Alternative Photography

Alternative photography is becoming very popular these days, as people get bored with conventional methods of taking pictures. Photography enthusiasts are now looking for fun and interesting ways to take pictures and are employing all kinds of methods. Photographs taken using alternative photography are every bit as beautiful as the usual photographs.

• Alternative Photography : Contains a great deal of information about alternative photography.
• Alternative Photography Photographs : Has examples of pictures taken using alternative photography methods.

3-Dimensional Pictures

3D pictures are taken in such a way that it tricks your eye into thinking that object is leaping out at you. Making them can be a bit tricky though. You not only need a camera, you’ll also need actual software for your computer. And of course, you’ll need those 3D glasses!

• Instructions : Has instructions on how to make your own 3-D pictures.
• How To Edit Photos : Provides information on how to edit pictures already taken and made them 3D.

Blueprints/Cyanotypes

Cyanotype is a type of photographic printing process that makes a print comes out cyan-blue. It’s very cheap to make a cyanotype print. All you need is a few types of chemicals, a brush, and a negative image printed on a transparency. You expose the negative over the dried paper that has the chemicals brushed on it, expose it to UV light and then let it dry.

Meanwhile, blueprints are paper-based technical drawings that people use as plans to build or manufacture all kinds of things. Making blueprints will be difficult for anyone not detail-oriented but it can definitely be done. To start, you need a blueprint machine. Then, you must have your drawing completed so that it can be copied in the machine, and then you simply let the machine do its work.

• Cyanotypes : Provides details about the chemistry of cyanotypes.
• Instructions : Gives instructions on how to take cyanotype photographs.
• How To Make Blueprints : Shows you how to make blueprints.

Fake Daguerreotypes

A daguerreotype is an early type of photograph where the image was produced on a silver plate instead of paper. To make a fake daguerreotype, you’ll need a darkroom, silver iodide, and a UV light. Take a picture and get the negative and put it out in the sun on the plate to develop. Then, you will just have to do some minor edits.

• Daguerreotypes : Explains daguerreotypes and how they are used.
• Making A Fake Daguerreotype : Shows how to make a fake Daguerreotype.

Gum Bichromates

Gum bichromate prints are some of the oldest available. Pictures are printed on layers of bichromate gum. To make these, you’ll need artist water pigment, 14 baume gume Arabic solution, pigment, gum and 25% potassium dichromate. Use the Arabic solution to make the gum pigment mixture; add the artist’s watercolor paint, and mix well. Coat some paper with it and let it dry. Expose your print, then place it facedown in cold water. Then you’re done! There are also some variables you can experiment with.

• Technical Aspects : Focuses on gum bichromates. It also explains how different variables affect the process of making pictures.
• How To Use It : Talks about different ways you can make pictures out of gum bichromates.

Manipulating Color

Hand coloring photographs is very popular as well. Before color pictures were available, people had to manually add color to photographs to make them colorful. This is very easy to do even if it is time consuming. All you need is a photograph and the right materials like cotton balls and wax paper – but there are many, many choices of materials so choose carefully!

• How To Hand Color Photographs : Explains how to hand-color photographs.
• What To Use : Discusses the most common materials you can use, and this one has a list of more uncommon ones that have slightly different effects.

High Contrast

High contrast photos are just that – pictures where the contrast level has been raised. Black and white photographs look great, and it’s very easy to do. In fact, it’s most commonly done by uploading the photo to your computer, opening it in image editing software, and then manually adjusting the contrast levels. These pictures have to be printed out using computer ink cartridges. However, it can be done when printing photos as well.

• Black And White Photos : Has stunning examples of black and white photos.
• Tutorial : Explains how to edit pictures already taken so they appear black and white.
• Printing Photos : Shows how to print black and white photos.

Pinhole Cameras

People have also started using pinhole cameras again. A pin-hole camera is basically a light-proof box made with a small hole in one side. Light passes through this point and projects an inverted image on the opposite side of the box. These types of cameras are commonly made from oatmeal boxes, but you can use almost any type of box to make one.

• Making An Oatmeal Box Camera : Instructions on how to make oatmeal box cameras.
• Using Different Box Types : Discusses the different types of boxes you can use to make pinhole cameras.

Photograms

A photogram is a print made by placing something on light sensitive paper to block out sunlight. Blueprint paper is commonly used for this. To make one, you need place an object, like a flower or leaves, onto the light-sensitive paper, and then place it in direct sunlight for 5 minutes. Quickly rinse the paper, and let it dry and you’re done!

• Photograms : Explains the concept of photogram.
• Types of Paper : Shows how to use blueprint paper to make photograms and here, you can learn how to make a photogram .

Photographic Recipes

Developing the pictures you take often requires solutions, which means you need recipes. Depending on the effect you want your pictures to have, the chemicals will be different, so you should check to see which chemicals you’ll need.

• Picture Development Recipes : A few photo recipes you can use.
• Chemicals : Explains different chemicals you will need to use.

Reticulation

In film, reticulation is the process of fracturing the film so that a picture comes out looking like it has cracks in it. It’s a very tricky effect to achieve because film quality has improved so much. Sometimes film exposure to extreme temperature can cause reticulation, but sometimes nothing happens. If you are determined, there are ways to accomplish it.

• Reticulation : Explains the process of reticulation.
• How To Achieve Reticulation : Instructions on how to try and achieve reticulation.

Solarization

Solarization happens when pictures recorded on a negative are wholly or partially reversed in tone. Most image software does this when you select the “negative” setting. It’s very tricky to do without a computer now but it is possible.

• Solarization : Detailed description of solarization.
• How To Achieve It : Shows how to achieve solarization naturally.

Van Dyke Brownprints

Another early process, it was named because of the similarity of the print color to an oil painting of Flemish painter Van Dyck. Making one of these prints requires special solutions as well as careful choice in paper. Once you have that, all you need to do is coat the paper and contact print the image.

• Van Dyke Brownprint Solution : Explains how to mix the solution for making one of these prints.
• How To Contact Print : Discusses the last stage of making a Van Dyke Brownprint.

Using these techniques, you’ll save a ton of money on printer inks and you’ll get some really interesting effects.