Darkroom Contest

This section will be a real printing contest , the first of its kind, where a maximum of thirty printers will be challenged themselves, as musicians in front of a musical score, in printing one negative (the same for all), one of the most complex, from a technical and narrative point of view, done by the photographer Francesco Zizola. The darkroom will be set up in the convent.  Visitors will have the possibility to assist the printers into the darkroom.

The best print, according to the jury, expressed “hundreds” by Luciano Corvaglia, will be back-signed, with a personal dedication, by Francesco Zizola, and this print will be the prize to winner of the contest.

(Click below for Rules and Guidelines)
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Participation is open to everyone without any distinction of sex, age or country of origin.

The Contest

The dark room will be set up inside the former Dominican’s convent in Muro Leccese.

Each participant may submit to the judgment of Luciano Corvaglia all the three printed paper sheets.

The time available in a dark room is 30 minutes. Each participant will be accompanied by a professional who will follow him during the printing process.

How to enter

To enter the contest you must complete and submit the application form below. In response, payment details will be provided. The entry fee for The Darkroom Contest is 50.00 Euro. After the payment, the enrollment will be effective. The payment could be finalized directly in Muro Leccese but, in this case, we do not ensure the availability of the enrollment.

The entry fee will be refunded only in case of excess of participants or the cancellation of the contest.

The evaluation

Luciano Corvaglia assign a score from 1 to 10 for the following parameters:

-  Interpretation of the negative

-  Ability

-  Reading of contrasts

-  Density

Prize

The winner, the one who has made the highest score and at least 36/40, will win his own print.

Francesco Zizola will personally sign, with a dedication, the print.

All other prints will be destroyed.

Before the contest

Upon validation of registration (submission of the application form and payment of the entry fee) you can book the dark room, used for the contest, for exercise and to feel confidence with all the instruments, but with your own negatives. Paper for this sessions is not included in the entry fee.[/toggle]

Application form