Anthotype – AlternativePhotography.com

An anthotype is a historic alternative photographic process invented in the 1840s by Sir John Herschel. Though it’s over 180 years old, many people still practice the art of anthotyping today. Want to learn?

Learn to make anthotypes

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Anthotypes – The Complete Guide to Making Photographs with Plants and Sunlight

Learn this eco-friendly photographic process in the definitive, step-by-step guide – from selecting and preparing plants to creating and preserving beautiful prints made with sunlight. Discover how to make emulsions from pigments in plants, fruits, and flowers, choose the best papers, and print in vibrant colours in the sun. Includes tips on toning and permanence. For beginners and experienced artists:

Expanded technical and chemical explanations
Greater depth across all existing sections
Variables affecting exposure, colour, and permanence
Revised structure based on teaching use and reader feedback
An extended emulsion plant section

Anthotypes – Make photographs using plants

Learn how to make anthotypes. Anthotypes will make you look at plants in a whole new light. It will show you how to make photographs from the juice of flowers, fruits and plants, using a totally environmentally friendly photographic process. This is the only book solely dedicated to teaching the anthotype process, and a great way to learn the anthotype process. Get this one if you are new to the process or want to deepen your knowledge about the process and the history of anthotypes.

“Anthotypes show us just how much early photography is a kind of natural magic. Malin Fabbri’s book is a real gift – a much-needed manual on this beautiful and almost-forgotten process.”
– Dan Estabrook, Artist and educator.

The “Anthotype Emulsions” series is the collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2022 – 2025, and are great reference books for learning more about anthotype emulsions. Each book describes over 100 emulsions. Collect them for inspiration for new emulsions to try, and also read about the artists’ processes. Get one or start collecting them!

“Dedicated artists from all over the world experiment and contribute their valuable discoveries page by page. The beauty is alluring, and the possibilities are endless.”
-Peter J. Blackburn.

Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 3 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2024

Can you really use black beans to print a photograph? What about moss or mushrooms? Discover 135 artists explore plants or pigments to create colourful, eco-friendly prints. This book is the third in the Anthotype Emulsions series and documents artists’ collective research from World Anthotype Day 2024.

Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 2 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2023

Over 130 artists sent in their anthotypes and research notes of prints made from plants, powders or dyes on World Anthotype Day. Anthotype research from 139 artists from all over the globe on more plants, powders and dyes for anthotypes! Whether you are a beginner at the anthotype process or an experienced anthotype artist, this book is an invaluable reference that will save time or provide inspiration.

Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 1 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2022

Over 100 artists sent in their anthotypes and research notes of prints made from plants, powders or dyes covering 60 plants on the first World Anthotype Day. The book covers the collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2022. Anthotype research from over 100 artists from all over the globe on 60 different plants, powders and dyes for anthotypes!

Anthotype notes – Document your anthotype process

A notebook containing pre-defined pages with enough room to document 50 anthotypes. It follows the same format as the World Anthotype Day entry, smoothing the process of entries and contains pre-defined pages with room to document 50 anthotypes – enough for some serious experimenting.
The notebook is free for Supporting Members to print out.

Find anthotype inspiration

Anthotype galleries full with artists sharing their anthotype prints