A Gum Bichromate image of a nude female. Alternative Process.
This traditional Gum Bichromate technique was recreated with the help of modern conveniences. Water colour paper is coated with a hand mixed solution which is sensitive to UV light (sunlight). This solution cinsists of gum arabic, dichromate and paint pigment. This is done under red light darkroom conditions and left to dry. A negative print is placed over the area of the paper coated with the solution. They are held tightly in place in a glass printing frame. The frame is placed outside in a bright spot for around 6-7 hours, often the exposure takes two days to allow enough hours of UV light to correctly expose the paper depending on the time of year and strength of sunlight. The negative is removed and the paper with the solution is placed in a water bath of luke warm water face down. The dark areas of the negative will have prevented UV light reaching the solution underneath, similarly, the light areas of the negative will have let UV light reach the solution. This produces a combination of highlight and shadow areas. The unexposed solution (dark areas in the negative) disolve away in the water bath after a few hours. This leaves crisp white highlights and in contrast to the shadow areas, there are a few tonal ranges that can be achieved with practice and with the correct contrast of negative. The final impresion is a possitive permanent photograph, typical of the traditional early first photographs produced.
Size: 3891px × 5542px
Photo credit: © Louise Kerr / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: Yes
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