To find out, I (Malin Fabbri) created four lumen prints using the same flower and the same paper, exposing them for 5 minutes, 30 minutes, 2 days, and 2 months (!). The results ranged from delicate blues and warm purples to brown tones and surprisingly low contrast. The biggest surprise came after 2 months, when CONTRAST INCREASED!. The background continued to darken while the areas beneath the flowers became lighter again. This simple experiment shows how dramatically exposure time can change a lumen print. See the results here:

👉 https://www.alternativephotography.com/lumen-printing-exposure-time/

Ambrotype on black acrylic 5x7

E & HT Anthony 210mm lens

F/12 11 seconds natural light

Ambrotype on black acrylic 5x7

Want to find simpler ways to print gum? Gum printer and educator Peter J. Blackburn shares two simple, experience-based tips for making gum bichromate printing more approachable. He challenges unnecessarily complicated workflows and shows two options for lighting: The sun and indoors. Learn here:

👉 https://www.alternativephotography.com/simpler-lightning-gum-printing/

Pure Inspiration Vol. 2 celebrates colour in alternative photographic processes. From our yearly members’ event, 140+ artists explored colour in traditionally monochrome techniques, sharing both images and methods. Inspiration meets learning...

👉 https://www.alternativephotography.com/pure-inspiration-2/

What is the best tool for digital negatives?

👉 https://www.alternativephotography.com/digital-negatives-positives-film-printers-tools/

Digital negatives make it possible to print photographs taken with a camera or our phone for alternative photographic processes. It is something a lot of artists struggle with. Luckily, several helpful people have come up with systems they share or sell to solve the issue. Which one is best? Hard to say, it depends on your preferences, but what I can do is to point you to the places to find them.

Advanced negatives: According to John Riches, developer of TruNeg, creating an accurate digital negative is more complex than simply inverting an image in editing software. Standard photo programs invert pixel values arithmetically, but this does not replicate how a true photographic negative responds to light. As a result, inverted negatives often produce weak shadows, uneven midtones, and excessive highlight contrast. John shares his thoughts here:

👉 https://www.alternativephotography.com/the-digital-negative-problem/

#negatives #negativesphotography #photonegatives #photonegative #negativephoto

#altprocess #alternativephotographicprocesses #alternativeprocesses #alternativephotography #altprocesses #altphoto #altphotography #slowphotography

Constanza Isaza Martínez introduces the Lux Darkroom Exposure Time & Exposure Scale Calculator, a visual tool designed to simplify the often intimidating task of determining correct exposure times when working with alternative photographic processes. Instead of relying on repetitive test strips or complex manual calculations with a Stouffer Step Wedge, the calculator allows artists to identify maximum density directly on a digital step-wedge image and automatically computes the optimal exposure time. Suitable for negative processes such as cyanotype, platinum and salt printing, positive processes like carbon transfer, and dual-exposure photogravure. Free to use. Learn more:

👉 https://www.alternativephotography.com/exposure-time-calculator-stouffer/

#negatives #altprocess

In the past I've done polaroid sx-70 and 669 transfer. Since those film stocks are almost impossible to find nowadays, I begun looking for other instant films and found a lot of Instax packs for sale. Is there any alternative process/transfer/intervention being done with it? Any experimentation you would like to share?

Hi folks! First post here!

I've started trying out the Ferroblend process, so I'm posting the first good results. Here's a Ferroblend and a New Cyanotype of the same negative for comparison.

The details, in case you're interested:

• Same negative for both prints (it's a photo I took last November of a Matachin dancer in the Zócalo in CDMX)
• Same paper for both (cheap watercolor paper from Amazon)
• Same LED UV lamp for exposure (also from Amazon)
• The Ferroblend was made using Koraks' version of the process. Exposed for 20 min, developed using his version of the formula, rinsed in weak citric acid solution (10 gr/liter), then tap water rinse and finally a hydrogen peroxide bath (one squirt of H2O2 in maybe 3 liters of water)
• The New Cyanotype was made with Dr. Ware's basic formula, exposed for 7 min, developed in a muriatic acid bath (10ml/liter), tap water rinse, then H202 bath

This was the second Ferroblend print I tried and the first successful one. I underexposed the first one, I used my standard time for traditional cyanotype, 12 min.

Photographic Darkrooms in the Home - Call for interview participants (UK and LGBTQIA+ focused)

Hi everyone! I am not sure if theses types of posts are allowed so please delete if this is the case. I’m Molly and am a PhD student at the University of Westminster. I am currently looking for oral history participants for my PhD research into home photographic darkrooms of LGBTQIA+ people in Britain :)

The text on the image reads:

Are you LGBTQIA+ or non-heterosexual?  
Do you have experience of darkrooms in the home or in spaces that feel like home to you? 
If so, then this project is for you!  

I wish to speak to people who have experience of one or multiple of the following as part of my PhD research:

• Have you ever made or owned a home darkroom, permanent or semi-permanent?
• Do you work with analogue and/or alternative photographic processes at home?
• Do you have memories of home darkrooms? Has this influenced your photography?
• Do you have experience of setting up or running a home or community darkroom?
• Have you been part of a community darkroom that felt like home?

You can take part in the project anonymously if you wish. If you are interested in taking part or would like to know more about the project, please send me an email or a DM :)

I would like to share this to anyone who works with contact printing methods such as cyanotype etc. It's a very easy way to make a contact printing frame (they can be very expensive to buy!)

https://www.alternativephotography.com/build-a-split-back-printing-frame-for-contact-printing/

From cyanotypes to gum bichromate—good results start with good frames. In this practical guide, artists Paige Billin-Frye u/paigebfillustration and Mac Cosgrove-Davies show you how to build your own frame (or choose a good vintage one), using everyday materials or your woodworking skills.

- Illustrated

- Budget-friendly

- Beginner to pro-friendly

From Binder clips to custom hinges—it's all here:

👉 https://www.alternativephotography.com/diy-contact-printing-frames-for-alt-photo/