Pure Inspiration emerged unexpectedly from our Calendar & Journal event. The idea stemmed from a desire to preserve the beauty of entries beyond the year’s end. The theme, Composites, encouraged experimentation, resulting in stunning artworks that blended multiple techniques that seemed to spark creativity. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a newcomer, this book will inspire you to explore alternative photography and unleash your own creativity.
“Pure Inspiration, is refreshingly accessible, telling us in easy to understand terms about the artist and how the images are done without getting into the technical details of process. We learn a little about each artist and their motivations – just enough to pique our interest and inspire us to learn more.”
| $24.00 | Download eBook (PDF) directly. | |
| $34.00 | Best paperback option. | Buy from Lulu Print quality is better than Amazon. ($34 / €30 / 52 AUD / £30 / 46 CAD) |
| $42.00 | Paperback from Amazon. | Buy from Amazon.com More marketplaces: UK Germany France Spain Italy Netherlands Poland Sweden Canada Australia |
| $42.00 | Best hardback option. | Buy from Lulu Print quality is better than Amazon. ($42 / €37 / 68 AUD / £32 / 60 CAD) |
In which format is the eBook?
Said about “Pure Inspiration, volume 1: Composites – A fusion of moments and visions from artists working in alternative photographic processes”:
“This book is a collection that encourages experimentation, showcasing stunning artworks that blend multiple techniques. Whether you’re a seasoned artist or a newcomer, this book will inspire you to explore alternative photography techniques and unleash your creativity.”
About the book
Pure Inspiration #1 is a cross between an inspirational coffee table book and an instructional book. It explores what happens when you mix two or more techniques and cross an alternative phtotographic technique with something else, in a creative synergy. It showcases the best works from artists at the AlternativePhotography.com. The theme, “Composites”, sparked experimentation and innovation, encouraging artists to merge multiple alternative photographic techniques into single, striking artworks.
The result is a vibrant collection that celebrates creativity, craftsmanship, and the joy of pushing artistic boundaries. Whether you’re an established artist or simply curious, Pure Inspiration #1 offers a glimpse into a world where vision and process intertwine—and an invitation to explore your own creative journey.
From the editor
This book was never meant to be. It all started as a Calendar & Journal event, for the second year running and gorgeous calendars and journals were made. I also truly enjoyed using the previous year’s Anna Atkins tribute calendar and journal but once the year comes to an end December is over, I know they will end up in a drawer out of sight. I felt something was missing. As the entries for this year’s event kept pouring in, each image something to marvel over, I knew I had to do more. I wanted to keep them all close by.
The theme of this year’s event Composites is a reflection of the joy in experimentation, and of taking a step back from the art and creating something different. The theme was selected by the artists themselves and they all seemed eager to experiment. And they did.
I was in awe looking at this year’s entries for the event, and how the artists stretched the boundaries, both in their creative visions and technically, combining two or sometimes three or four techniques into one piece of art. The visions complimented the techniques, and the techniques enhanced their vision. It was Pure Inspiration. I wanted to keep them all. And I wanted the world to see them all. That is how this book came to be. /Malin Fabbri, editor
Reviews
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- Read the review in the Hand Magazine #46 by Adam Finkelston
- Read the review in ICM Photography Magazine by Stephanie Johnson
“For artists, Pure Inspiration, offers new ideas, new approaches, and encouragement to try new techniques – to push beyond the obvious and into exploratory spaces. For enthusiasts, the book offers a window into the mind of an artist and just enough “shop-talk” to get an idea of how the images are made. I can’t recommend this book highly enough.”
“The outro for the book claims the book shows the creative potential of blending different elements, ideas, and techniques into visually striking compositions, and it certainly does deliver on that claim. The images featured in the book reveal how the artists were able to use a tangible, tactile, hands-on process.”
“While the pages of the book are filled with the amazing artistry of nearly 100 artists from around the world, it also serves as a tool for teaching.”
Formats:
- Page Count: 110 pages
- Interior Color: Color
- Cover Finish: Glossy
- Publisher: AlternativePhotography.com (2024)
- Paperback format on Amazon Kindle: 20.3 x 25.4 cm or 8×10 inches
- Paperback format on Lulu: 8,5×11 inches or 21.6 x 27.9 cm
- E-book format here on AlternativePhotography.com: PDF, 8×10 inches or 20.3 x 25.4 cm
The inside
On each spread, there are two artists represented with a description of how the images was made and the artist’s bio.
“Before Pure Inspiration, Volume 1, I was primarily focused on making ‘good’ kallitypes and occasionally hand colouring them, when the subject seemed to benefit. But I was not otherwise doing anything wildly ‘creative’ or ‘imaginative’. But with the Pure Inspiration ‘Composites’ prompt in 2025, I started to think differently, and now I am constantly thinking about the million directions I can take any of my works, and how I can print numerous ‘base’ kallitypes for use with collages, embroidery, etc. I find the book such great inspiration.”
“This book is a treasure trove of inspirational imagery, techniques, and processes. In addition to the cyanotypes, which I have already been creating myself, there is a wide range of other alternative processes that intrigue me, and this book provides a glimpse into the infinite possibilities for artistic expression.”
Artists included
Inspirational alternative photographic process work from:
- David Aimone, USA. Five Trees, Sao Miguel.
- John Ansell, Australia. Eyes in the Forest.
- Bridget Arnold, UK. Alliums Collage.
- Ilze Aviks, USA. Spring.
- Carmen Ayala, Spain. Granada.
- Francis Baker, USA. Atmospheric Microplastic.
- Helene Barrette, Canada. Daisies.
- Laurinda Bellew, UK. First Light.
- Mona Benediktsson, Norway. Friends in the forest.
- Muffin Bernstein, USA. Swallowtail with Dandelion.
- Paige Billin-Frye, USA. Takamaa.
- Eva Botofte, Denmark. Vertical City.
- Lisa Brussell, USA, Caged Bird.
- Rebecca Bruyn, USA. The Inside-Outside Light.
- Leah Campbell, USA. Floating Forest.
- Carolina Carmini, Brazil. Outras paisagens.
- Manuel Castañeda, Mexico, Manhattan Smiles.
- Susan Chainey, USA. Packin’ My Blues.
- Rebecca Clark, USA. Evoke.
- Gabriele Coassin, Italy. Double ivies, Yin & Yang.
- Wendy Currie, Australia. Potato digger’s hut.
- Nadine Defranoux, USA and France. Survive.
- Kaye Dixon, Australia. First Fleet Botanica
- Florence Duesterbeck, Canada. Awareness Leads to Prevention (Dutch Elm Disease).
- Marian Fannon Christian, UK. Fly Me To The Moon. SORT ON F OR C?
- Malin Fabbri, Sweden. Awaiting spring.
- Emmanuelle Ferron, France. Bloon.
- Janet Fine, USA. Crawl.
- Richelle Forsey, Canada, Have Hold Hide (vessel #4)
- Nathan Foster, USA. The Doctor Will See You Now.
- Larz Grenier, USA. Landscape.
- Anne Guest, UK. Flamboyant flight.
- Teresa Guxens, Spain. Looking back.
- Toni Harris, Australia. Dieu.
- Kimberly Hart, USA. On a Clear Day.
- Amy Heller, USA. Starry Eyes.
- Sharlene Holliday, USA. Under The Sea.
- Claudia Hollister, USA. Muse in Spring.
- Carolyn Hope, New Zealand. Calathea in Brass Pot.
- Jo Howell, UK. Spectrum.
- Dennis Humphrey, Canada. Last(ing) impressions.
- Bernd Hutschenreuther, Germany. Leaf and forms.
- Sherry Insley, USA. Shark Bait.
- Suzanne Izzo, USA. The Golden Gate Meets the Art Museum.
- Alessandro Jazeolla, Italy. A season in Rome.
- Margrieta Jeltema, Italy. Snowdrops.
- David Jeffery, London, UK / Sweden. Beneath the Surface.
- Jude Kaye, USA. Complex Dahlia Mirrors Tiffany Dome.
- Christine Kashuba, Canada. Reckless Abandon.
- Gab Kiess, Berlin, Germany. White cubes.
- Hanne Lange Houlberg, Denmark. Growth.
- Rhonda Lee Usipiuk, Canada. Nightfall.
- Émilie Léger, Canada. Fragments de Réalité.
- Jane Linders, USA. Observer.
- Palle Lindgaard-Jørgensen, Denmark. That doggie in the window.
- David Lowe, England. Stained Glass Fragment.
- Dolce Malatesta, USA. Dream Stream.
- Galina Manikova, Norway. Where do you come from?
- Julie McMahon, UK. South Foreland.
- Fruma Markowitz, USA. May you be blessed. May you be protected.
- Pedro Mendes Leal, Portugal. Love over Gold.
- Libby Mornement, UK. Navigation.
- Rita Mungiardi, Italy. Dancing around flowers.
- Brian P. Nieman, USA. Look Up.
- Bonnie O. App, USA. Imagine.
- Gery Oth and Reiny Rizzy, Luxemburg, Taking Roots.
- Christina Osborne, Germany. A misty day in Rheinland-Pfaltz.
- Samantha Parker, UK. Fragmented clematis.
- Tricia Peery, USA. North Star.
- Colin Penley, USA. Sardine Dressing.
- Jacqui Penrose, Australia. Blue bird.
- Jen Perena, USA. PACKed Composite.
- Clive Pigott, New Zealand. Earthquake-prone Chapel Composite.
- Robert Poole, UK. Evening ebb.
- Tuula Pystynen, Finland. Madonna della Melagrana.
- António Rebolo, Portugal. Scott’s color mosaic.
- Sue Ridge, UK. Cyanotype with Prisms.
- Ralph Rinke, Canada. Midnight Moose.
- Peggy Reeves, USA. An Orgy of Saccharine Beauty.
- Montserrat Rodríguez aka nyx10110, Catalonia, Spain. From branch #3.
- Sophie Sanders, USA. Leap of Faith.
- Robert A. Schaefer, Jr., USA. Visitor’s Center.
- Sonja Schaeffeler, Switzerland. The Good Earth.
- Kevin Rose Schultz, USA. Nature Sprite. SORT ON R OR S?
- Christiane Schatz, Germany. Two Hearts.
- Aindreas Scholz, UK. The Most Beautiful Anthropocene # 01.
- Mary Shisler, USA. Medicine Shield – Blue Planet
- Paula Smith, UK. Daisy Chain
- David Symonds, UK. Smokin’ Joe.
- Natalia Tcherniak, Canada. Cosmos.
- Kim Tillyer, UK. Fox Labyrinth.
- Patricia Vega, Canada. Morning Dew.
- Kathleen Vukasovich, USA. Corgi Bride.
- Els Wiering, Spain, Cyanotype collage Aquascapes 04.
- Jane A. Wiley, USA. She Is Crowned Victory.
- Melissa Wilgis, USA. Growing.
- Wisteria, France, Submergée.
- Scott Wittenburg, USA. Vintage Pump.
- Nan Wollman, USA. Birds Not Bombs.
“Pure Imagination also speaks to the heart of individual artistry. Even though there are plenty of technical details provided, the contents of this book go beyond to encourage indivudal exploration by revealing the vast possibilities and potential of alternative processes.”
World Anthotype Day
World Cyanotype Day
They are all really really great!
What a fabulous collection of stunning images. Such imagination & technical know-how. A real inspiration to see the diverse compilation of processes put together. I’m delighted to be in such impressive company!