Solargraphy

Peter de Groot · Aug 6, 2009

Hi,

Last couple of days I have ventured into the exciting world of solargraphy. I used a pinhole camera as described on www.solargraphyGallery.com and hung the cam off my balcony for three days. And this is what I got. Kinda like it.

And this is were it was the last two days:

So the next pic is in the making now. I'll leave it there for at least a week or so.

Regards,

Peter

paul_c5x4 · Aug 6, 2009

Methinks you punched in the wrong URL... Perhaps you meant www.solargraphy.com/ ?

jamesgignac · Aug 6, 2009

Great to hear it Peter! I've been gathering cans and containers to set up a few myself. Looking forward to seeing your next shot!

nickandre · Aug 6, 2009

I think the cool ones were those left for 6 months. They were pretty cool.

crispinuk · Aug 8, 2009

Hello Peter,
I'm guessing that as you haven't mentioned the material used, your (rather fine) solargraph isn't a cyanotype but the blue is just a result of reversing the original paper image ? It has given me the idea of using cyanotype for solargraphs, had anyone tried this ?

Peter de Groot · Aug 9, 2009

@crispinuk I just used a bit of agfa brovira paper. Put it into a prepared filmcase left it out for two days. Then I scanned the image and in photoshop reversed the colours. Then I got this image.

@Tiberiustibz I like the 6 months solargraphs also. Just did have the patience with my first one. And I wanted to see how it works. If the second one is better after a week baking in the sun I will prepare 4 film cans and put them all over Maastricht to let them gather light for a couple of months or so. And I will keep doing the week ones as wel of various places.

@Jamesgignac curious to see pics of you to.

@Paul C5x4 you are right it should be the link you said.

paul_c5x4 · Aug 9, 2009

Would solargraphy work with RA-4 paper ?

Have an (almost) unlimited supply to use up, so might be worth a go.

Peter de Groot · Aug 10, 2009

Hi Paul,

I would have a clue. I just started myself. But I think any black and white paper will do the trick. Just try it out on a sunny day or two sunny days and scan the picture. That'll give you an idea. Haven't heard of ra-4 paper by the way.

paul_c5x4 · Aug 10, 2009

Um.. colour paper (RA-4 is a generic name for the process). Got a whole stack of the stuff to get through and there is only so much I can use for "normal" printing

Peter de Groot · Aug 11, 2009

haha see with paper i am still a bit clueless. just give it a try. I think it should work light sensitive is light sensitive....but I could be wrong here ;-)

sarahfoto · Aug 11, 2009

Oh, thanks for reminding me!!
I had a look at this website and thought to try it but got distracted...
It will be great to see more Peter

- Sarah

Krzys · Aug 12, 2009

paul_c5x4 said:
Would solargraphy work with RA-4 paper ?

Have an (almost) unlimited supply to use up, so might be worth a go.

Try and find out! Please!

paul_c5x4 · Aug 12, 2009

Krzys said:
Try and find out! Please!

Damit, that means having to find a tin and some....

[note to self] 6" Dia coffee tin, 0.45mm Dia pinhole in 0.10mm shim stock.

Peter de Groot · Aug 12, 2009

Ok I have my new pic ready. Just one for a week but have I was just to curious. I have one cam planted in Maastricht somewhere hopefully that one will turn out ok. Too bad it is raining now.
But for now the pic:

Exposure was one week. When I put the photographic paper I just tore a piece of to fit in the film can. Paper is again agfa brovira bn1.

Oh and if anybodyelse want to post their pic in this thread just go ahead.

Contrastique · Aug 15, 2009

Vaguely awesomely weird stuff! Looking forward to your shot from Maastricht. Hope it turns out okay!

Peter de Groot · Aug 15, 2009

thanks. I will keep postimg them.

fiducio · Aug 23, 2009

That's my two day long exposure from my backyard... 7x5 inches.

This stuff is fun, I am going to find inconspicuous places to start doing more of this...

Peter de Groot · Aug 24, 2009

To keep the fun going:

This week I will plant 4 cam's to create new ones.

@fiducio: Nice pic. What kind of paper did you use. And can you show us a pic of you cam? Maybe I will get creative as well since the small pics are not very wel defined. And yours is. And can you tell us what kind of paper you did use? Thanks.

paul_c5x4 · Aug 24, 2009

Quick question for you Peter - It's been nearly two weeks since the coffee tin was loaded with RA4 paper. Do you dunk the paper in fixer, or does it go straight on to the scanner bed ?

adamc · Aug 24, 2009

Paul,
I am very curious to see what your results will be. I have a whole box of expired 8x10 RA-4 paper and no way to print/process it. If the RA-4 works for this process, it seems like the perfect way to use it up.

Please post your results

Adam

Peter de Groot · Aug 25, 2009

Hi Paul,

I put the paper straight into the scanner. I'm not sure what will happen when you do the fixing first. I keep the paper in a light tight box. I'll have to give it a try. I think I might try devolopping as wel. You never know what the results might be.

rwyoung · Aug 25, 2009

Chemical development will make the image go black.

Chemical fixing will fade the image slightly, depending on type of fixer and paper it will fade more or less.

There was some discussion a while back about using a toner first, then fixing.

Peter de Groot · Aug 25, 2009

Yeah I thought I remembered something like that. Let me see if I can find the discussion again.

paul_c5x4 · Aug 25, 2009

Took the sheet of RA-4 out. No image or discernable changes in colour. Dunked it briefly in to fixer, still nothing. Maybe a week in the bin will bring something out.

Reloaded the tin with a sheet of Agfa Brovira and put it back on the windowsill.

Peter de Groot · Aug 25, 2009

Looking forward to it. To bad the ra-4 didi do anything. With the agfe paper you will have succes.

Solargraphy

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