Alt Print Exchange Round 8, October 2008

[Anke Drewitz]

Thanks to Mario

Received this wonderfull presented Albumen print from Mario. I see this rather as a very delicate painting on finest china bone or eggshell the technique corresponds very well with the image.

Thanks to all in this very exciting round, that got me a feeling to two new to me processes.

Wish you all a very nice time next weeks and a good start into the next year with new ideas and well made prints,
Anke

 

[colrehogan]

I received Mario's print yesterday. I had never seen a salt print before. Did you post any details here as to exposure or printing, Mario?

 

[mario]

Diane,
Here is a bit of technical info on the print. Hand separated organic eggs, whites only (a bit of a job, just found out you can buy that stuff already separated, yes! More time to print), in runs down you elbows. So egg whites, salt, glacial acetic acid, let it age for a few weeks. So far it seems that the older the solution the better, this batch was a few month old. I double coat the paper, so I have to steam it after the first coat. The paper is floated in the albumen solution a few minutes dried, steamed, floated and dried again. I like to age the paper a few months, but I not sure what it does to it. The silver nitrate is coated by brush in two separate applications and let to dry in between applications. Exposure during the winter months are done with four actinic fluorescent tubes 12 inches from the contact frames for about 45 minutes. During the summer I use the big free light in the sky, and the exposure are a lot shorter. The prints are washed, fixed and toned in selenium and sometime gold. You might have notice that your print is a bit on the dark side,that is due to the heat. The paper was a bit curly so I place it in a heat press, so the highlights get a bit yellow. I called that the “fried egg” syndrome, my newest print were pressed down with just heavy weight and did seem to get as dark… still learning.
If you get the coating just right, it’s the most beautiful printing out paper you will ever see.
Mario

 

[mario]

Thanks Anke
Mario

 

[mario]

Hello Fred,
Two coats with a bit a steam is the secret to the gloss. Its almost the same as a salted print but the image sits in the emulsion like silver gelatin; the salted print sits in the paper so you see a matt paper texture.
Mario

 

[mario]

Hey Carl,
Albumen is really easy compare to your wet plates; could be a good combination coolodion glass plare with albumen print. I think that your negs would have the right range for albumen.
Mario

 

[philldresser]

Guys, again my humble apologies but I still have not got round to my images yet. The DIY is finished (that project anyway) so I can now get to it. Will post as soon as ready

Regards

Phill

 

[gr82bart]

Guys,

I have to own up as a deadbeat. I have been traveling and dealing with a small personal isue over the past few months. Everyone I need to send a print to will get a print. Really.

Regards, Art.

 

[Anupam Basu]

I was pleasantly surprised today to receive a beautiful cyanotype from Art for this round. Thanks a lot.

Group 2

Phill - philldresser (I)
*Cara - Cara (I)
*Art - gr82bart (B)
Jeff - jbannow (B)
*Anupam - Anupam Basu (I)