The holidays are approaching fast. It’s fun to give gifts, but if you are tired of giving THINGS away, you can always give EXPERIENCES. Some ideas: Give away a day with yourself in the darkroom. Give away a day at an exhibition. Give away a workshop. Or… if you still feel you have to buy a THING, perhaps make it a book that shows just how much fun alternative photographic processes are. Some ideas below.
For your best friend to share your interest in alternative photographic processes, wouldn’t it be fun going to the darkroom together?
Gum Printing and Other Amazing Contact Printing Processes
This book will tell you everything you need to know about printing with gum. It is the culmination of ten years of research by Christina Z. Anderson in resources from the beginning of photography to the present day. It also contains information on nearly every contact print process.
For your grandpa who potters around in the garden, but needs more stuff to do with his plants.
Anthotypes – Make photographs using plants
It is possible to print photographs using nothing but juice extracted from the petals of flowers, the peel from fruits and pigments from plants. This book will show you how it is done, and expand your creative horizons with plenty of examples from artists working with anthotypes today.
For your brother, who just doesn’t stop going on about cameras.
Exploring Simple Lenses
A truly comprehensive examination of the fascinating world of shooting with single-element lenses.
For your mum who makes quilts and really needs a way of putting pictures on fabric.
Blueprint to cyanotypes – Exploring a historical alternative photographic process
The cyanotype is often the first alternative process that people try. It is relatively easy and safe enough to nurture a child’s interest in photography. It can also be seen as a gateway to further exploration of historic photographic methods.
For your dad who misses that darkroom he had a long time ago.
Built from Scratch.
Scott Wittenburg Adventures in X-ray Film Photography with a Homemade 11×14 View Camera.
For that friend you met on the photo course who likes to try a bit of this and a bit of that.
Experimental photography workbook
You will find succinct how-to’s on photograms, clichés-verres, lumen prints, chemigrams, photo-chemigrams, collage, photomontage, photo transfers, pinhole, zone plate, holga, paper negatives, sabattier, chromoskedasic printing, painting with light, lith printing, liquid emulsion, modern tintype, mordançage, dye mordanting, bleach out, toning, applied color, abrasion tone, bromoil, encaustic and distressing film.
For your sister who used to make pinhole cameras when she was a kid but now has forgotten all about it.
From pinhole to print – Inspiration, instructions and insights in less than an hour
From pinhole to print will guide you from drilling your first pinhole to printing your first pinhole photograph. It is easy to read, step-by-step guide to making a pinhole camera and creating images.
For your uncle who loves history, and would love to put it into practical use.
The salt print manual
This manual covers every step of the process in detail, helping to avoid and/or solve the numerous problems that arise on the journey of mastering this beautiful photographic print process.
For that friend who gives you a blank stare as soon as you mention alternative photographic processes.
Alternative Photography: Art and Artists, Edition I
Highlights the work of over 100 of today’s most active photographers working with alternative processes. Discover how the different processes create a unique look in a print and get an insight into how the processes function.
And if that is not enough there are plenty of books sold directly by authors, giving them the share they deserve and books sold by Amazon here.
Hope this will give you some ideas!