develop the print. Learning when to say when in the developer tray and how to use color are discussed throughout. The aim of this workshop is to provide the skills necessary to achieve gum printing independence.
If you're not local, please contact Alan Dehmer for meal and housing arrangements.
Pinhole for the Classroom (2 day)
Pinhole photography is a great way to introduce the magic of light and chemistry to all ages. Starting with just about any type of container that can be made light-tight — Pringles, Altoids and oatmeal cans are easy to find and not too difficult to consume — you can teach anyone from elementary kids on up how light and chemistry combine to make photographic images. I’ve taught hundreds of kids (as well as some teachers) how to make them. Even after a year or two of instruction in general photography, many students have told me making pinhole images was their favorite lesson. I can come to your classroom and provide on-site support for setting up a temporary darkroom. I’ll do the teaching or I can teach you or a group of teachers how to do it yourself. It’s fun and it’s educational.
Prices
Individual tutorials $40 per hour
Black and white courses $500 each plus film and paper
Gum bichromate workshop (4 day) $650 plus materials
Pinhole for the classroom $250
Tutorials and Workshops