"The Women of Foton"

The photochemical industry is a light industry, suitable for women. In the photochemical factory of “Foton” most of the crew were women. They have built the post-war legend of Polish analog photography and the success of the largest producer of paper for black and white and color photography. Chemists, lab technicians, accountants have added their own chapter to the history of Foton. Today they passionately talk about their professional choices, a situation of women in the industry, as well as about love and marriages tied in the photographic darkroom. Her voice is joined by outstanding female photographers — Teresa Gierzyńska, Jolanta Marcolla, and Natalia LL, who worked on Foton materials for several decades.

“It’s a great book that you swallow at once. Lightly written and exquisitely illustrated. The photographic industry does not sound appealing, but the story told from the perspective of women is surprisingly fresh and inspiring”. — an excerpt from Adam Mazur’s review

Małgorzata Czyńska — art historian, exhibition curator, journalist, writer. Scholarship holder of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage. Author of the books: “The most beautiful. Women from pictures, “Kobro. Jump into space”, “Harem metaphysical. Witkacy’s Women”, “Polish House. Meblościanka z pikasami” and the interview with Edward Dwurnik “My Kingdom”. Laureate of the Juliusz Literary Award for the book “Kobro. Jump into space”.

Katarzyna Gębarowska — a lover of old photographs, researcher of the history of photography, curator of photo exhibitions, book publisher, photographer. PhD student at IS PAN, scholarship holder of the Ministry of Culture and National Heritage, Marshal of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, Mayor of the City of Bydgoszcz. The owner of the Farbiarnia Gallery in Bydgoszcz. From 2015, she was the director of the Vintage Photo Festival — the International Festival of Analogue Lovers.