A for enlarger

Behind every photograph on display lies a series of actions, skills, and choices that shape the image. Through an exceptional performance, the printer Diamantino brings the photograph out of the darkroom to reveal all its magic. Before the audience’s eyes, the image appears, unfolds, and comes to life, reminding us that printing is an act of creation in its own right.

This performance is part of the “Almost Complete ABCs of Photography,” a collective project led by the LUX network to mark the bicentennial of photography. For this edition, the Planches Contact Festival has chosen the letter A for “Enlarger,” celebrating this iconic tool that has shaped generations of images and photographers. It is a sensitive and spectacular way to pay tribute to the techniques, crafts, and gestures that continue to breathe life into photography today.