Saturdays Online: A little Photographic History

Read About Cyanotypes and Salt Prints.  And my own contribution to the cause, from Mono Lake:

Saturday's On-Line: Popularity of Alternative Processes

With all of the digital around, and the constant drive it seems to "kill" film photography and silver printing, I find it interesting that older photographic processes are in vogue.  Check out my local StudioQ and  the Wet Plate Collodion Process:

http://studioq.com/

These older methods (e.g. Cyanotype, van Dyke, Daguerrotypes, Tintypes, Gum Bichromate +many more.....) are called Alternative Photography.  The classification "alternative processes" speaks to previously standard methods of photography from the 19th Century, that have generally been replaced by silver emulsion film photography. 

Whereas caffenol film developing, plastic cameras, and pinholes are classified as Experimental Photography.  These are methods and processes (with the exception of Pinholes) that did not exist in the 19th Century.

Film and Silver Printing are holding their own, and should at the least be classed in the future with Alternative Processes (i.e. an alternative to digital).

I am a part-time practitioner of Cyanotype and van Dyke, although not as much lately.  But we are in the process of building a UV light source, and then you'll see more beginning this winter.  This is the standard for my Vintage Family Photo Project.

Below: One of our Wedding Photos that I re-printed as an alternative process using Liquid Emulsion.

Best of the Blog!

'Best of the Blog' has been posted on my permanent website.  Selection were based upon the images that received the most comments.  I also did throw in one or two of my personal favorites.

Since Vintage Family Photos proved to be one of the most popular, I add another one here for your consideration:  A Cyanotype Redux of Mom, circa 1959.

The Family Project involves not only preserving vintage family photos, but also reworking some of the best portraits using Alternative Processes.

Celebrating New Blogger Friends and Followers!

We reached the milestone of 25 followers and added a few more Blogger Friends since our last update.

Thanks to all my new photo friends!





Cyanotype contact print. The Original is 8X10 made from a Lith Film negative and lots of sunlight.

Mono Lake, Eastern Sierra, California.

Happy Father's Day 2009

Happy Father's Day to All! Another photo of my Father, from my Family Tree Series. Dad was Policeman back in the 1950's in Cincinnati. But when they started putting "cops in cars" he and his partner (later my God Father) were both very tall and very uncomfortable in those cars. So they both quit and went on to other things.

As with parents and children everywhere, we had ups and downs. But I can look back on my early childhood as a great time of discovery and bonding with my Dad. I believe in preserving the memories of the best of a relationship, even if it turned a little off later on.

Unfortunately we can't all feel that way. Let's try to be positive and not be like this man in England. You know it just doesn't serve anyone to hang on to this type of baggage.

I began the Family Tree Series as part of a Alternative Processes Class taught by Don Anderson at Monterey Peninsula College, California. This is a Cyanotype as was my Memorial Day posting. At some point I will talk a bit about alternative processes, and making those big negatives for contact printing.

Memorial Day 2009

For Memorial Day I'm posting this Cyanotype and van Dyke collage of my father's WW II photos from training and the Italian Campaign.

And remember what Memorial Day really is about; more than just BBQ!