Report on Alternative Photography Techniques and Processes

This report analyzes alternative photography techniques, specifically focusing on the work of Brian Taylor and his “The Art of Getting Lost” series. It explores the gum bichromate and cyanotype processes, detailing the steps involved in creating these unique photographs. The report discusses the artist's use of multiple layers of gum and brush emulsions, the transformation of digital negatives, and the creation of a watercolor paper base for the cyanotype process. The report highlights the use of various colors, such as Winson Newton Green Gouache, and the multiple exposures to sunlight to achieve the desired tonal qualities and artistic effects. The artist's motivation for using these traditional techniques is also explored, emphasizing the desire for more artistic freedom and a historical quality in the photographs, moving beyond the limitations of the digital world. This report provides an in-depth understanding of the techniques used to create the photographs, including the materials and processes used to achieve the final images.

Running head: ALTERNATIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRACTICE
Alternative Photographic Techniques
Student Name
University name
Author Note

ALTERNATIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRACTICE
The three selected photographs for the alternative photographic techniques have
been used are from Brian Taylor’s photography series “The Art of Getting lost”. Three
photographs are “Stevens Creek, California”, “Sycamore Leaves, Los Gatos Creek” and
“Saguaros, Papago Mountains, Arizona”. The photographs are slices of various
landscapes that give almost painting like impression. The principle techniques that the
artist used are the “Gum Bichromate Printing Process” and Cyanotype process of the 19th
century. In order to achieve the tactile quality the artist applied multiple layers of gum
and brush emulsions.
Brian Taylor decided upon the techniques for the series after he selected and took
the photographs digitally. The journey from the photograph to an aesthetically strong
alternative photograph is long. The primary technique that Brian Taylor uses is the
innovative multicolor gum bichromate techniques (Persinger 2014). The photographs are
handmade with organic elements and the touches of imperfections are deliberate. In the
bichromate process the black and white negatives are exposed and transformed into color
prints very slowly, layer by layer. The process of making the photographs starts with
tonally correcting the digital negatives of the photographs of nature he took. Cyanotypes
print a heavy enough watercolor paper is created from the negative. This creates the base
layer on which the artist plays with various options. Ammonium Dichromate was mixed
with Gum Arabic and Gouache color of artist’s choice and covered on the paper. Then
the coated negative was re exposed. This process of gum application was repeated
multiple times for individual photographs. By following those techniques each
photographs of the series started as a watercolor paper sheet where the artist applied a
Cyanotype emulsion layer. The papers then were contact printed with the help of a full

ALTERNATIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRACTICE
negative. The artist then exposed the papers in the sunlight for multiple times. As a result
the photographs turned into Prussian blue. For the photographs of “The Art of Getting
lost” the Brian Taylor used Winson Newton Green Gouache color with the Gum
bichromate emulsion and again sunlight was used in the contact print process
(Briantaylorphotography.com 2017). During the second exposure the images get a
greenish tone that we see in the photographs. In the third exposure the artist used brown
pigments and exposed those in the sunlight that gave the photos a warm feeling with the
brown tone of the jungle woods. Finally the artist exposed the photographs in black to
establish the dark shadows of the woods, branches and leaves.
The artist wanted to create new photographs with a certain historical quality with
archival value and the traditional techniques goes beyond the digital process and establish
a third place through the montage of tradition and modern techniques. The artist required
wanted more freedom from the limitation of the digital world which could give him more
artistic satisfaction. These practical techniques create exceptional photographs that add
differently to the artist’s portfolio. The contemporary available techniques could be used
with such traditional techniques helps the artist to sharpen his skills and explore new
possibilities.

ALTERNATIVE PHOTOGRAPHIC PRACTICE
Reference
Briantaylorphotography.com. (2017). The Art of Getting Lost : Brian Taylor. [online] Available
at: http://www.briantaylorphotography.com/index.php?/projects/art-of-getting-lost/ [Accessed 10
October 2017].
Persinger, T. ed., 2014. Photography Beyond Technique: Essays from F295 on the Informed Use
of Alternative and Historical Photographic Processes. CRC Press.