Monday, July 30, 2012

Ziatype Revisited

A few Ziatype prints processed recently. Pure platinum/palladium - pure magic!!!
Garden shed captured with handbuilt pinhole camera on Fuji Acros developed in Caffenol. Window captured with Hasselblad and 80mm Planar on Fuji Acros developed in Pyrocat HD. Enlarged negatives digitally printed. Images printed on Arches Platine with 75% palladium and 25% platinum.

Saturday, July 21, 2012

Lourdes Relics

Relics from the once prospering Catholic mission of Lourdes somewhere between Kokstad, Umzimkhulu and Creighton.
Images captured with Hasselblad SWC on Fuji Acros.

Monday, July 16, 2012

Intaglio Type

I have always been fascinated by the classic photogravure process so popular with early twentieth century fine art photographers. Probably the chief deterrent has been the high toxicity of the chemicals used. The term, "many photographers died for their art", was a literal reference to the demise of many early practitioners who succumbed to chemical poisoning! The fairly recent introduction of photopolymer printing plates has resulted in a "greener" and safer approach to intaglio printing. For the last few months I have explored this as a possible printing alternative for my image making. The learning curve has been steep and has been exacerbated by the fact that some specialist equipment is required - such as vacuum press, UV light source, photopolymer plates, ink, etching paper, enlarged negatives and an etching press!
Plates inked and printed on Fabriano etching paper.