“Ancient Woodland” by Janet Brown
Country: West Sussex, UK
Parts used: Sterile fronds
Amount: Handful
Extracted by: Hand blender
Thinner: Tap water
Application: Brushing
Layers: 5
Substrate: Marrutt Standard Fine Art photography paper
Created with: Photogram of two sterile fronds of Hard Fern
Exposure: 15 days, July/ August, summer 2023
Contrast: ✿✿ (Medium)
Challenges or observations: I enjoyed the challenge of using the same plant as both emulsion and subject, creating a “self-portrait” of it.
Additional information: This Hard Fern is growing in my garden. On researching to identify it, I discovered, after setting the anthotype out, that it had two types of frond. I used two sterile fronds, but it also has fertile fronds which are more delicate. I will repeat with both types, but didn’t have time to do so before this deadline. I also discovered that the Hard Fern is an indicator of ancient woodland, so I am happy to have found it in my very wild garden.
Website: https://janetbrownimages.myportfolio.com/
Fern, hard (Blechnum spicant) anthotype by Janet Brown
This anthotype is part of World Anthotype Day
World Anthotype Day was started by AlternativePhotography.com in 2022. In August anthotype artists all over the world celebrate the anthotype process and send in their entries. We add them here to the database and create a reference book for each year. The purpose of the day is to build a large resource where artist can learn which pigmenets and plants that work and draw inspiration from other artists' work. The reference books can be found here:
Volume 1 is the first book in the series:
Volume 1 contains 60 unique anthotype emulsions from 103 artists taking part from 31 countries.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 1 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2022
Volume 2 is the second book:
Volume 2 contains 100 unique anthotype emulsions from 139 artists taking part from 31 countries.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 2 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2023
If you want to learn more about making anthotypes there is also the "how-to" book:
Make prints using plants - an environmentally safe process!The most comprehensive resource on Anthotypes.
Anthotypes – Explore the darkroom in your garden and make photographs using plants
Rated 9,8 - based on 224 votes
If you are already practising anthotype printing, we suggest making notes to document and learn:
50 pre-defined pages for you to document your anthotype process.
Anthotype notes – Document your anthotype process
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