Gum Bichromate Printing

gum bichromate prints

For our last alternative process, we will learn the technique of gum bichromate printing, or "gum" printing as it's often known. Gum printing is one the earliest color photographic process, invented by efforts of William Fox Talbot and Mongo Ponton. Essentially, when a metallic dichromate (such as potassium) is combined with a colloid (a large moleculed gel or emulsion) like gum arabic, it becomes UV light sensitive and hardens proportionally to the amount of light striking it.

Unlike any of the other alternative processes, gum printing can be any color, because the gum arabic that's mixed with the dichromate can be tinted with watercolor. Layering multiple hues of color can create an illusion of a full-color image.

While you are shooting your independent series, we will experiment with gum printing in class. To begin, create 2 new 5x7 ortho-litho negatives with which you can contact print with. You will need more than one to be able to layer imagery. Then, you can size and tone your paper with the dichromate solution to print with.

Here are two fantastic websites that explain the process and history of gum bichromate printing far better than I can:

Gum Bichromate Photography
Alternative Photography

Be sure to check out the Flickr group "Gum Bichromate" here to see a ton of examples of this printing process. You can also check out the simple slideshow below:

Independent Series & Final Performance Assessment

Photos by Aubrey Hopkins

Below is the evaluation that will be used to grade your independent series, and will also double as the remainder of your final exam. The evaluation questions must be finished prior to exam day on Monday, 5/18. You will not have class time to finish them during class.

It is highly encouraged that you download and print out this document before Monday!

Final Exam

Publish at Scribd or explore others:

Guest Presenter: Gabriel DeLoach

Photos by Steve Winter and Gabe DeLoach




Gabriel DeLoach is an artist, photographer, film-maker, and traveler extraordinaire who has devoted both his artistic and professional practice to documenting the world he experiences, in both rural America to the wild jungles of Brazil. DeLoach will present his work as both an independent photographer and film-maker, as well as an assistant to Steve Winter, a renowned photographer for National Geographic magazine, in class this Thursday. DeLoach currently lives in Charlottesville, Virginia, but has recently traveled to Brazil and India to photograph wild cats, namely jaguars and tigers in an effort to help the organization Panthera protect and research these cats in the wild. Experts predict that there may only be 4,000 wild cats left in existence, making DeLoach's work critical for their survival.

Here are a couple of links to help you get a sense of his work. Take a look at his work, read about the stories on the blog, and come to class Thursday with questions!

Gabriel DeLoach's website
Steve Winter's blog

Cliché-Verre!

Cliché-Verre is a unique photograph that is made by using a printmaking process of "etching" into the surface of a dried emulsion upon a transparent material like glass or mylar. Using a variety of "printing-plates," normal black and white photographs can be transformed into fascinating abstract, textural shapes and patterns.

This week and next, while you are busily shooting your documentary film, we will be experimenting with cliché-verre prints in class. Bring your old photo binders, these prints can be made with old negatives. No new shooting is necessary! Check out the slideshow below for inspiring new ideas!

The Photographic Essay

photo by Lewis Hines
Photo Essay Presentations!

If presenting a powerpoint, save powerpoint to a thumbdrive to share during presentation. Use low resolution imagery only in presentation. Design the presentation well, elegantly combine image and text. Include your statement of purpose in the presentation!

If presenting the work as an art exhibit, post your final layouts/works to the Advanced Photo group pool. I will download them to my computer so that you can share them with the class. Be prepared! Have your statement of purpose typed and ready to turn in after your presentation!

Presentation order:

Thursday, April 16th: Marian, Jemini, Megan, Kate Y., Bianca, Lauren, Celene, Katie L.

Friday, April 17th: Jennifer, John, Tracy, Amina, Gunter, Leslie, Chris, Raissa, Michaela.

If you are not prepared to present, you will be penalized a letter grade for lateness. Make arrangements with other students if you'd like to switch days, and inform Mr. La Londe by the end of class today!


Below, you will also find links to several websites that show professional photo essays by photojournalists that work around the world:

The TIMES photographic essay website
Lauren Greenfield
Bruce Davidson
Jan Sochor
Peter Menzel
James Nachtwey
Joachim Ladefoged

Below, you will find a slideshow of documentary styled photographs by both photojournalists and artists. Look at the slideshow to get ideas about how a photo essay can be presented visually in an interesting way!



Here's the final photo essay print and presentation evaluation your grade will be based upon:

Photo Essay Present Criteria

Publish at Scribd or explore others: education english

Super-Proud

Hey everyone, I just wanted to post this really quick:

I'm super-proud of each of you who decided to submit work for the Senior Show this year. Each of you have made fantastic works, and as I went through each of your submissions, I realized how truly unique, and authentic all of your work really is this year. You make me proud!

Best of luck!

Below is a slideshow I made of each of the final entries, enjoy!

2009 Howard County Senior/Junior Show

It's time to put your portfolio to use! You've uploaded your works, you've organized, titled, and described them. You wrote an artist statement. Now it's time to apply for an art show. The Annual Howard County Portfolio Development and Senior/Junior show is the biggest county show of the year, showing artwork from students all over the county. This year's exhibition will be juried, meaning that a panel of artists will choose the works to be included. To be included in the show is a huge honor for you as an artist, and for the school!

All Photo 2 students who apply for the senior/junior show will receive 3 extra points on their overall 3rd Quarter grade.
Photo 2 students who are selected for the show will receive 5 extra points on their overall 3rd quarter grade.

The online application deadline is: Thursday, Feb. 26th.
All work must be saved and formatted to Mr. La Londe's thumbdrive by the end of school: Feb. 26th. (Half-Day)

Here's what you need to do to apply:
1) Click on the Senior/Junior Show application link to the right.
2) Fill out all information on the online form. (Note, some of you may need to modify your artist statement for the show guidelines.)
3) Print a copy of your completed online application to give to Mr. La Londe.
4) Create a new folder in Mr. La Londe's thumbdrive. Inside this folder, save your four works you are submitting for the show.
Each file work should be formatted as a jpeg, and have a resolution of 72 DPI, 5 X 7, or approximately 360 X 504 pixels. Each file should be named in the following format: lastnameRHS# (example: LaLondeRHS01, LaLondeRHS02, etc.)
5) Celebrate your 3 point reward!

See Mr. La Londe if you have questions!