thinking of trying anthotypes

[wilfbiffherb]

hey,

im thinking of giving anthotypes a try cos they look amaizng and fun to do. im just curious as to how you use the film. the general consensus seems to be to use positive film but i only shoot negatives. is it possible to an inverted negative scan onto an a4 transparency and use that? if so i guess it doesnt matter if its black and white or colour? any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Steven L]

I have tried anthotypes a couple of weeks ago. It goes about as fast as the bleaching of a newspaper in the sun. It's a bleaching prosess, so you start with dark shaded paper and sunlight makes the exposed parts lighter. You need an inverted negative with as much contrast as possible. Your a4 transparency is a great way to do this. It doesn't matter if it's b/w or colour, the outcome would be a two toned anthotype.
My experiment with anthotypes didn't work because of two main resons. It was winter. You need as much sunlight as possible, preferebly direct sunlight (or uv light from a solarium). Second, the paint I used was made from dark purple flowers and ordinairy tapwater. Before I could apply several coats of paint, the paint had gone bad. Better is to use alcohol.
Apply the paint as even as possible and keep both paint and paper in a dark place to prevent unwanted exposure. Use paper that can withstand a couple of wet coats of paint. I've found some help on an alternative photography website, but it was just some guidlines. Every anthotype is different.
http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/processes/anthotypes/anthotype-process
My experiment also involved using a anthotype paper instead of film in a DIY large format camera, but it didn't work. The regular anthotype didn't work either, so next summer I'll give it another try.
I'm going to wait untill spring/summer to try again.

 

[cliveh]

Perhaps this may also help -

http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/processes/anthotypes/organic-photography

 

[Steven L]

The website both Cliveh and I mentions, tell you to use a pestle and mortar to crush the flowers. I used a garlic press. Much quicker and easier. Make shure to cover up the workplace and use rubber gloves. The stains the flower sap makes is hard to remove.
I've found it hard to keep the sheet of paper flat after several coats of wet sap. I was thinking about ironing the paper when the painting is done. Not shure if this would affect the anthotype prosess.
I'm not shure if you knew, but anthotypes can't be fixed. After a while, the picture will fade. Keeping it in a dark place can prevent this. You could scan and print, but that takes away some of the magic of creating an anthotype.

 

[wilfbiffherb]

thanks for the advice guys. its getting sunnier over here in the uk so im going to give it a try soon. hope it works!!

 

[Steven L]

It's getting sunnier in the UK? I'm across the pond in the Netherlands. No sun for at least a fortnight, according to the forecast.

 

[wilfbiffherb]

let me rephrase. it WAS getting sunnier in the uk...

 

[JulieM]

I'm also planning on giving this a go in Scotland but i'll need to wait a little longer.

 

[Steven L]

If you can't wait for summer, you can use uv light from a solarium.

 

[Steven L]

Last weekend I made a batch of anhtrotype paper. I used alcohol and purple Anemone. The alcohol is 100% better than water. The paint almost dries instantly and the paper doesn't wrinkle at all. The next couple of days are supposed to be sunny, so I'm going to give it another try. Same as the last time. One paper inside the camera, one paper for refrence with a contact sheet.
I keep you posted.

 

[cliveh]

One paper inside the camera.

A couple of years exposure should do the trick.

 

[EASmithV]

I wonder if you used Gasoline instead of alcohol or distilled water for the anthotype process...

 

[Steven L]

The first try I used tap water. The liquid turned bad in a day, so I could only do one coat on the paper. Second try (this one) is made with alcohol. It doesn't turn bad and it paints better. It also doesn't make the paper wrinkle.
I took a peek at the contact printed paper and it made quite a good print. I'm going to give it one more day, tonight I'm going to unveil contact and camera sheets.
@Cliveh: the camera has a 80mm diameter lens without aperture. I focussed it on a big dark tree with a light background, facing the sun for as much contrast as possible. I don't expect much from it, but that's what the experiment is for. Also, I can't see if it works, without taking the paper out of the camera. When I take it out, I can't replace it on the exact location. So taking it out means end of exposure. I expect to see some light streaks from the sun passing by. We'll see tonight.

#edited# Using gasoline for an experiment? Just for fun? Do you know gasoline costs €1,83 a liter over here?

 

[Steven L]

Contact print worked. With a darker paper to start with and a bit more patience, it could have been a nice print.
Cliveh, you where right. The experiment with the paper in camera didn't work. Nothing happend. Not even streaks of the sun passing by.
I'm definetly going to do some more anthotype contact prints this summer.