At the core of my latest artistic endeavor, Pictorial Whispers, is a deeply personal narrative, one shaped by the profound grief of losing my beloved daughter, Abby. This photography project, far from being a mere collection of images, is a journey through sorrow and healing articulated through the nuanced and historically rich medium of Kallitype printing.
Pictorial Whispers: In Memory of Abby
My current photography project is a deeply personal exploration, born from the profound grief of losing my daughter, Abby, lovingly nicknamed “Peanut.”
In this work, I navigate my sorrow, using 19th-century large format photography as a medium for healing and expression. Drawing inspiration from the ethereal style of Pictorialism, I focus on trees and nature as symbols of strength and emotional solace.
I use the 19th-century collodion dry plate process to make my negatives and use them to make platinum-toned Kallitype contact prints. These hands-on historical techniques deepen my connection with every aspect of my artistic journey. Combined with large format cameras and vintage lenses, these handmade collodion negatives allow me to capture more than mere images; I encapsulate my emotions and memories in each handmade print.
My photographs, rendered in monochrome and enhanced through the Kallitype printing process with platinum toning, are narratives of my inner world. They reflect my journey through grief and serve as a tribute to Abby’s lasting memory.
This collection offers a unique experience, combining emotional depth, historical photographic techniques, and a deeply personal story.
You can read the full project narrative and artist statement.
Kallitype Printing: A Medium of Emotional Depth
The Kallitype printing process, with its origins in the 19th century, stands as a bridge between the historical roots of photography and the contemporary expression of emotion. This method, renowned for its ability to produce images with a wide range of tones, parallels the diverse spectrum of emotions encountered in the grieving process. The delicate balance of light and shadow in Kallitype prints mirrors the interplay of memory and loss, joy and sorrow that characterizes my journey through grief.
Artistic Alchemy: From Negative to Emotional Narrative
In Kallitype printing, the transformation of a collodion dry plate negative into a tangible print is akin to the journey of translating intangible grief into a visible form. Each step, from preparing the paper with light-sensitive chemicals to developing the image under UV light, is a deliberate and thoughtful process. This methodical approach allows me to infuse each print with a piece of my story, embedding memories and emotions into the very fibers of the paper.
Monochrome to Metaphor: Toning with Palladium and Gold
Enhancing these prints with palladium or gold toning is an aesthetic and symbolic decision. These metals not only lend a unique richness and depth to the images but also represent the transformation of my grief into something timeless and precious. The subtle shifts in tonality achieved through this process reflect the nuanced changes in my emotional landscape as I navigate the stages of grief.
Nature and Pictorialism: Echoes of Solace and Strength
Drawing from the ethereal style of Pictorialism, my focus on trees and nature within these Kallitype prints serves as metaphors for resilience and solace. Nature, captured in the nuanced gradations of gray that Kallitype printing affords, becomes a visual anchor, symbolizing the enduring presence and quiet strength that has supported me through my grief.
A Journey Shared
This collection offers a window into a deeply personal journey. Each Kallitype print, rendered with this printing method’s emotional depth and historical resonance, invites viewers to engage with a narrative of loss, love, and healing. These prints are not just photographs but heartfelt expressions of my inner world, tributes to Abby, and artifacts of my healing process.
The Kallitype printing process in my photography project is more than a technical choice; it is integral to the narrative of grief and healing. Through this method, I transform my experiences of loss into tangible memories, crafting images that are as emotionally resonant as they are visually compelling. This project, therefore, stands as a testament to the power of art in the face of loss, a journey of turning shadows of sorrow into enduring lights of memory.
Come with me behind the scenes in the field and my darkroom as I create my latest plates and handmade prints. Whether you are technical and want access to my Darkroom Diary notes and formulas or an art buyer who wants a personal connection with me, I have you covered and am excited to learn more about you.