Photographers & people

Mono Lake – Black Point, argyrotype, untoned, © Don Nelson 2022

Interview with Don Nelson author of Kallitype, Vandyke Brown, and Argyrotype

Don Nelson has been actively pursuing alternative photographic processes since 1983. He now shares his knowledge in the new book Kallitype, Vandyke Brown and Argyrotype. We interview him to find out more. Writer and photography / Don Nelson What inspired you to write this book? Don Nelson: I have used quite a number of alternative processes since 1984: platinum/palladium, carbon transfer, kallitype, Vandyke brown, argyrotype, salted paper, wet plate, etc. … Read more

Cyanotype in the mail

You’ve got mail! An unusual cyanotype project by Pedro Leal

I received a letter. You know one of those that comes through the mailbox. An undeveloped cyanotype in a transparent envelope. Interview with Pedro Leal about his cyanotype mail project “Time Today”. Photography / Pedro Leal During my 23 years as an editor of AlternativePhotography.com, I have had some unusual things sent to me, and this was one of them. Pedro Leal is doing a project where he coats and … Read more

Richard Bakers van for roadtrip

Kallitypes roadtrip #4 – Leaving the land of cactus and stickers

The 4th and final chapter of Richard E Bakers road trip. Richard E. Baker is on the last leg of the kallitype road trip. He already plans his next getaway and also gives a list of useful tips for fellow adventurers. Follow this series of his 3,000-mile-long road trip across the USA where he will be making kallitypes in his portable lab in his car.  Writer and photography / Richard … Read more

Spiffy Tumbleweeds first camera

Spiffy Tumbleweed and pinholes

An interview with Spiffy Tumbleweed, how he started out pinholing, his cameras and a couple of good hints and tips to pinholers. Spiffy Tumbleweed is probably known to many of you as one of the moderators – and hero – doing the everyday work of moderating the AlternativePhotography.com Facebook group. How did you choose the name Spiffy Tumbleweed? Spiffy Tumbleweed: The name Spiffy Tumbleweed came about in the early days … Read more

Heart 4 Earth: Search for prints

Find (and keep!) anthotype prints from Ana Solo with her Heart 4 Earth project

If you are lucky enough to be in New Zealand on Earth Day this year, don’t hesitate to check out Ana Solo’s Heart 4 Earth project, where you can explore nature, search for anthotype prints (which you get to keep) and listen to nature. Ana, you seem to love Anthotype and Chlorophyll prints, how did you discover these processes? Ana Solo: For the Heart 4 Earth project I wanted to … Read more

Richard Bakers van for roadtrip

Kallitypes roadtrip #3 – In the Land of Rocks

On his second week on the road, Richard extends the rules of composition and talks about fulfilling your dreams whilst travelling through mountains and rock formations. Follow this series of his 3,000-mile-long road trip across the USA where he will be making kallitypes in his portable lab in his car.  Writer and photography / Richard E. Baker Links to all the chapters in the Kallitype Roadtrip: Kallitypes roadtrip #1 – … Read more

Richard Bakers van for roadtrip

Kallitypes roadtrip #2 – “I am off for Indian country”

Ping! In my email inbox is Rickards E. Baker’s second instalment of his Kallitype roadtrip. The email said, “I am off for Indian country”. I wish I was too! Follow this series of his 3,000-mile-long road trip across the USA where he will be making kallitypes in his portable lab in his car. Writer and photography / Richard E. Baker Links to all the chapters in the Kallitype Roadtrip: Kallitypes … Read more

Zrno international alternative photographic processes festival

7 tips for running a festival from the ZRNO alt. proc. photo. festival

ZRNO festival is an international festival of alternative photography held in Macedonia. Sasho Alushevski from Macedonia is one of the organizers for the Zrno festival, which is now running for a second year this summer and shares no less than his 7 top tips for running a festival. Photography / Sasho Alushevski / Sašo Aluševski / Сашо Алушевски, Martina Peneva, Viktorija Machkovska A first question; what does Zrno mean? Sasho … Read more

Richard Bakers van for roadtrip

Kallitypes roadtrip #1 – Preparation for the 4 week trip ahead

Have we not all dreamed about packing up, installing a portable lab and taking off? Richard E. Baker actually does it. Follow this series of his 3,000-mile-long road trip across the USA where he will be making kallitypes in his portable lab in his car. Writer and photography / Richard E. Baker Links to all the chapters in the Kallitype Roadtrip: Kallitypes roadtrip #1 – Preparation for the 4 week … Read more

Illustration from Fiona Robins book Bluest of Blues

Interview with Fiona Robinson author and illustrator of an Anna Atkins children’s book

I came across a beautifully illustrated book called The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the first book of photographs and naturally became intrigued. I wanted to know more and set up an interview with the creator Fiona Robinson. Photography and illustrations / Fiona Robinson Interviewer / Malin Fabbri Why a book on Anna Atkins? Fiona Robinson: I’m an author and illustrator of children’s picture books. Before creating The Bluest … Read more

Portrait of Prof. Dr. Rolf Sachsse

Interview with German author Rolf Sachsse about his book on Anna Atkins

Anna Atkins was a botanist, scientist and the first person to use photography in a book. In 2021 Rolf Sachsse published a book on Anna Atkins called Anna Atkins: Blue Prints. Rolf Sachsse is a professional writer, and mainly writes in German, but the book on Anna Atkins is in both English and German. Photography / Rolf Sachsse What inspired you to write a book on Anna Atkins? Rolf Sachsse: … Read more

Sabina Suru, photographed by Simona Deaconeascu using Sabina's optical contraptions, during the Exposing Movement project, 2017

Interview with Sabina Suru—co-founder of the Allkimik Photographic Association and multimedia artist

Sabina Suru is one of the founders of Allkimik Photographic Association, an NGO based in Romania that focuses on analogue, alternative and experimental photography projects. We find out a lot about both Sabina Suru and Allkimik projects in the answers. Photography / Sabina Suru, Simona Deaconeascu and Alex Spineanu Tell us a little about yourself Sabina Suru: I’m an artist from Romania. I guess I always wanted to be just … Read more

The creation of a cyanotype music video by 3 artists

The creation of a music video made from cyanotypes by the 3 artists: Dan Hermouet, alternative printer, godo yorke, singer and composer and Kotryna Daraškevičiūtė, video artist. The trio made their own negatives and photo-sensitive paper and printed about 7000 cyanotypes with self-made UV light box made from drawers. The prints then were washed in water, snow and immersed in river water, then finally put back into a video. Writer … Read more

Chris G. Smith from Enthusing young minds

Enthusing young minds—an analogue and anthotype photography project

Enthusing young minds gives young people in East Yorkshire the opportunity to experience photography using historic alternative photographic processes and methods. Photography / Chris G. Smith, Megan Doyle, Tanya Riley, Clare Doyle, Izzy Riley and Demi Welham How did the “Enthusing young minds” project start? Chris G. Smith: I am the proud owner of a large collection of vintage cameras. I hate the idea of cameras just being used as … Read more

World Anthoytype Day map

This was Anthotype Day 2022…

The FIRST EVER World Anthotype Day is now over, and I must say it was a success! We really hope you enjoyed it too! 100+ artists (!!!) from 31 countries (!!!) took part. Go make a cup of coffee, and take your time to enjoy all the wonderful work – and explore even more on the videos and links below.   👉 If you can, please help us fund the … Read more

Reels from World Anthotype Day 2022

Artists’ videos from World Anthotype Day 2022… awesome!

During World Anthotype Day 2022 artists were encouraged to send in videos to present themselves and their work. They did. Watch the inspiring anthotype work! 👉 If you subscribe to the anthotype newsletter you will be notified for the next World Anthotype Day. 👉 The anthotype emulsion database 👉 This year’s gallery: 👉 If you can, please help us fund the day for the price of a coffee. Featuring in … Read more

Christina Z. Anderson in her studio

Contemporary Practices in Alternative Process Photography – book series

Christina Z. Anderson is the editor of Routledge‘s book series Contemporary Practices in Alternative Process Photography with so far no less than 9 titles (update: now 11) on alternative photographic processes, and more coming. Malin Fabbri interviews Christina Z. Anderson. Photography / Christina Z. Anderson, Kelly Gorham Between writing books, doing workshops, teaching and printing your own images, how do you find the time to edit 9 books? Christina Z. … Read more

Cyanotype bag from Cyanogifts.

Cyanogifts – The collective behind the cyanotype tote bags

Cyanogifts – a collective from Macedonia – channel their creativity into placing art on everyday objects, like their cyanotype tote bags. How did Cyanogifts start? Cyanogifts was an idea that started from our love for alternative photographic processes. The idea is fairly old, yet, as we say, the star constellations were not adequate to make it happen. “We wanted to place our love and passion for cyanotypes into something practical, … Read more

Ben Garfinkle

Foundation for Photographic Preservation

An interview with Ben Garfinkle, President of the Foundation for Photographic Preservation. FfPP is an online resource for collections with artistic, historic, or cultural values that are in jeopardy of being lost to future generations. What was the original idea of the founder Albert C. Weber (1930-2016)? Al Weber got wind that the entire archive of a good friend of his who had passed, Steve Crouch, was on its way … Read more

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