Recently the Photographic Communications Department at Northwest College here in tiny town Powell Wyoming put together their annual Alternative Print Weekend. This is a time where students can step away from the digital world and automated printers and make prints that are as unique as the images themselves. Never are two prints the same, each paper is coated with different brush strokes, the negative is placed in a different spot, and exposure time varies.
During the weekend we were able to make 5 different types of images, cyanotypes, van-dykes, traditional black and white prints, glass negatives, and tintypes. The glass negatives and tintypes were made possible by hosting NWC alumni Russel James from Salt Lake City, UT.
Here are the results of my weekend!
Digital Negatives
I didn’t have many black and white negatives that I felt would work well for these types of prints so I converted some of my digital images into 8×10 or 4×5 negatives and printed them on transparency paper.
Cyanotypes
For the cyanotypes, a piece watercolor paper was coated with a light-sensitive solution and dried in a dark room. Next to create the image the negative was placed on top of the coated paper in a holder and then exposed to the light either outside or under a UV table. To fix the image to the paper after it was exposed long enough it was put through a water bath and left to dry.
Cyanotypes can also be made if different colors, for example, my redotype. and also on fabrics. I cut up a cheap bandana from Walmart into 8×10 and 4×5 squares and absolutely love the results
Van-Dykes
Like the cyanotype, the paper or fabric was coated and exposed in the same manner but created a print with a lovely variation of brown tones that after exposed was put through a water bath, a fix bath, and a final rinse. unlike the cyanotypes, van-dykes seem to hold better gradations of tonalities in an image while cyanotypes have bold contrasts thay vary between deep and light blues.
Traditional Black and White
I am fascinated with this process! Placing the film in the enlarger, testing exposure time, running the paper through the different baths to produce and fix the image, then finally taking the dried and curled paper off the clothespin to flattened. Definitely not a process for those looking for the instant gratification of capture to print in a relatively short time. Watching the image slowly appear from nothing is completely captivating. Not to mention this whole process is done in the dark room with only a couple safety lights that keep the people from bumbling into sinks, each other, and various other things placed about the room.
Tintypes
Making tintypes was an unforgettable experience, This was a great learning opportunity and we even got some great images that will last longer than a lifetime. Tintypes were mostly used in the late 1800s and are making a comeback as people are wanting to revive history. They are also known as melainotypes or ferrotypes. They are made coating a sheet of metal with various lacquers and then an exposure is made producing a direct positive that is developed and covered with a varnish.
Check out some of Russel’s work on his website and Instagram!
Instagram: @badasstintypist and @rjphoto89
Glass Negatives
Glass negatives are similar to tintypes in the way they are processed and exposed. this difference is that the images that were exposed on the glass that unless placed in front of a dark background like a black cloth, appeared as a negative but when placed on the black cloth it became a positive image that could be displayed.
This weekend was one that I will always look back on when remembering my college experience and what makes the photo program at this small school great. Because it is our differences and alternatives styles is what makes us stronger together.
Tia Erin Artistry 
WOW! I was so enraptured, I don’t think I even breathed through the entire works. Your pictures are captivating and extreme. You should be very proud of your accomplishments, and your audience will be in awe of your forthcoming photos.
Beautiful girl in the dark sequin dress and headset.
Keep up the amazing work for all of us! Thank You!
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