Denise Ross

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Denise Ross is an artist, photographic processes researcher, and naturalist. She was collecting ‘nature stuff’ and making watercolor illustrations before she could read.
From: USA.
Shows: Silvergum and silver gelatin.


Denise Ross has been a photographer for forty years. She has worked as a commercial photographer and scientific photographer, a custom B&W printer, and as a retouching artist for what was at the time a world-renowned photofinishing lab.

Thirty years ago, halfway through an MFA in photography, Denise switched tracks and earned a master’s degree in Botany. Until ten years ago, when she started making emulsions, science and art had always played tug-a- war for time and attention. Emulsion making and research united two loves into a happy whole.

Denise is the editor and Chief Cook & Bottle Washer at The Light Farm, a web resource since 2008, dedicated the renaissance of handmade silver gelatin emulsions – dry plate, paper, and film.

Denise is author of “The Light Farm, Handmade Silver Gelatin Emulsions – Dry Plate, Paper, and Film, Volume 1: The Basics.” She is currently working on “TLF, Volume 2: Beyond Basics.”

“Something irreplaceable will be lost if we allow the tactile knowledge of historical photographic processes to slip away. It would be like losing a language.”

Contact

  • Email: editor (at) thelightfarm.com
  • Website

More about Denise:
Articles by Denise

Denise Ross is featured in:

 
 
 
Learn more about Liquid emulsion and Silver gelatins
Silver Gelatin: A User’s Guide to Liquid Photographic Emulsions

Silver Gelatin: A User’s Guide to Liquid Photographic Emulsions

by Martin Reed, Sarah Jones

A practical art book illustrating the use of liquid photographic emulsion.
 

The Handmade Silver Gelatin Emulsion Print: Creating Your Own Liquid Emulsions for Black & White Paper

The Handmade Silver Gelatin Emulsion Print: Creating Your Own Liquid Emulsions for Black & White Paper

by Denise Ross

A cookbook of simple, basic recipes for making black and white printing paper and paper negatives.
Looking for a good paper to use?
The Massive Paper Chart thumb

The Massive Paper chart

by Christina Z. Anderson

85+ papers tested in the argyrotype, chrysotype, cyanotype, palladium, salted paper and vandyke brown process.
 
Pure Inspiration = A cross between learning and inspiration
Pure Inspiration volume 2: Colour

Pure Inspiration #2: COLOUR

by Malin Fabbri

Discover how 140+ artists bring colour to traditionally monochrome processes. This book explores pigments, chemistry, layering, and experimentation through real working examples. Combines inspiration and learning!
 

Pure Inspiration volume 1

Pure Inspiration #1: COMPOSITES

by Malin Fabbri

A fusion of moments and visions from artists working in alternative photographic processes – featuring 90+ inspirational alternative photographic processes images. Highly creative!
 
Our 25th anniversary book
Art and Artists edition 2

Alternative Photography: Art and Artists, Edition 2

by Malin Fabbri

Step into a world where light, chemistry, and creativity collide. 137 artists push the boundaries of alternative photography, with processes like cyanotype, gum, and platinum printing to create unique, handcrafted images. They showcase their work, insights, and inspiration.
 

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