BANANOL:
THE BANANA PEEL DEVELOPER
Banana peels are full of compounds that can reduce silver: tannins, amino acids, and sugars. In this workshop, we use those discarded skins to build a soft-working, biodegradable developer using only citric acid, water, and vitamin C.
It’s a process that leaves no waste—only compostable pulp, and a gentle developer that brings images to life with warmth and slowness.
We’ll cover:
How to extract active compounds from banana peels
How to mix and test a working film or paper developer
How to control the image through pH, dilution, and timing
How to compost the leftovers at the end
Bananol is simple, humble, and open-ended. The results depend on the ripeness, the fruit, the water, and the heat. But the idea remains constant: that even something discarded can hold the power to reveal light. These processes can be applied to still photographic images or to moving image material in any format.
INSTRUCTION: THREE HOURS in 1 Session
SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 6TH - FROM 5 PM - 10 PM
LOCATION: MONO HQ 33 Flatbush Ave, Brooklyn NY 5 min walk from 2, 3, 4, 5, A, C, B, D, N, Q, R, & G trains.
INSTRUCTOR/S: Andrés Pardo of Curioso Lab, Uruguay
Andrés Pardo Piccone is an experimental filmmaker, editor, professor, and researcher based in Montevideo, Uruguay. With over 25 years of experience in film production and post-production, he has worked across documentary, fiction, and experimental cinema. He is the founder of CuriosoLab, a space for exploring sustainable photography and low-impact image-making rooted in everyday environments. His recent work focuses on historical photo processes, alternative chemistry, and the use of local or discarded materials in the film lab. He is the author of Back to Basics and A Guide to Ecological Photo-chemistry, and is currently researching Edward Bach solarization as a way to extract energy for energy-driven developers. His ongoing projects include a critical and philosophical investigation into image-making, sustainability, and the potential of analog practices to rethink our relationship with capitalism, technology, nature, and time.
INCLUDES: THREE HOURS in 1 classroom instruction session. Each participant will have the option to bring in a roll of already captured 35mm or 120 black and white film AND/OR opportunity to film a self portrait of themselves on 16mm when they arrive during session. MONO will supply the Bolex camera, 16mm film stock and lighting studio. The portraits will be used to demonstrate the developers made in class and small sections of each developer will be passed out so that each person has a developed section for their notes. All camera equipment, film stock, chemistry, materials, course packet and safety equipment will be provided.
COURSE CAP: Limited to 12 participants
PRICE: $125 - 185 Sliding scale. In an effort to make the workshops more accessible to the community at large we have introduced a sliding scale option (below) All options are equal to one registration, and your selection will remain private.