History of Alternative Photographic Processing

Alternative photographic processing is defined as any type of photographic process that falls outside the popular or mainstream processes. Today photographers still typically stick to either color processing or black and white processing, without deviating from the norm. However alternative photographers started using alternative processes such as cyanotype or calotype, which helped their popularity grow.

Resources on alternative photographic processes include:

• The Cyanotype Process : covers the early process and how it’s used today.
• Gum Bichromate Photography : provides information on how this process was used in photography.
• Wet-Plate Photography : gives step by step instructions on developing photography by using wet-plates.
• Photography, Old & New : covers early photography processes that are being used again.
• Make 3D Images : offers tutorial style steps on creating #D images with photography.
• The Calotype Process : gives the materials and apparatuses that individuals need to do this type of process.
• Calotypes : contains a history and examples of calotype photographs.
• The Calotype Process : lists technical information regarding the calotype process.
• Digital Photo Processing : discusses different types of processing involving digital photographs.
• The New Cyanotype Process : examines how cyanotype is used today in modern times.
• Alternative Process Photography : covers the different types of photograph processing considered as alternative.
• Alternative Photography : offers examples of alternative photography, with information on the processes used.
• The Alternative Photographic Process FAQ : lists common questions with answers on these processing types.
• Field Photo Processing : covers the alternative process known as field photo processing.
• Alternative Photo Processing : offers resources on different types of photo processing.

General Safety Guidelines

When a photographer decides to use an alternative form of processing, safety is always a concern. They should take a careful look at all of the chemicals used and follow the guidelines carefully. Any time two harmful chemicals mix, the chances of fire or explosion rise. They also need to protect their skin and eyes by wearing proper protective gear including goggles and gloves. Maintaining ventilation of the room is also important, to protect the lungs from those chemicals.

Equipment and Materials Used

The equipment and materials used depends on the type of processing done by the artist. Generally speaking, they need some type of paper on which the photograph appears permanently. This ranges from the size of a regular photograph to a large artist type canvas. They also need silver nitrate when working with black and white pictures and transparencies when using color images. When working with electronic images and digital photography, they need a processing program and a computer on which to work on the images.

Processes

There are a number of different processes falling under this category. Platinotype, which uses platinum and palladium in the process is one example. Other alternative processes use a type of Iron combined with another element to catch the light in a different way. Examples of other elements include manganese, gold, mercury, copper and silver as well as mercury, which was once popular, but isn’t used today because of its harmful affects on human health. Other processes use gum dichromate and other types of oils to build up different layers in the image. Hand-coloring, where the artists colors in different parts of the image is another example of alternative photographic processing.