Postgraduate Certificate in Arts (Photographic Conservation)
Course code: 377PC
Introduction
The Postgraduate Certificate is aimed at people with a suitable background and experience who wish to learn more about photographic materials conservation. For qualified conservators the course provides the opportunity to build on existing knowledge and to develop specialist expertise in conservation of photographs and related materials. For people who do not have qualifications or experience in conservation, the course provides the opportunity to gain new knowledge in this field.
The course is the only one of its kind in Australia and the region, combining both the theory and practice of photographic materials conservation. The program emphasises the scientific and technical aspects of photographic materials deterioration and conservation. The program draws on the combined expertise of staff of the Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation and internationally recognised leaders in the field.
Program objectives
Students who complete the Postgraduate Certificate in Arts (Photographic Conservation) should be able to:
- demonstrate a sound knowledge and understanding of photographic conservation principles, methodologies and best practice standards
- act as informed advocates for cultural material conservation, in particular photographic conservation, and play a leadership role within the sector, actively engaging in critical policy issues
- apply critical and analytical skills and methods, and a cross disciplinary understanding and approach, to the identification and resolution of photographic conservation issues
In addition to the above, graduates will attain specific professional skills so that when solving conservation problems or applying preventive conservation measures they:
- demonstrate a thorough understanding of conservation principles, ethics and methods
- have a high level of knowledge of the history, technology and deterioration processes of photographic material
- are able to accurately identify the causes of conservation problems
- can competently and independently develop, communicate and apply conservation methodologies that are scientifically and technically sound, ethical, and consistent with cultural contexts and community needs
- have a strongly developed sense of professional and ethical responsibility for cultural heritage and an awareness of the moral and legal responsibilities of professional practice
Course information
The course brings leading national and international experts to Melbourne to teach four week-long intensive subjects that cover the theory and practice of photographic conservation. The subjects may be taken as stand-alone workshops; or together to lead to the formal qualification. The program is to be undertaken as four intensive subjects run over two semesters. Each subject is worth 12.5points. A total of 50 points may be credited towards the Masters program.
- 108-548 Preventive Care of Photographs and Film (9-13 February 2009)
- 108-545 Photographic Materials and Techniques (16-20 February 2009)
- 108-547 Duplication, Archiving and Preservation (23-27 February 2009)
- 108-546 Conservation of Photographs (13-17 July 2009)
108548 Preventive Care of Photographs and Film
This subject examines the physical and environmental causes of deterioration of photographic and film material, and how these can be mitigated. Areas of study include biological attack, chemical pollutants, light exposure, fluctuations and extremes of relative humidity and temperature, physical stresses, vandalism, natural and human caused disasters. Students will examine a range of enclosures, and storage options for photographs, film and digital material. Students will become familiar with current industry standards.
COURSE CONTENT:
- Overview of the history of photography
- Brief overview and identification of 19th and 20th Century processes
- Introduction to deterioration mechanisms associated with photograph collections
- Handling of photographs
- Forms of deterioration in photographic processes
- Surveying photograph collections for condition and risk assessment
- Preventive conservation: Climate of photograph collections
- Preventive conservation: Storage of photograph collections
- Preventive conservation: Housing materials for photograph collections
- Preventive conservation: Framing materials for photographs
- Exhibition guidelines for photographs
- Framing and installation of photographs
- Ethics surrounding photograph conservation and exhibitions
- Duplication and digitisation of photograph collections
- Salvage of water soaked photographs
108545 Photographic Materials and Techniques
This subject examines the technology and materials used in producing colour photographs and digital prints, with an emphasis on the identification of these processes. Students will also examine preservation and display issues for colour photographs and digital prints, and conservation treatment options for these media.
COURSE CONTENT:
- Brief overview of the history of photography
- Summary of the history of photography
- Negatives: Paper to polyester
- Basic chemistry in photographic conservation
- Deterioration of historic processes
- Printing POP/DOP and toning techniques
- Printing Practical POP
- Special processes
- Analytical techniques in photographic conservation
- Digital output processes practical
- Digital output processes theory
108546 Conservation of Photographs
This subject introduces the current philosophy, ethics, materials, procedures and techniques that are used in the conservation treatment of photographs. Students will identify problems and the appropriate treatment including repairs, consolidation, retouching, surface cleaning and humidification and relaxing.
COURSE CONTENT:
- Review of processes – Ethical considerations for treating photographs
- Microscopic examination, spot tests, Reilly ID chart – practical
- Surface cleaning options
- Surface cleaning options – practical
- Stain reduction
- Stain reduction – practical
- Repair methods
- Repair methods – practical
- Humidification and Flattening
- Humidification – practical
- Mounting and unmounting
- Mounting and unmounting – practical
- Compensation for loss: fill and retouching options
- Compensation for loss - practical
108547 Duplication, Archiving and Preservation
This subject explores reproduction options as part of storage, access and preservation management. It includes models for duplication projects; file formats and naming; selecting equipment; introduction to colour management; calibration and colour management issues, duplication techniques; storage strategies for conventional and digital materials; access, metadata and rights management issues; and issues and strategies for digital preservation.
COURSE CONTENT TBA
- History of Reproduction Methods for Archiving and Preservation of Photographs and Film
- Analog methods of reproduction and preservation
- Emulsion transfer methods
- Digital reproduction and duplication techniques
- Management aspects
- Conservation issues and digitisation program
- Conversion: from Analog to digital
- Digital Output
- Building a digital image bank
Type of assessment
Assessment of this course will be via written assignment. Due dates will be advised by the subject lecturer.
Assignment 1
This assignment is worth 30% of the unit grade.
Annotated Bibliography – 1500 words
A word count is to be provided on the assignment cover page provided.
Students are to select a topic related to the subject content and present an annotated bibliography. Suggested topics will be discussed in class. The annotations are to be brief (approx 100 – 150 words each) and show an ability to discern what information is relevant to the topic, and to apply a critical evaluation of the text.
The assignment will be assessed according to the relevance of the cited texts, the level of critical evaluation, and the quality of writing.
The paper should include a brief introduction describing the topic under investigation.
The location and (where appropriate) library call number of each reference is to be included.
Students are encouraged to consult the Course Works website for information on research and writing techniques.
Assignment 2
This assignment is worth 70% of the unit grade.
Essay – 3500 words
A word count is to be included on the assignment cover page provided.
Students are to submit a research essay on the topic investigated for Assignment 1. The essay should demonstrate thorough understanding of the topic and the ability to critically analyse the literature. An abstract is to be included. The essay should be fully referenced using the Harvard (Author-Date) citation style. As per the Harvard style, the reference list should include only those authors actually cited in your paper.
The abstract and reference list is not included in the 3500 word count.
The purpose of both of these assignments is to allow you to investigate in detail, a type of photographic process of interest to you. Rather than for example simply providing information that is already published on a particular photographic process, you are expected to draw on the literature to describe a type of process, discuss the physical appearance, describe why correct identification of the process is important, and summarise the key conservation issues that arise form the particular materials and processes used. This type of approach reflects full comprehension of the topic and an ability to analyse and apply the concepts being considered.
Application Information
Formal applications are handled centrally by the Faculty of Arts office. Application information is available from the Arts Faculty website.
Who the course is aimed at:
The Postgraduate Certificate in Photographic Conservation is specifically directed at mid-career conservation professionals seeking to specialise in photographic conservation.
Applicants who do not hold a tertiary qualification in conservation are welcome to apply, however they should be aware of the following:
- an introductory level knowledge of chemistry is required
- the generally recognised minimum qualification to gain employment as a conservator is either a 3 year undergraduate degree in conservation or a 2 year masters level qualification in conservation. As positions in the field are highly competitive the Masters qualification is becoming increasingly sought after by employers in Australia and internationally. Further information about professional accreditation can be obtained from the AICCM and the Collections Council of Australia
Subjects may be taken separately without enrolling in the Postgraduate Certificate. This option may be of particular interest to those applicants who are not seeking a professional qualification in conservation, but instead wish to increase their knowledge of care and conservation of photographic collections. Study via this option is available through the CAP.
Course Presenters
Clara Von Waldthausen
Clara von Waldthausen has extensive experience in photographic conservation. Establishing her consultancy in photographic conservation in 2000 Ms. von Waldthausen identified the need for specialist photographic conservation services to major national institutions. She studied photographic conservation and conservation science at DePauw University, the University of Delaware, the University of Texas and Netherlands Institute of Cultural Heritage (ICN), developing extensive qualifications in photographic conservation.
The Fotorestauratie Atelier C.C. von Waldthausen has carried out projects and consultancies for major national institutions including the National Archives of the Netherlands, the National Museum of Ethnology, the European SEPIA Project (Safeguarding European Photographic Images for Access), the Royal Institute for the Tropics (KIT), the Netherlands Institute of Cultural Heritage (ICN) and the Centre de Recherches sur la Conservation des Documents Graphiques (CRCDG) Paris.
The Fotorestauratie Atelier C.C. von Waldthausen has surveyed and treated large collections of photographic images. At the Regional Archives at Wijk bij Duurstede she was responsible for the drying of 10,000 water-soaked photographs. At the Bronbeek Museum Ms. von Waldthausen managed a four year project for the stabilization and re-housing of 10,000 photographs and 250 photograph albums. She has also surveyed and evaluated the condition of the cellulose acetate negative collection of 2 million negatives belonging to the Municipal Archives of Amsterdam.
Ms. von Waldthausen is also an experienced educator and researcher, including research on the Autochrome process as a Prins Bernhard Cultuur Stichting Fellow, and delivering training for the European SEPIA Project, the Royal Institute for the Tropics, and the Netherlands Institute of Cultural Heritage, amongst many others. She has also published several articles on the practice of photographic conservation, as well as more technical work on the Autochrome process and coatings on early photographs.
Hans Meesters
Hans Meesters has a degree in darkroom chemistry and photography. After establishing a professional photograph laboratory in Amsterdam which he owned and directed for 15 years, Meesters became interested in digitisation strategies and techniques surrounding cultural objects. He worked many years for various Dutch museums establishing digitisation strategies for museum objects, and established the Department for Digitisation at the Fotorestauratie Atelier in Amsterdam in 2006.
The department provides consultancy in photography of fragile materials such as photograph albums, glass plate negatives, rare books, manuscripts and works on paper and specializes in making analogue and digital reproductions of these materials.
Meesters has taught photography at the Rietveld Academy of Fine Art in Amsterdam and currently teaches workshops on digitisation. He has co-established a Dutch Working Group whose aim is to establish safe handling and digitisation guidelines for the digitisation of fragile objects in Dutch museums, libraries and archives and is a member of the International Committee of Museums (ICOM).
Cheryl Jackson
Cheryl Jackson has been a photographic conservator since 1987. She has worked in several national cultural institutions in Canberra, and is currently employed by the National Archives of Australia. Cheryl has studied advanced level photographic conservation both in Australia and in the United States. Her experience covers hands on conservation and whole collection preservation strategies. She has specialised in the conservation of silver gelatine prints and is now moving into the preservation of contemporary digital photographs, particularly from a consumers point of view.