Digital photography has rendered many old chemical photography techniques obsolete. But there is still a growing interest in some of the oldest chemical photography crafts.
These techniques involve using light-sensitive chemicals. They are captured on a substrate, producing a unique aesthetic. Those cannot be 100% replicated by modern technology.
Cover photo Photo by Alexey Demidov
Anna Shvets
Cyanotype
Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print. It was invented by Sir John Herschel in 1842 and was originally used for scientific purposes.
Cyanotype photography is created by mixing two easily found chemicals. These are ammonium iron (III) citrate and potassium ferricyanide. The mixture is then coated onto paper or fabric and exposed to UV light. The resulting print is a beautiful blue color with a unique texture.
Cyanotype has become popular among artists and photographers. This is due to their ethereal and dreamlike quality. It is often used to create abstract images or to capture the natural world uniquely. Christina Z. Anderson is an American photographer who specializes in cyanotype processes. She creates delicate images that explore memory, loss, and nostalgia.
Lisa Fotios
Salt Print
Salt print is one of the earliest photographic processes, invented by William Henry Fox Talbot in 1839. Salt prints are made by coating paper with a mixture of salt and silver nitrate, which is then exposed to UV light. The resulting print has a warm brown color and a unique texture.
Salt prints are popular among fine art photographers for their soft and delicate quality. They are often used to create images with a vintage feel, such as portraits or landscapes.
British photographer Ellie Young creates beautiful, dreamlike portraits using the salt print process. Her work often explores themes of identity, self-discovery, and femininity.
Hill & Adamson - James Ballantine, Dr George Bell and David Octavius Hill, c. 1844
Albumen Print
Albumen prints were the most common form of photographic printing in the 19th century. They were created by coating paper with egg whites and silver nitrate, which was then exposed to UV light. The resulting print has a warm brown color and a unique texture.
Albumen prints are popular among fine art photographers for their high level of detail and tonal range. They are often used to create portraits or still-life images.
Mark Osterman is an American photographer who specializes in 19th-century photographic processes. This includes albumen printing. He creates stunning landscapes and still lives using this historic process.
John Moran - Limon Bay, High Tide., 1871
Wet Plate Collodion
Wet plate collodion was invented by Frederick Scott Archer in 1851. It involves coating a glass plate with a mixture of collodion, ether, and alcohol, which is then sensitized with silver nitrate. The plate is then exposed to UV light and developed in the darkroom.
Wet plate collodion is popular among photographers for its unique and unpredictable quality. It produces images with a high level of detail and a unique texture.
American photographer Shane Balkowitsch has become a master of the wet plate collodion process. He creates haunting portraits of Native American leaders, artists, and activists.
C Bayliss B Holtermann - North Sydney and Sydney Harbour, 1875
Daguerreotype
The daguerreotype was the first practical photographic process. Louis Daguerre invented it in 1839. It involves creating a reflective image on a silver-coated copper plate. The plate is then exposed to UV light and developed with mercury vapor.
Daguerreotypes are popular among collectors and fine art photographers. This is down to their high level of detail and unique aesthetic. They are often used to create portraits or still-life images.
Takashi Arai is a Japanese photographer who creates contemporary daguerreotypes. His images explore issues of memory, time, and identity. His work often focuses on historical events, such as the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
Nicholas H. Shepard - Abraham Lincoln, 1846