This beginner friendly class invites exploration and
experimentation, two things that make for exciting photography! During this
workshop you'll learn some of the basics in historical photographic processes
including contact printing vs. enlargements, various materials that can be used
as a substrate, such as paper or cloth, and the specifics of anthotype
printing, which uses natural dyes found in plant materials to create
photographs. Because this is an organic process, every print is unique; the
same plant may produce images that vary in contrast, texture, value, and
intensity. This fluidity makes for an ethereal process that pushes
photographers to rely on instinct and a free spirit.
This mysterious process was discovered early in the history of
photography, but artists and scientists at the time could not find suitable
chemistry that would make the image permanent, an incessant challenge that
plagued much of early photography. In this workshop we will explore color-fast
methods used for hundreds of years in textile dying that are uniquely suited to
this photographic process.
Join
us for an afternoon of exploration and leave with an archival, handmade
specimen book for collecting your own flora, as well as swatches and recipes
for creating your own anthotypes.
