Anthotypes: First Project

Photograph by SILVINO GONZÁLEZ
Check him out: http://bipolaryourmung.wordpress.com/2010/12/16/anthotypes-update/

Our first topic in class was the anthotype: an image making process developed by Sir John Herschel in the early 1840's. The process paper to be coated with a light-sensitive extract obtained from various organic material, more commonly leaves and berries, and exposing the coated surface to light with a desired image overlay, creating a contact print. The name is derived from the Greek word antho, meaning flower. For the completely exposed surface of the paper, color will bleach away as the sunlight destroys the color of the juice. The covered part of the surface will not be exposed to the UV rays of the sun, and the color will remain, resulting in an image with a positive image. While the exposure takes a long time, the resulting image can be quickly destroyed if exposed to more sunlight, due to the now vulnerable and previously-protected coating.

Lab work: In my class, my team and I created an experiment to test what light sensitive materials: Raspberry or spinach juice; and which binder: water or alcohol; would create the best image when used as a coating for an anthotype.

The process involved 2 coats of light sensitive material on 6 sheets of bristol board, using 6 different coating mixtures:
1. Sheet one was coated with a ratio of 1:1-filtered raspberry juice and distilled water
2. Sheet two was coated with a ratio of 1:1-filtered spinach juice and distilled water
3. Sheet three was coated with a ratio of 1:1-filtered spinach juice and filtered raspberry juice mixture, and distilled water
4. Sheet four was coated with a ratio of 2:1-filtered raspberry juice and alcohol
5. Sheet five was coated with a ratio of 2:1-filtered spinach juice and alcohol
6. Sheet six was coated with a ratio of 2:1 - filtered spinach juice and filteres raspberry juice mixture, and alcohol

7. All sheets were covered in some locations, covering the different coatings
8. Sheets distributed to group members
9. All sheets were set up and places in sunlight for exposure.

I received the sheet coated with 2 parts spinach juice, and 1 part alcohol. I placed a cut-out of a supermodel on to block some light and allow other light to expose the coating. I placed it in a window that gets the most light in my house, and taped a black board behind it to prevent strange reflections through the glass. I hope for an image of a bikini-model within the next few months.

Here is an image of my current set-up:




Hopeful!

Here are some good links to learn more about the anthotype process, and help you make your own:

http://www.alternativephotography.com/wp/processes/anthotypes/anthotype-process

http://193.166.40.90/?cat=18

http://www.f295.org/Pinholeforum/forum/Blah.pl/Blah.pl?m-1187767675/