Katherine Thayer

Bob Carnie

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I just spent a few hours going over her posts here on Photrio. Sadly she passed away years ago , but I did have some interaction here , and I can say after chasing the bullet for 9 years now since then I really miss her and would like to point out to all that read this, she was the type of member we should all look up too and try to emulate.
I know if she was alive today I would be her friend and want to share everything I have learned with her.
 

dwross

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Katherine was a wonderful person and a transcendent artist. She got me started in gum printing. She never lost patience and she shared everything she knew. I still miss her.
Thank you for remembering her here.
 

Peter Schrager

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how honorable of you to bring her name up
lest we forget
 

ced

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Her daughter has kept the website going but some things have been lost somehow, I still go back there to re-read some things that she had mastered and so is still a vital source for me.
Attached an image from her daughter (hope she approves) when she was a young photographer & I hope she rests in peace.
Here for those that are not aware of the site (a mine of info) along with some images too.
http://katharinethayer.com/
Thanks & bravo to remind us all that she once graced this forum!
 

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Bob Carnie

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When I read her posts, you can see she was a gentle soul and suffered fools with grace... I had little interaction with her but I always remember her notes on using cleaner separations and the ways
she was doing it... Actually quite ahead of her time and even today I doubt there are many who could grasp some of the things she was speaking of.
Thanks for posting here website, I will look at it, there are a few people that I am helping that will benefit from her notes.

Another one of my heros in Gum was Stephen Livik, I actually met him in my first years at photo-school before he became famous. He was my first year teachers best friend and came from a small community near where I came from.. I actually searched him out two years ago and had a email conversation with him, I think he talked to me because of our early connection. Stephen is no longer making gums, I did not have the heart to ask him why but I do have his notes.

This site has had many wonderful people on it, Sandy King is still a friend and we communicate every 6 months or so, I wish he was here but sadly I doubt he will ever come back..
 

Photo Chemist

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I just finished teaching a chemistry course where the majority of the lab time was spent making alternative process and historic prints Out of the 8 or so prints we made, only 2 did not work: the gum dichromate and diazo prints failed. Once finals start next week, I will be do more research so that they are successful next time. I am planning on looking up some of her old posts here. Thank you for bringing up her name.
 
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Bob Carnie

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You can go to my website as well www.alternativephotoservices.com , under services you scroll down to bottom and I have a PDF on gum printing and pt pd printing...may be helpful
 

himself

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Katherine passed away, or stopped posting before I began working with gum printing and posting. But when I began experimenting with gum printing Katherine's web page was (and still is) immeasurably helpful, and whenever I'm having a problem there is always an answer or suggestion there.

I still come across her old posts when googling information, and I'm always impressed by how willing she was to help others work with what can be a massive pain in the ass process, so I wholeheartedly agree, an excellent role-model and writer.. and I always recommend her page and work to anyone starting in gum printing!

It's a shame that I'll never get to thank her.
 
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Bob Carnie

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I think you just did
 

himself

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I think you just did

yes, I guess you're right : )

and I just read your pdf and it's interesting what you say about humidity, specifically paper shrinkage. Have you noticed that paper continues to shrink even if you've pre-shrunk in an low humid environment?

but maybe it's better to switch this conversation to your multigum thread rather than here : )
 
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Bob Carnie

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I try to keep the humidity around the same for paper when in use so I water the paper , really soak it in reg temp water and from that point on when I am about to use it stays the same size..
 
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