Tarot in the Darkroom: Making Photographic Tarot Cards with Liz Gorman, Tuesday 27th & Saturday 31 October
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Dates:
Introducing: Tuesday 27 October, 18:30 - 20:00
Practical Session: Saturday 31 October, 11:00 - 17:00
Tutor: Liz Gorman
Website: www.lizgormanphotography.co.uk
This Halloween, join artist and Photofusion General Manager Liz Gorman for a hands-on workshop exploring cameraless black-and-white photography. Create your own bespoke Tarot card print while engaging with photography’s historic fascination with symbolism and the unseen.
This two-part course begins with an introduction session where Liz will share her original photogram Tarot deck and introduce the Major Arcana. Each participant will receive a 10-minute Tarot reading to choose up to three cards or archetypes, helping you develop visual concepts and gather materials ahead of the darkroom session. Note: If you cannot attend the in-person introduction session, please contact us upon booking to arrange an individual concept consultation.
On Halloween, bring your chosen Tarot archetype to life using analogue photographic techniques in the darkroom. Following a brief introduction to darkroom safety and equipment, you’ll experiment with light, exposure time, and material opacity to create contrast, tone, and texture.
Please bring a selection of objects to experiment with. Liz will guide your material choices during the introduction session, with ideas including flat cut-outs, textured fabrics, translucent materials, pressed plants, keys, and glassware.
The course will cover:
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An introduction to the themes, symbolism, and imagery of the Major Arcana
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How to generate narrative and convey symbolic meaning within abstract, cameraless photography
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Hands-on exploration of cameraless darkroom techniques, including photograms and liquid processes like watergrams
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Practical introduction to black and white printing using resin-coated paper, from enlarger setup to chemical processing and darkroom safety
You’ll leave with test prints, experimental studies, and at least one finished 10×8" print of your chosen Tarot card, with the option to create additional designs if time allows.
No prior knowledge of Tarot or darkroom experience is required; all are welcome.
Liz Gorman is an artist specialising in cameraless and alternative photographic practices, often incorporating sculptural and performative elements into her work. Drawing on early photographic techniques, her practice examines photography's relationship with objectivity to explore contemporary themes of capitalism, gender, and ecological change. Liz is co-director at The Gate Darkroom and General Manager at Photofusion.
New Users and Inductions
New to our darkrooms?
If you haven’t used our darkrooms before, you must include a 10-minute induction with your first booking.
When you select your session in the booking calendar, tick the “New user darkroom induction” box (it’s free, and takes place at the beginning of your session).
You must be a competent darkroom printer and able to work independently.
Need help or want to improve your printing skills? We offer a variety of darkroom courses and 1:1 support sessions, which can be booked here.
Due to space, if you bring a friend to print with you in Black and White, you must book and pay for two enlargers.
What's Included vs. What to Bring
We supply chemistry (B&W, colour), easels, grain magnifiers, negative carriers and tongs
You will need to bring your own photographic paper, canned air, loupes and dodging/burning tools.
For colour darkroom bookings we recommend you bring your own lightproof bag/paper safe if you are working with larger print sizes.
Film and print scanner available, go to our scanning page to find out more.
Parallax Photographic Coop is onsite and can supply everything you might need including paper, film and more.
Black & White Darkroom Specs
Four black and white GEM 504 enlargers fitted with Ilford 500 Multigrade diffuser light sources.
A wide range of lenses and negative masks to enable printing of most film formats from 35mm to 5X4.
Archival washer and custom built mesh racks for air drying fibre-based prints, as well as an Ademco 2226 Press for a perfectly flat print.
For resin coated prints, we have an Ilford 1250RC drying machine.
Max print size: 16×20 inches.
Colour Darkroom Specs
Solo Darkroom & Alternative Processes
The solo darkroom is available to use for alternative processes such as cyanotype, mordencage, chemigrams and more, or for those who prefer a more private space to work.
The space is a separate darkroom to the communal darkrooms and contains a Devere 504 enlarger fitted with an Intrepid LED light source, two large sinks, a UV light box and drying racks.
Please email info@photofusion.org for details on what alternative processes we can support.
Solo Darkroom & Alternative Processes
The solo darkroom is available to use for alternative processes such as cyanotype, mordencage, chemigrams and more, or for those who prefer a more private space to work.
The space is a separate darkroom to the communal darkrooms and contains a Devere 504 enlarger fitted with an Intrepid LED light source, two large sinks, a UV light box and drying racks.
Please email info@photofusion.org for details on what alternative processes we can support.
Arrival, Cancellations & Accessibility
Sessions are 11am - 5pm (6 hours), Tuesday - Saturday.
Bookings closes at 11pm the night before.
We have a strict 48-hour cancellation policy. Use the link in your confirmation email to reschedule or cancel; within 48 hours, sessions are non-refundable.
Located in the basement via stairs or lift. Wheelchair-accessible toilets are on the ground floor.
Located 2 minutes from Brixton Station. Metered street parking is available on Pope’s Road and Canterbury Crescent.
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