photogram: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare (Technical/Artistic Term)Formal / Technical / Artistic
Quick answer
What does “photogram” mean?
An image created without a camera by placing objects directly on a light-sensitive surface (such as photographic paper) and exposing it to light.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An image created without a camera by placing objects directly on a light-sensitive surface (such as photographic paper) and exposing it to light.
1. (Technical) A photographic record produced by measuring the intensity of light radiation. 2. (Historical/Art) A photographic image made using the technique of camera-less photography.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage between UK and US English.
Connotations
Artistic, experimental, technical, historical (particularly in discussions of early 20th-century avant-garde art).
Frequency
Equally rare in both dialects, confined to technical, artistic, and academic contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “photogram” in a Sentence
[Subject] created/developed/produced a photogram.The [exhibition] features several early [material] photograms.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “photogram” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The artist decided to photogram the leaves for her nature series.
American English
- She learned to photogram various translucent fabrics in her darkroom class.
adjective
British English
- The photogram technique requires a darkroom and photographic paper.
American English
- His photogram work was displayed in the gallery's experimental wing.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in art history, fine art, and photography studies to describe a specific technique.
Everyday
Extremely unlikely to be encountered or used.
Technical
Used in scientific contexts (e.g., photogrammetry's base data) and in photographic art technique manuals.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “photogram”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “photogram”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “photogram”
- Using 'photogram' to mean any photograph.
- Misspelling as 'photograph.'
- Pronouncing it identically to 'photograph.' (Stress is on first syllable: PHO-to-gram).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. A photograph is taken with a camera. A photogram is made by placing objects directly on light-sensitive material and exposing it to light, resulting in a silhouette or shadow image.
Artist Man Ray, who called them 'Rayographs,' and Bauhaus artist László Moholy-Nagy are two of the most famous practitioners.
Strictly speaking, a traditional photogram is an analog, chemical process. However, digital images can mimic the aesthetic style of photograms using software.
A cyanotype is a specific photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. A photogram is a technique (placing objects on paper). You can make a photogram using the cyanotype process.
An image created without a camera by placing objects directly on a light-sensitive surface (such as photographic paper) and exposing it to light.
Photogram is usually formal / technical / artistic in register.
Photogram: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfəʊ.tə.ɡræm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfoʊ.t̬ə.ɡræm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A photogram of memory (poetic/metaphorical use).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: PHOTO (light) + GRAM (something written/drawn). A 'drawing made with light' directly onto paper, no camera needed.
Conceptual Metaphor
A photogram is a fossil of light; it is an indexical trace or shadow of objects.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'photogram' most commonly used?