Anthotypes

Of all the processes I initially learned, anthotypes were the ones I struggled with the most. While I enjoyed the process, the biggest issue I had was with coating the paper. Anthotypes are based on the principle of using natural materials for your emulsion. The easiest to use was a combination of turmeric with isopropyl alcohol. The two ingredients are combined then strained into a light-proof container. When ready to use, a small amount is poured into a separate container and brushed onto the substrate with a cellulose brush. The paper must be coated evenly otherwise streaks or spots will appear in your prints.  Beets or blackberries can also be used for a solution, though they take considerably longer to expose than the turmeric. For this process, you need to print your image on acetate, but printed as a positive as the sun breaks down the exposed areas, leaving a positive image behind. Once your image has been properly exposed, you submerge it in a bath of borax dissolved in warm water. The borax reacts with the turmeric to help fix the image, though it is not a permanent fix. Like lumen prints, anthotypes will continue to fade and degrade, but unlike lumen prints you cannot fix these. Using turmeric gives you an image that has a really nice sepia tone to it, whereas beets and blackberries give you a nice soft pink/red tone.

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Manassas Town Hall Cupola

Old Manassas Post Office

Hibbs & Giddings Clothier

Annaburg, home of Robert Portner

Annaburg, abandoned (c. 1950-1960). 

Though this is a terrible print for many reasons, I thought that the scratches, blotches, and Borax crystallization spots actually added a really cool touch to it given the subject matter.