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INTRO

The Alternative Print Workshop offers an educational and working environment where artists can learn, create and be inspired!
A wide variety of workshops in Black and White darkroom and historical photographic processes are offered, as well as workshops with renowned artists and craft workshops such as bookbinding, printmaking and paper making.

ABOUT

B & W

B & W

WORKSHOPS
CRAFT

CRAFT

WORKSHOPS
OTHER

OTHER

WORKSHOPS
HISTORICAL

HISTORICAL

WORKSHOPS
ARTIST

ARTIST

WORKSHOPS
SERVICES

SERVICES

ARCANEARCANE

ARCANE

OBLIQUE ADVENTURES Δ THE ALTERNATIVE PRINT WORKSHOP
Matt Suttner, Sly Creative

I’ve always taken great pains to tell people that despite often walking around with a camera, I do not consider myself to be a photographer. I say this for two reasons; the first is that I know real photographers. I’m talking about the real deal, people who take photos for a living, people who you might say… the f-stops with them. So having had the privilege of working with people who have actually perfected this art, I would never dream of calling myself the ‘p word’ without adding some blood sweat and tears to my level of experience. The second reason I don’t call myself a photographer is quite simply because it’s much easier not to.

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  • B & W

    Darkroom Workshops include Pinhole, Black and White Foundation, Lith Printing, Black and White Master Printing and Adventures in Pinhole.


  • HISTORICAL

    19th Century photographic processes include Cyanotype, Advanced Cyanotype, Van Dyke Brown, Gumoil and Salt Paper Workshops.


  • ARTIST

    Workshops with artists Roger Ballen and Francki Burger.





  • CRAFT

    Craft Workshops include Bookbinding, Linocut, Drypoint on Copper, Hardground & Aquatint, and Intro to Hand Papermaking.


  • OTHER

    Other Workshops include Corporate Team Building, Educator and Teen workshops.



  • Dennis da Silva

    Decades of hands-on experience in all forms of processing and printing, including the highly respected Kodak Dye Transfer, means Dennis is able to draw on a great wealth of photographic printing knowledge. Today he is known as a master black and white hand printer and continues to print for photographers, artists, collectors, galleries and museums around the world. In 2008 he was presented with the Sony Profoto Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to photography.

    “The intrinsic beauty of a Black & White hand print is a language of senses, viewing the print provides a sensual experience that defies verbal description.”

    For many years Dennis was on the advisory committee for a previously disadvantaged photographic school, the Market Photo Workshop. He holds an Honorary Fellowship from the Professional Photographers of South Africa (PPSA) and is on the management team of the South African Professional Photographers (SAPP), serving as the Facilitator of Accreditation and Judging. Dennis has been a judicator in many prestigious photographic awards both locally and internationally, including the prestigious Sony Photographic Awards.

  • Janus Boshoff

    Janus is the co-founder of The Alternative Print Workshop and an accomplished photographer and darkroom printer in his own right.
    Since 2014 he has been manufacturing darkroom and historical process chemistry for the Sub-Saharan continent. He taught photography full-time at Vega School and City Varsity, part-time at the Vaal University of Technology, and has lectured at most universities and colleges in South Africa.

    “Throw a few pieces of glass, screws, silver, chemicals, light and buckets full of creativity in a cauldron. The result? Photography: a beautiful and alchemical fusion of art and science.”

    Presently he is devoting most of his time at the APW as well as completing his MA in History of Art at the University of the Witwatersrand. He holds an Advanced Diploma in Higher Education (UFS), B-Tech Photography (VUT) and a hons degree in History of Art (Wits). He is on the advisory committee at the Bensusan Museum of Photography, and is on the management team of the South African Professional Photographers (SAPP), serving as the Manager of Education.

workshop Testimonials

  • “I recently completed two courses with these two masters of the photographic process; a refresher course in B&W printing and a Master Course in B&W printing. After my long absence from the darkroom I really needed help and it was provided in the most professional and friendly way by Dennis and Janus. I am honoured to have learned from such a well-known and respected master printer as Dennis da Silva. He teaches with patience and understanding and determination. You cannot fail under Dennis’s tuition. Technique and artistic appreciation move in long bounds during these weekend courses. They are very well managed and the venue is well equipped and comfortable. Communications with the students is excellent and advice is always available long after the courses are over. Thank you guys.”

    René Paul Gosselin
    www.gosselin.co.za
  • “I really enjoyed the workshop with Roger Ballen. Thank you for making it possible to learn from such a world-class artist. I am looking forward to be part of APW’s future projects.”

    Marina Louw
    www.marinalouwart.co.za
  • “Dennis and Janus are some of the most sincere people I have ever met and their passion for alternative photography is contagious. Their workshops transfer me into a wonderful world of alchemy, light and artistic vision where I can develop my skills and ideas. I highly recommend their workshops not only to professionals but also to people who simply want to experience something magical. Their knowledge about traditional photographic processes is incredible and I thank them from the bottom of my heart for keeping this art form alive!”

    Karolina Rupp
    www.karolinarupp.com
  • “Always an amazing experience! Dennis and Janus are great guys and great teachers. Highly recommended!”

    Corne van Driel
    www.vandrielmedia.com
  • BLACK AND WHITE FOUNDATION WORKSHOP
    “The Black & White Foundation is a highly recommended course with awesome guys presenting it! If you love photography you’ll have a blast and end up with beautiful printed film pics. Just do it!”

    Rina Noto
  • BLACK AND WHITE FOUNDATION WORKSHOP
    “Dennis’ and Janus’ expertise and sense of fun made this an amazing workshop! Now I shoot primarily on 35mm film thanks to them.”

    Gordon Massie
    www.artinsure.co.za
  • BLACK AND WHITE FOUNDATION WORKSHOP
    “A wonderful space brimming with creativity and ideas.”

    Nelly Thompson
  • VARIOUS WORKSHOPS
    “Amazing Workshop with great people…… learnt so much.”

    Mandy da Silva
  • VARIOUS WORKSHOPS
    “I am a businessman with limited artistic ability, but over the years photography has given me a means to express the frustrated artist within me. Attending numerous of the Alternative Print Workshop courses, I have found this to be the ideal environment to take this artistic expression to the next level. Under the guidance of both Dennis and Janus I have improved my basic photographic skills and learnt numerous alternative processes. After each workshop I walk away with a sense that I have produced images that I would be proud to refer to as my own work. The workshops are always a time for me to put aside all other issues and focus on the art of the image, time flies and before I know it the day is over. Well done Dennis and Janus for developing something totally unique, you are both an inspiration.”

    David O’Brien
  • CORPORATE AND TEAM BUILDING WORKSHOPS
    “When taking the plunge and doing something out of your comfort zone, you couldn’t ask for better mentors than Janus and Dennis. Aside from being all-round nice guys, they’re more committed to the art and science of their craft than anyone I’ve never met. Darkroom development and printing can be a finicky and long process and we were blown away with the care and patience the APW guys showed when helping us get the perfect prints of our afternoon’s pursuits.”

    Matt Suttner – Sly Creative
    www.sly.co.za
  • CORPORATE AND TEAM BUILDING WORKSHOPS
    “Over the last two years we have twice taken our team for a day of creativity with Janus and Denis. The workshops have proven to be a great catalyst for team creative development as we built pinhole cameras, made cyanotypes and developed black and white film. The difference to many workshops is the guidance we received from two of the country’s leading experts whilst having enormous fun. We will be back.”

    Gordon Massie – ArtInsure
    www.artinsure.co.za
  • CORPORATE AND TEAM BUILDING WORKSHOPS
    “As part of creative inspiration, my senior creative leaders and myself attended Dennis da Silva’s Cyanotype workshop. It was a highly inspirational creative team building exercise, which left us with so much more, including our very own artistic prints!”

    Pepe Marais – Joe Public
    www.joepublic.co.za
  • CORPORATE AND TEAM BUILDING WORKSHOPS
    “I wanted to thank Janus and Dennis for the fantastic experience that my children and I had at a Cyanotype workshop. Not only was it fascinating and fun but I was blown away by the wonderful way in which both of you interacted with the children. As a teacher I have had a lot of experience with people working with children on outings etc. I felt that you inspired the children, treated them with respect and handled all the interactions in a positive and very constructive manner. You were gentle and set positive boundaries, allowing the children to explore and experience the medium. The workshop was well-structured and provided opportunities for meaningful learning and exploration. Your passion for what you do is clear and it carries over into an amazing workshop that was enjoyable for everyone, relaxing for me and a valuable learning experience on so many different levels. Thank you both and keep on doing what you do.”

    Catherine Cuff
    (School Testimonial)
  • CORPORATE AND TEAM BUILDING WORKSHOPS
    “Janus travelled to Pretoria to do two workshops with my senior Art students. They had a lot of fun learning about cyanotypes in the one workshop and pinhole camera work in the other. It was a creative way to introduce varied photographic and print principles to them. In the Pinhole Camera workshop the students each made a camera under the guidance of Janus. They took shots and developed film and made prints. In both workshops the students learnt sufficient background theory to position the techniques within a broader context and they learnt about the application of these principles in contemporary practises throughout the world. Both workshops were invaluable from the point of view that the students were not working digitally, instead they had to consider things like light and exposure time, they had to measure chemical ratios, build their own camera’s from scratch, consider depth of field and composition, work in a darkroom with low light, take time to plan and make decisions, work with their hands, and much more. Going back to basics like this was an excellent catalyst for the students as they learnt enough to get them going on a pathway of discovery. Janus was an excellent mentor and has a way of bringing out the best in each one of them!”

    Jane Knight
    (School Testimonial)
  • PRINTING WORKSHOPS
    “Photographers around the world will attest to the fact that whilst the starting point for any great photograph is an image well taken behind the lens, a great deal of the success of that image does and will always depend on the ability of the printer to interpret the image faithfully and in so doing to reveal its truth and inner beauty. Whilst it is difficult to say something about Dennis da Silva that has not already been said I can say this: It is one thing to recognise the genius of legendary figure after they have moved on, but quite another to live in the presence of one. For me Dennis da Silva is that rarest of beings: a master craftsmen and a legend in his own time. His generosity, skill, and knowledge are unparalleled and it is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to have Dennis work on my images and in so doing to reveal their true potential not only to me but to the world at large!”

    John Ferraz
  • PRINTING WORKSHOPS
    “Everything Dennis Da Silva executes is done with 1st World skill and quality.”

    Harry De Zitter
    www.dezitter.com
  • PRINTING WORKSHOPS
    “Dennis Da Silva has been my sole hand printer since 1982. He is a master black and white printer, one of the best in the world.”

    Roger Ballen
    www.rogerballen.com
  • PRINTING WORKSHOPS
    “I have known Dennis Da Silva for about 30 years. I can safely say that he is one of the most talented and skilled hand printers in South Africa. His professional expertise and attention to detail make it a pleasure for me to work with Dennis.”

    Jurgen Schadeberg
    www.jurgenschadeberg.com
  • PRINTING WORKSHOPS
    “Dennis da Silva has helped countless South African photographers and guided many to successful careers. At the age of 65 he has become a master black and white hand printer. His prints are housed in museums, galleries and private collections around the world.”

    Garth Meyer
    www.garth-meyer.com
  • PRINTING WORKSHOPS
    “I have been relying on Dennis’ expertise and advice for more than 2 decades. His services and reliability are unsurpassed.”

    Horst Klemm
    www.horstklemm.com
  • PRINTING WORKSHOPS
    “I have known Dennis da Silva for most of my career. He has been a consistent friend and mentor as well as THE standard for both black and white and color printing. In my career I have been fortunate to work all over the world and have access to many good craftsmen in the photographic world. No one has ever cared more about my final product than Dennis. No one has been more humble about their vast understanding of how to make the perfect print. He has consistently made me look better than I am and he has done that with ease and grace even when pushed into impossible deadlines. For me he is my first choice when I think of museum printing.”

    Brent Stirton
    www.brentstirton.com
  • PRINTING WORKSHOPS
    “I have used the Services of Dennis da Silva from since 1981. Dennis, then working for Beith Process, handled all my colour and black and white processing, which included E6 and C41 processes. I hold his expertise and knowledge in highest regard, and would recommend him to any and every prospective client. There is no other laboratory in the Southern hemisphere that can match his quality of black and white printing.”

    Pieter De Ras
    www.photoderas.com
  • “The Alternative Print Workshop inspires creativity for all ages and levels and offers new techniques to incorporate in your art. Refine your knowledge on photography and have some fun while doing it!”

    Adele Prins
  • “Met Dennis and Janus today. Awesome workshop they have. A space where you go back in time… Thank you for all the info Janus. Thank you Dennis for the ‘Blast of the Past ‘ chat we had. O! The coffee was lekker Thanx”

    Marius Henning
  • “They are an awesome team and my children learnt so much! What a beautiful space and great learning experience!!!”

    Ella Brettschneider
  • “Rewarding time at the studio! True genuine people and expert! Thanks a million”

    Anne Laure Gauret

  • “Truly special experience by an awesome team!”

    Craig Barendsen