Research and Critique: Brian Taylor's Alternative Photography

This presentation provides a critical analysis of Brian Taylor, an alternative photographic practitioner, focusing on his departure from conventional photographic practices. It explores his use of techniques like Gum Bichromate and Cyanotype printing, particularly in his work 'The Art of Getting Lost,' which combines 21st-century and 19th-century processes. Taylor's inspiration from natural beauty and his search for eternal peace are highlighted, as is his emphasis on the human touch and tactile quality in his art. The presentation also touches on the broader context of alternative photographic artists and suggests a future where human involvement and satisfaction in the artistic process will drive increased interest in alternative practices. The document is available on Desklib, a platform offering study tools for students.

RESEARCH ON AN ALTERNATIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRACTITIONER
Artist : Brian Taylor

ALTERNATIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC
PRACTICE
 Analog to digital
 Palladium prints, Van Dyke Brown, wet
collodions and daguerreotypes
 Reestablish the aura
 Tactile quality

THE AESTHETICS
 Camera as more than
indexical machine for
reproduction
 Antiquarian Avant-Garde's
inspiration
 Imagining different future
for the medium
 Mark of Human touch
 The flaws, the imperfections
 Real physical material more
informative than image
editing tools

SOME ALTERNATIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC
ARTISTS
 Robb Kendrick
 Alan Greene
 Jill Enfield
 John Metoyer
 Tom Persinger
 Dan Burkholder
 Craig Barber
 Laura Blacklow
 Robert Hirsch
 Jo Babcock

BRIAN TAYLOR
 Son of Sonora desert and
magical tales
 Natural beauty inspired him to
use the bichromate
landscapes
 Realization of World’s best art
works created by human hand
 Search for eternal peace and
tranquility
 Hunger for creating
something haptic

‘THE ART OF GETTING LOST’

‘THE ART OF GETTING LOST’
 Gum Bichromate and Cyanotype printing process
 Montage of 21st century and 19th century processes
 Negative with Epson printer
 Several layers of emulsions which are brush applied
 Gouache pigment containing Gum solution
 Coated with Cyanotype emulsion
 Eternal peace and tranquility has been portrayed
 Exposed in the sunlight for several minutes
 Final archival looking photograph

FUTURE
 Future resides in the chemical past
 Going out of the traditional practice
 More human involvement, satisfaction
of the artist
 Interest in alternative practice will
increase
 More number of practitioners in future