Phytograms with Anne Eder

In  this workshop, we will be using homemade developers made from plant  material to create camera-less images on film called phytograms. The  film is chemically developed out through direct contact. As in the lumen  process, this can result in unexpected and often beautiful colors.  Because they are transparent, phytograms are extremely versatile. They  can be hand-colored or gilded, presented on light boxes, printed onto  other light sensitive surfaces in single or multiple exposures, or even  spliced together to create movies or videos. Photographic developers  contain a group of chemicals classified as phenols. They are electron  rich, which initiates development (electron exchanges). Many plants  contain phenols that are released by a washing soda/vitamin C solution.  They are rather weak, but when you add the energy of the sun or UV  light, the developing properties are intensified. In addition, plants  release other chemicals that result in subtle variations in color, such  as the many compounds found in fragrant plants. Results can also vary  depending on the type of film used. All aspects of the process will be  covered from creating the developer, laying out of the film, exposure,  fixing, and washing.