World Anthotype Day – 3rd Saturday in August

The World Anthotype Day was started in 2022 by AlternativePhotography.com and it will run again in 2023 for a second time on the 19th of August 2023 (the 3rd Saturday in August). In 2022 over 100 artists sent in their anthotypes using pigments from 60 plants!
Anthotype is an alternative photographic process where you create an emulsion using plant pigments and print your photograph using the sun.
World Anthotype Day is a global event, free to enter and invites both beginners and experienced anthotypers.
Don’t hesitate to join in!
–> Sign up for the Anthotype newsletter to be reminded.

Need to brush up on your skills?

• Start learning the anthotype process in this article: Anthotypes – instructions to making a print using plants
• When you want to build your skills and deeper into the process, pick up a copy of the book Anthotypes – Explore the darkroom in your garden and make photographs using plants.
• Read the book Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 1 and get inspiration from last year’s entries
• Find inspiration: Do take a look at the anthotype galleries here to see what other talented artists have done.
• Read how World Anthotype Day started.

Details on how to enter – follow all steps!

An entry consists of 4 items: Do make our lives a little easier by following all of these steps, please. 🙂 You can get the notebook Anthotype Notes follows this format and makes your documentation easier.
Entries NOT following the 4 steps will not be entered.

Item 1. Text information

• Fill out the online form (open again in August 2023, but you can see the details below):
• Your contact information – Your contact information will not be published.
• Common name of plant and latin name of plant: For example Lilac, common (Syringa vulgaris) / Blueberry (Vaccinium sect. Cyanococcus)
• “Title” by FirstName Surname: For example: “Summer hope” by Joanne Smith
• Country: For example Canada
• Parts used: For example: Petals / Stem / Powder / Root / Leaves / Anything else
• Amount: For example: A handful for each print / 2 tablespoons / 30 gram
• Extracted by: For example: Mortar / Centrifuge / Soaking / Cooking
• Thinner: For example: Tap water / Distilled water / Alcohol / Vodka
• Application: For example: Brushing / Dipping / Rod coating / Cotton swabs
• Layers: For example: 3
• Substrate: For example: Watercolour paper / Cotton cloth / Hannemuhle Platinum Rag 300 gsm / Cotton rag / Anything else you used
• Created with: Describe in a few words how how you created the image, for example: Photogram of petals / Positive on OHP paper / Laser printed OHP positive
• Exposure: For example: 6 hours / 2 days / 4 weeks
• Month, season and year: July, summer, 2022
• Contrast: For example: ✘ (Almost none) / ✿ (Low) / ✿✿ (Medium) / ✿✿✿ (High). This is the contrast of the final print, and can be defined as this:
  ✘ (Almost none – little or no difference between the darker and lighter areas of the print.)
  ✿ (Low–slight difference between the darker and lighter areas of the print, not easy to see what it is.)
  ✿✿ (Medium – a good difference between the darker and lighter areas of the print, you can easily see the motif.)
  ✿✿✿ (High – a lot of difference between the darker and lighter areas of the print.)
  (We may edit this on your entry since it’s compared to other entries)
• Challenges or observations: For example: The purple-blue petals crushed in a mortar and mixed with a little tap water produced a nice golden-toned print in a very short time / Could have been exposed a few more days.
• Additional information or observations: (optional) This could be something additional information about your process, your anthotype or anything else you think others may find interesting. Images of your process can also be sent if you like.
• Instagram: (optional) For example: @alternativephotography_com
• Facebook: (optional) For example: https://www.facebook.com/alternativephotography
• Website: (optional) 
• Also let us know if you are a Supporting Member, since we will add extra links to your gallery etc.

Item 2. The anthotype print

• Create your Anthotype using the anthotype process. No nudes or offensive images are allowed.
• Scan the Anthotype and resize it large enough to print: 2500 pixels LONGEST SIDE. Name the file as follows: “Common Name Of The Plant-Name Surname-Title Of Image-YearTaken.jpg” for example “Tulip-Joanne Smith-Summer Bliss-2022.jpg”.

Item 3. The picture of the plant or emulsion used

• Take a picture of the plant or pigment.
• Crop it square if you can and resize it large enough to print: 1080 pixels. Name the file “Common Name Of The Plant-Name Surname.jpg” for example “Tulip-Joanne Smith.jpg”.

Item 4. The permission request form

1. Download the permission request form.
2. Use one release form for all images; list them on the same form.
3. Scan or take a picture of the signed form. If the release form is missing the prints will not be entered.
4. Name it “NameSurname-Permission form” for example “Joanne Smith-Permission form”
5.  

Now you are ready to send the images and the form to us:

• Send it all by Dropbox (free account), WeTransfer or another file transfer service. Send only the link to to anthotype@alternativephotography.com. PLEASE DO NOT EMAIL files, they end up in the spam box, get blocked or lost.
• We may or may not publish the work on our social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook. If you have included your Instagram in the form will include it.
• When we receive your entry, you will get a confirmation email. If you do not receive a confirmation within a week, check with us at anthotype@alternativephotography.com.
• Artists are also invited to make a 30-60s video of themselves and their print (optional).

We hope you enjoy both making anthotypes and taking part in World Anthotype day!