photomc said:
There are the main stream Alt Processes most of us know like Plt/Pld, CyanoTypes, etc but what are some of the others. Like the Uranotypes that Mateo does, the wet plates Clay and Kerik have been working on, Tin Types.
What is the criteria for a process to fall into the Alt Process category?
Just curious and wonder if any of the Alt Process practioners on this site have ever considered doing an article (hint!
)
I think traditionally a process is considered to be an alternative process when it is a non-commercially manufactured process.
Judy Seigel recently wrote this in the alternative process mail list:
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> Note: It is my understanding that Alt. or Alternative processes came out of
> the phrase 'An altervative process to commercially prepared materials.'
It's used in that sense now, but that's not the origin of the term,
apparently. As explained by Sal Mancini (in Post-Factory #2, page 9), In
1870 '"photography suffered a crisis"... early photographs were fading and
"the delightfully named Royal Fading Committee" was set up by the British
to find ways to produce lasting prints. The answer lay in metals more
stable than silver -- gold, palladium and platininum -- which the
committee termed "alternative photographic processes."'
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There are several books about Alternative Photography that cover most but not all of the historical processes. Also you may be interested in visiting
http://www.alternativephotography.com/ if you haven't already done so.
Don Bryant
