If..
➝ Your prints are coming out fogged, muddy or washed out
➝ You feel like you only scratched the surface of alternative photography and want to explore all its possibilities
➝ You are getting frustrated with endless research and want a clear direction
➝ You feel stuck in your practice and crave a more physical, tactile experience with photography
The AP Academy will guide you through alternative processes and materials, so you can create unique prints that:
✓ stand out and grab attention
✓ leave a lasting impact
WHAT OUR STUDENTS SAY
The best creative decision I made last year
"when I discovered and followed the wonderful Alternative Processes @alternativeprocesses account on Instagram, my eyes were opened to a whole new array of creative possibilities. My decision to join Chiara’s Alternative Processes Academy at the start of 2023 was arguably the best creative decision I made last year."
━ Jane Constable
With the Academy’s help, I was awarded a Distinction
"I used The Academy to inform my practice-led MA Photography, and with Chiara’s help, was awarded a Distinction. It has the perfect combination of technical, step-by-step process together with inspiration around what can be achieved with alternative processes. Sustainable photography does not have to be second-best. The Academy saved me hours and hours of scrolling through YouTube trying to find the exact techniques I needed: the videos are concise and to the point, well organised and logical. "
━ Emma Davies
This course has been crucial
"Thanks to this course, my work became more technical and structured. Previously, I was experimenting but lacked a clear guideline. Thanks to APA, I have learned how to use mordants and which ones to choose, I am continuously learning and experimenting. Now, I am working on a project that merges the cyanotype technique with watergrams, and this course has been crucial."
━ Lisa Roselli Zani
LEARN TO CREATE IMAGES LIKE THESE
✓ Start creating right away, without getting lost in self-doubts and endless research
✓ Learn and get inspired wherever you are, without having to travel to big cities for workshops
✓ Be part of a global community of artists and photographers, even if there isn’t an “art scene” where you live
Course Curriculum
Alternative Processes Academy is
for beginners and intermediate
Comes with a full introduction to darkroom printing.
Teaches the basics of every process in the modules
BUT goes beyond the basics
showing you how to print on objects, challenging surfaces & mixing processes
STUDENT'S
SPOTLIGHT
Every week we'll feature our students and alumni in our instagram feed, interview them for blog articles, do takeovers & more
✓ ALTERNATIVE PROCESSES ACADEMY IS:
- 100% online & self-paced
- pre-recorded lessons
- for beginners & intermediate
-
practical & hands on
✘ ALTERNATIVE PROCESSES ACADEMY IS NOT:
- live (except for monthly community calls)
- for field experts
-
focused on theory & history
DOWNLOADABLE RESOURCES
Modules and lessons come with printable guides, cheat-sheets, lists, slides and checklists to help you in your printing journey
DARKROOM DILUTION CALCULATOR
Available exclusively for APA students, the first online chemical dilution calculator. No more wasting time, no more being confused. 15+ dilution ratios
"I just can't grasp at math and logical stuff, this was a life saver, I can go in the darkroom and start creating within 5 minutes without getting discouraged with chemical mixing"
ALL THE SUPPORT YOU NEED
Students and alumni will have regular sessions with Chiara and the AP team to discuss ideas, tackle challenges, and receive feedback. A private Discord server will be accessible for daily support and additional prompts.
LIFETIME ACCESS
and all Guest Lectures included
As a student, you'll gain ongoing access to new modules and expert guest lectures. APA is dynamic, committed to continuous enhancement, evolving monthly into the most comprehensive, detailed Alternative Processes program available.
Please note that due to the online nature of our course, we do not offer refunds. We understand that unforeseen circumstances may arise, but we have a strict no-refund policy in place. Therefore, we encourage you to thoroughly review the course details and requirements before enrolling to ensure that it aligns with your goals and expectations. If you have any questions or doubts about our course, please do not hesitate to contact us at [email protected] or send us a direct message on our Instagram page. We will do our best to answer your queries promptly and provide you with the necessary information to help you make an informed decision about whether our course is the right fit for you.
By purchasing APA, you agree to the disclaimer of liability for misuse of chemicals and products stated above. This disclaimer acknowledges the risks associated with using chemicals and products and requires the course participant to assume all responsibility and hold the course creator harmless from any liability. The course creator is not responsible for any misuse of chemicals and products by the participant and shall have no liability for any injuries or damages resulting from such misuse. Read all terms of use here.
EXPLORE INDIVIDUAL COURSES
Not ready for the full spectrum of processes? You have the flexibility to enrol exclusively in either the Chlorophyll or Cyanotype process courses.
Dive deep into the specific process that intrigues you and cultivate your skills at your own pace.
FAQs
-
Is the course in English? Are there subtitles?
Yes. The course is taught in English and comes with English subtitles.
-
Do I need a darkroom?
We have a module on liquid emulsion that requires a darkroom with a wet and a dry area (chemicals + enlarger), for this reason we've included an introduction module on darkroom printing (Module 2). Inside the Camera-less Photography module, Photograms require a full darkroom, Watergrams and Chemigrams require only the wet area (chemicals) and no enlarger. All the other processes don't require a darkroom.
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Do I need a lot of space?
No, most of the processes just need a surface to coat on (can be a desk, floor, the top of a washing machine..) and a dark cabinet to store the paper while drying. Each module comes with an explanatory slide of the materials needed and shows my exact set up for each process.
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How much will I need to spend in chemicals and tools?
It entirely depends on the availability and cost of chemicals in your country. We provide a list of the most famous suppliers and online shops divided by country. Aside from the modules where a darkroom is required (Module 2 & Module 6) all the process can be done with little space and few tools that you might already have at home.
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If I'm having troubles with a process, what kind of support do I get?
All students will receive accesso to the same APA course. On top of that, there are 2 levels of support. If you purchase APA you will get access to a Discord server where you can ask questions. Other students, Chiara and the AP team will respond based on availability. You will also be able to join our Monthly Community Calls: live calls where we discuss techniques, challenges, ideas and projects. APA and 1:1 support students will get access to all the mentioned above plus 5 hours of 1:1 coaching and mentoring with Chiara, founder and curator of Alternative Processes, to discuss anything regarding printing, art practice development and online presence.
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Is the course taught online? Can I join regardless of where I am?
Yes! The course is pre-recorded, can be watched and re-watched as one pleases at your own pace. For Monthly Community Calls, they will be organised to facilitate multiple timezones and possibly provide 2 time options if needed.
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Can I ask for a refund?
Because of the online nature of the course we do not offer refunds under any circumstances. Please make sure you are 100% committed before enrolling. We are happy to answer any questions you have to make sure APA is the right fit for you beforehand!
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What is Discord? I'm not familiar, will I be able to use it?
Discord is a free communication platform that has become popular for building communities and sharing knowledge. Discord allows users to join servers, which are essentially virtual spaces where people can chat, share information, and collaborate with one another. Within a server there different channels for different topics (each channel will correspond to a process. Discord is easy to use, the platform has a user-friendly interface and it's designed to be intuitive and easy to navigate. Our monthly community calls will be hosted on discord.