Richard Puckett from Austin, Texas, USA has invented a variation on the Chrysotype process, the Texas Chrysotype process. He shows the resulting images here.
From: Austin, Texas, USA.
Shows: Chrysotypes.
Richard Puckett is based in Austin, Texas. He studied photography at the Cooper School of Art in Cleveland, Ohio. At the present he works exclusively with large format film cameras and contact prints in gold, platinum, palladium, and silver gelatin.
In the spring and summer of 2011, he photographed the sites of the battles of the Texas Revolution, in Gonzalez, Refugio, Goliad, San Antonio and San Jacinto. Dissatisfied with existing processes for printing with gold and seeking true photographic quality on a par with other metal-based prints, he invented the Texas Chrysotype process for the twenty-one images in his Texas Revolution in Gold series.
The Texas Chrysotype Process is a print out or develop out method that involves the addition of any one of several non-metallic chemicals to a standard solution of 40% ferric ammonium oxalate. This is then combined with an equal volume of 10% gold chloride and applied to dry watercolor paper, such as Arches Platine, Rives BFK, and Revere Patinum. The image can be exposed to UV for a fully printed out image typically immersed in ice cold water to prevent further darkening of the print in the first wash. The image can be underexposed by up to two stops and developed out in a hot water first wash. This technique produces slate images and stronger Dmax (when desirable). The image can also be underexposed and developed out in any of various acid solutions including citric, boric, and oxalic acids, to achieve different colors. Maximum tonal range is at least ten stops. Contrast is controlled with the dilution of oxalic acid in the first wash, with ammonium dichromate in the first wash, or by varying the amount of the additive to the ferric ammonium oxalate. With papers of approximately 240gsm to 310 gsm, relative humidity is irrelevant. Contrast, grain, and, typically, red or blue tones can be enhanced by pre-moistening the paper with a damp brush before applying the FAO and gold solution.
“I was about to give up on printing chrysotypes. Then the correct way to print with gold was revealed to me in a dream. I tried it, and it worked.”
Richard’s images are Texas Chrysotype Process contact prints (from the Texas Revolution in Gold: 21 Chrysotypes series).
Contact Richard Puckett
- Email: richardpuckett (at) texaschrysotype.com
- Website
Note – full titles of the images:
1. The Fannin Monument in Goliad, Texas
2. Monument at the site of the Come and Take It Battle, near Gonzalez, Texas
3. Mission Concepcion, San Antonio de Bexar, Texas
4. Sarophagus Of Travis, Crockett, and Bowie in the San Fernando Cathedral, San Antonio de Bexar, Texas
5. Grave of Benjamin Milam, San Antonio de Bexar, Texas
6. Alamo Cenotaph, San Antonio de Bexar, Texas
7. The Alamo, San Antonio de Bexar, Texas
8. Monument to Amon B. King and his men, Refugio, Texas
9. Obelisk on the Plain of Coleto where Fannin surrendered his force to General Urrea, near Fannin, Texas
10. Tumulus of Fannin and 345 of his men murdered Palm Sunday, 1836, The Presidio, Goliad, Texas
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