In our Open blog our bloggers below post interesting work they come across, thoughts and subjects for discussion. Read and comment.
Nancy Breslin
Nancy Breslin works with a variety of techniques, including pinhole, cyanotype and gum, and teaches part-time at the University of Delaware.
Peter J. Blackburn
Peter J. Blackburn is a freelance photographer working in the Dallas, Texas area. For his alternative imagery, Peter chooses to work principally in tricolor with gum and casein bichromate processes.
Elizabeth Graves
Elizabeth Graves is an artist working with cyanotype, vandyke and collodion and a keen experimenter with all sorts of alternative photographic processes.
A Gum Printer’s Nightmare: Paper Potholes
Peter J. Blackburn wrestles with the constant quality changes of art papers and discovers a surprise choice for gum printing. Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn “They are not…
Your Alt Images: They Can’t All Be Good
Peter J. Blackburn gives tips on how to edit your work before showing it to the world. Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn All right, gather them up. Begin…
When Alt Met Lomo
Peter J. Blackburn tells the classic tale of when boy meets toy, of gossamer wings, and love at first sight. It was just one of those things. Writer and photography…
One – Singular Sensation in Every Image You Make
Peter J. Blackburn deviates from the beaten path to briefly affirm the conceptual potential of the single, solitary image. Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn In a few weeks,…
Sublime Memories thesis: Cyanotype on bone
Writer and photography / Alexis Bernstein Alexis Bernstein has written a thesis on the process of Cyanotype Printing and Indigo Dye on the medium of bones. She shares her process…
Rainy Day Activities for the Sun Printer
What’s a sun printer to do when the clouds march in? Peter J. Blackburn provides a few ideas. Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn As a gum printer who…
As Time Goes By: The Changing Allure of Alternative Processes
Peter J. Blackburn’s reflections on brush vs camera… now and then.
Tweaks and Twists: An Update Report to My Gum Printing, Part 2 of 2
Peter J. Blackburn illustrates a time when shifting in reverse was the best way to move forward!
Tweaks and Twists: An Update Report to My Gum Printing, Part 1 of 2
Peter J. Blackburn updates us on his progress with gum printing and his struggles with papers. Writer and photography / Peter J. Blackburn In the five or so years since…
Salt prints to pinhole photography in London
During a recent week in London, Nancy Breslin found lots of photo shows to love.
At the Corcoran Gallery – Taking His Time
Writer and photography / Nancy Breslin Among the work on display by students graduating from the Corcoran School of the Arts & Design are wet plate tintypes by Sebastien Arbona….
Our Art and Images on the Web: An Uneasy Conundrum, Final Thoughts
Peter J. Blackburn offers closing remarks to complete his viewpoint as to the appropriate roles the web should play in promoting our art.
Butterflies in Blue: A Worldwide Adventure
Tasha Lewis, a New York artist has plans to send swarms of cyanotype butterflies around the world.
Our Art and Images on the Web: An Uneasy Conundrum, Part Two
How does putting your images on the web change the way people see them? Here is Peter J. Blackburn’s take on this.
An Afternoon of Alt Photo on Vashon Island
On a visit to Vashon Island, Washington State, Nancy Breslin visits Linda Stemer of blueprintsonfabric and sees demonstrations of wet plate collodion and tintypes by Victoria Anderson.
Our Art and Images on the Web: An Uneasy Conundrum, Part One
Peter J. Blackburn explores the hoodwinking tendencies of technology and the web in relationship to art and the artist.
Making practice your praxis
Peter J. Blackburn argues the case for doing a bit of casual printing in-between more serious alternative process work.
Playful photography on view in New York City
Nancy Breslin visited Manhattan and found lots of experimental photography on view this spring.
Chocolate Polaroids on Display in Delaware
Nancy Breslin reviews a show of Polaroid prints by Bill Wolff.
Fluttering Memories
Nancy Breslin is engaged by memories in the form of cyanotypes, at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, created by Traci Marie Lee.
A camera obscura pilgrimage
Writer and photography / Nancy Breslin A pinhole photographer arranged part of her holiday around the chance to be inside a giant camera. I just returned from a two week…
April: A Month of Pinhole Photography
Nancy Breslin talks about two shows she is having in the month of April, both featuring pinhole photography.
Vintage Prints on View in Delaware and Washington, DC
Nancy Breslin reports that some vintage “alt photo” prints are on view in the mid-Atlantic US this spring.
“Don’t Waste Your Time” and Other Pearls of Academic Wisdom
Peter J. Blackburn invites you to come and eavesdrop on a short conversation reflecting a sad state of affairs in art academia.
Pinhole Photography in Toronto
Nancy Breslin chases down some pinhole photography in Canada and finds some related to the War of 1812.
How “alt” is alt?
Elizabeth Graves on the alt. proc. label on art – loathing it or loving it?
Celebrate pinhole photography!
If you have a pinhole camera, or have been itching to use one, this is a great excuse to take part in pinhole day 2012.
Francesca Woodman’s blueprints
Nancy Breslin visits Francesca Woodman’s exhibition and discovers diazotypes.
Putting the Prolegomenon to Bed
Peter J. Blackburn draws the shade with a few closing remarks and extends a personal invitation to you.
A Prolegomenon for Gum Printers and Other Visual Alchemists: Trying to See What You See in Fringe
Join the discussion as Peter wraps up the series by fighting a border skirmish. Better wear a helmet.
Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery: Thoughts on Faux-Alt-Process Digital Images
Thoughts from Elizabeth Graves on why new digital imaging technology is often used to imitate the appearance of old, chemical photography.
Teaching Winter Session, Week 5
Nancy Breslin is teaching alternative photographic processes at the Uni. Here we can follow her five week course. Week five and the course is finished.
Teaching Winter Session, Week 4
Nancy Breslin is teaching alternative photographic processes at the Uni. Here we can follow her five week course. Week four and the finishing line is approaching.
A Prolegomenon for Gum Printers and Other Visual Alchemists: Last Call for Radicals, Rebels, and Revolutionaries
Peter J. Blackburn reveals that stimulating nine letter word for art and offers a frank discussion as to the implications it evokes.
Teaching Winter Session, Week 3
Nancy Breslin is teaching alternative photographic processes at the Uni. Here we can follow her five week course. Week three had students working with Holgas, cyanotypes and vandyke browns.
Teaching Winter Session, Week 2
Nancy Breslin is teaching alternative photographic processes at the Uni. Here we can follow her five week course. Week two is a bit smoother than week one.
Teaching Winter Session, Week 1
Nancy Breslin is teaching alternative photographic processes at the Uni. Here we can follow her five week course.
A Prolegomenon for Gum Printers and Other Visual Alchemists: Criticism from a Canine Perspective.
Join the discussion with Peter J. Blackburn as he chews on the bone of criticism!
A Prolegomenon for Gum Printers and Other Visual Alchemists: I Gum, But I Don’t iGum
Peter J. Blackburn discusses the concept of sincerity in our work especially as it relates to modern technology.
A Perfect Day (Except for the Clouds)
Nancy Breslin enjoys teaching the cyanotype process, taking a step back from the “easy” digital photos.
A Prolegomenon for Gum Printers and Other Visual Alchemists: Suddenly Vertigo
Peter J. Blackburn discusses the ongoing personal challenges some artists experience throughout the course of their career. This essay is part two of a continuing series. Your responses are appreciated!
A Prolegomenon Series for Gum Printers and Other Visual Alchemists: The Enigma of Why
Peter J. Blackburn tries to figure out why we make images. Please leave your answer at the end of the article!
Entrance through the gift shop?
Nancy Breslin goes to Ireland and London and finds pinholes in the gallery shop rather than on the exhibition wall.
The Legend of Casein: An Epilogue
Some concluding thoughts from Peter J. Blackburn on casein printing and a couple of prints, too!
The Legend of Casein and the Cruel Dragon: A Hero’s Welcome
Peter J. Blackburn writes the conclusion to an autobiographical trilogy telling the tale of how he became acquainted with the casein process.
Another Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day
Nancy Breslin reports from Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day 2011.
The Legend of Casein and the Cruel Dragon: In the Grips of the Beast
The plot thickens as Peter J. Blackburn continues his dramatic trilogy describing how casein became his superhero to the rescue!
AIPAD Shows in NYC
Nancy Breslin reports from the AIPAD shows where she found more than a few gems.
The Legend of Casein and the Cruel Dragon: Dark Horizons
Peter J. Blackburn begins a dramatic and autobiographical trilogy telling the tale of how the casein process came to his rescue!
An app for that… while a darkroom survives
Nancy Breslin continues Peter J. Blackburn’s discussion on the disappearance of the traditional darkroom.
I have a question regarding platunum and palladium printing…
I am using a 4 x 5 pinhole camera, and am curious whether I can put sensitized paper inside camera and develop a direct positive.
This seems reasonable considering nature of UV light and use in normal direct print from negative process.
Thanks