New Book: The Handmade Silver Gelatin Emulsion Print

[dwross]

I am very proud to announce that my new book, The Handmade Silver Gelatin Emulsion Print, Creating Your Own Liquid Emulsions for Black & White Paper, published by Focal Press, will be released in November. The book is part of a marvelous series of books (more to come in the series) edited by Christina Z. Anderson. Kudos to Chris and Focal for recognizing that the physical, non-digital print is an increasingly important facet of fine art photography.

Many thanks to the wonderful print makers who contributed to the book!

https://www.routledge.com/Contemporary-Practices-in-Alternative-Process-Photography/book-series/CPAPP

[Thom Bennett]

Excellent! Will certainly get a copy. Kudos to you and the contributors.

[Steve Sherman]

I can attest to Densie’s work and knowledge of emulsions. Congrats Denise and best wishes with the book !!

[Nodda Duma]

Congratulations, Denise! Glad to see the culmination of all your hard work. Placed my order and looking forward to receiving it!

Cheers,
Jason

[dwross]

Thanks, guys! The supportive words mean a lot to me.

[Merg Ross]

Congratulations, Denise! A valuable contribution to the silver process.

[DHodson]

Ordered - Loved your first book and looking forward to this one. Thanks for putting all the effort in. I struggle here in Canada to source everything - particularly considering the shipping costs and border stuff but the hunt is part of the fun.

Regards
Dave Hodson
Fort McMurray, Alberta

[Tin Can]

I have to sit on my hands. Bill showed up.

I have your last book. I will get this book and all your partner’s books!

Love your work Denise!

[agregov]

Hi Denise. Own your last book and really enjoyed it. How is this new book different (or similar) from your last book? Thanks!

[Pere Casals]

This are really great news !!!

Not every day we have so nice news !

[Robert Brazile]

Congrats, Denise! Ordered.

Robert

[dwross]

Thanks!! Everyone. I don't have sufficient words to express my appreciation for the supportive thoughts. Kind words from friends is the real coin of the realm.

Agregov: The Focal book jumps off from my first book and expands on paper making and printing. There is overlap in techniques and a couple of the recipes because the basics really are basic :-). The first book (142 pages) is about half paper making/half dry plate and film making). The Focal book has much more information on just paper (and paper negatives).

d

[dwross]

Ordered - Loved your first book and looking forward to this one. Thanks for putting all the effort in. I struggle here in Canada to source everything - particularly considering the shipping costs and border stuff but the hunt is part of the fun.

Regards
Dave Hodson
Fort McMurray, Alberta

Hi Dave,
I certainly understand the fun of the source hunt, but it's also nice to find success at the end of the trail! I was in The Camera Store in Calgary last month. They have a very decent darkroom section, and they seem very supportive of all the facets of photography. I know Calgary is a long-haul drive from you, but if The Camera Store stocked a few essentials, they might be able to ship north at a reasonable rate. I will contact them sometime soon. Perhaps if you did the same (and others?), they might find some store shelf space for more chemicals and misc. Just a thought :-).

[DHodson]

Hi Denise

Thanks very much for the suggestion and I'd really appreciate your offer to speak with them. I buy my film and darkroom chemicals from The Camera Store now and their shipping is reasonable - never thought of approaching them to expand their stock though. I just built a UV exposure unit and am looking for alternative process (kallitype) chemicals as well so I'd look forward to any support they might be willing to offer. I'll give them a call on Monday and see what they say.

On another note, do you ever do any workshops in Alberta (or Canada for that matter)?

Thanks again
Dave

[sanking]

Hi Denise,

Congratulations on the upcoming publication of your book. I look forward to getting a copy and learn some of your emulsion techniques. In fact, I visited your site earlier this year trying to figure out what type of simple silver emulsion I could make to work with carbon tissue with a tanning developer. My efforts did not turn out so well, but may re-visit the task one day, but it will have to wait until the book we are working on is finished.

Thanks for your work, and hope our paths cross one day.

Sandy

[dwross]

Hi Denise

Thanks very much for the suggestion and I'd really appreciate your offer to speak with them. I buy my film and darkroom chemicals from The Camera Store now and their shipping is reasonable - never thought of approaching them to expand their stock though. I just built a UV exposure unit and am looking for alternative process (kallitype) chemicals as well so I'd look forward to any support they might be willing to offer. I'll give them a call on Monday and see what they say.

On another note, do you ever do any workshops in Alberta (or Canada for that matter)?

Thanks again
Dave

There are so many chemical overlaps in the alt processes family, I'd think a good store would be more than willing to stock a small inventory, if asked. Increasing awareness is probably key. Most people here are at least aware there are photographic processes beyond digital, or even film and paper. It's hard to remember that most people are oblivious to the alternative/historical processes and their potential. This seems to be equally true for DSLR owners and for people who do all their image making with a phone.

Good luck with your kallitypes! Such a lovely process.

re workshops: For the last several years, I've been unable to commit to a workshop schedule. That situation changed last month and once I adjust to my "new normal," I think I will start investigating workshop venues. I love Alberta, so it would be a great place to have an another excuse to visit!

d

[dwross]

Hi Denise,

Congratulations on the upcoming publication of your book. I look forward to getting a copy and learn some of your emulsion techniques. In fact, I visited your site earlier this year trying to figure out what type of simple silver emulsion I could make to work with carbon tissue with a tanning developer. My efforts did not turn out so well, but may re-visit the task one day, but it will have to wait until the book we are working on is finished.

Thanks for your work, and hope our paths cross one day.

Sandy

Were you thinking about the Carbro process? That has fascinated me for a long time. Bromide paper without a hard supercoat is one of the requirements (I think). The paper is easy enough to make, although the exact recipe might have to be tweaked for carbro (??), but the only thing I know about making carbon tissue is from watching my friend Vaughn Hutchins make his. He makes it look easy, but I know that is because he is a master. Successful Carbro resurrection might be best be accomplished by a team. That would be very rewarding.

Good luck with your new book! I'm looking forward to reading it.

d

p.s. Never hesitate to email me with any questions about emulsion making.

[Jim Fitzgerald]

Denise, if you need to know anything about making carbon tissue or the process Im up the street so to speak in Vancouver Washington. I'd be happy to help. Congratulations on the book it sounds very interesting.

[Christopher Barrett]

Cool! Ordered :)

[dwross]

Denise, if you need to know anything about making carbon tissue or the process Im up the street so to speak in Vancouver Washington. I'd be happy to help. Congratulations on the book it sounds very interesting.

That's a very generous offer. Thank you. I'm putting the finishing touches on material supplementary to the book right now. When I'm done with that, I think I'll do a deep dive into the Carbro literature. If I think a resurrection is feasible, I will definitely look to you for advice! Best of days, d

[dwross]

Cool! Ordered :)

:)!

[sanking]

Were you thinking about the Carbro process? That has fascinated me for a long time. Bromide paper without a hard supercoat is one of the requirements (I think).
.......



HI Denise,

Carbro is an interesting process that does indeed require a bromide paper, preferably without the super coat.

However, I was not thinking about carbro in my comment, but about a carbon tissue that would be pre-sensitized with a silver halide emulsion, kind of like the matrix of the Kodak Dye Transfer process, which was known as the Eastman Wash Off Relief Process before the name change to Dye Transfer. There were actually several commercial color carbon processes that used silver to harden the gelatin, though that was long ago before 1950. The way it is done is the carbon tissue sensitized with silver is developed in a tanning developer, usually one made up with pyrogallol or pyrocatechin. This hardens the gelatin in a similar way to dichromate, then the silver image is bleached out. Not very practical today, but curious, and I am often curious and impractical!

Best,

Sandy

[bob carnie]

Curiosity killed the cat

[dwross]

Ah, but I'd bet it died happy cat :-).

Thanks, Sandy, for the info -- an aspect of our artistic history I was totally unaware of. There is a lot to know and learn from over a century and a half of photographic history!

[bob carnie]

I love Sandy for his ability to understand complex ideas as they pertain to photographic print processes, over the years I have learned many , many things from him... one thing I did learn was never go photographing with Sandy and Sam, you end up watering the rock face. As well they use those fancy infrared sensors on their cameras, then take you to a boring location to shoot, their work looks spectacular but you are left wondering why this location.

[Ron (Netherlands)]

Are the books also available as ebook?

[dwross]

At some point, yes. The price should be in line with the ebook prices on Chris Anderson's two books. I don't have any say on pricing or release dates, so that's about all the info I have. You might ask Routledge/Focal.

[DHodson]

So my book just arrived yesterday and I managed to get a quick peak before my wife wrapped it and put it under the tree. I just want to say congratulations and thanks Denise. The book is amazing - well written, lots of information and illustrations - exactly what I was hoping for. And shipping was great too. I was concerned considering the season and that we were heading out shortly but no problem. Now I just need to work on getting The Camera Store in Calgary to carry some stock.

Anyway - I feel like my grandkids now waiting to open my presents.

Hope you all have a good holiday, a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Dave

[minh0204]

Routledge in the UK has an year-end discount so I splurged and got a hard-cover copy of the book, will be a nice holiday reading.