In my deeply personal “Pictorial Whispers” series, each Kallitype print is not just an image but a profound act of remembrance and healing. I choose the intricate process of creating Collodion Dry Plate negatives followed by Kallitype prints as a meditative practice to honor the memory of my beloved daughter, affectionately known as Peanut. This series stands as a vessel of emotional expression, where each photograph of towering trees transforms into a narrative of loss, love, and legacy.
My Choice of Collodion and Kallitype Processes
My adoption of the 1850s negative process of collodion glass plates, with its inherent imperfections and rich textural quality, serves as a bridge to the past, connecting me physically and emotionally to Abby. This choice is particularly meaningful because of its demanding and hands-on nature, mirroring the complexities of my emotional journey through grief. The physical act of coating, sensitizing, exposing, and developing each plate demands precision and patience, much like the process of navigating personal loss.
The subsequent step of creating platinum-toned Kallitype prints enhances this connection. Kallitype, known for its tonal range and durability, allows for a delicate balance of light and shadow, offering a unique aesthetic that perfectly encapsulates the ethereal and sometimes haunting themes of the series. Each print, being handmade, is as individual as the emotions it represents, embodying the unique character of the moment it captures.
Trees as Symbols of Endurance and Emotion
In “Pictorial Whispers,” trees are more than mere landscape elements; they are imbued with profound human emotions and stand as guardians of memory. They symbolize resilience and strength, echoing my inner turmoil and the stoic endurance required to face each day without Abby. This emotional symbolism is enhanced by the Pictorialism style, which emphasizes beauty, tonality, and composition, blurring the lines between reality and the emotional truth I perceive.
Art as a Conduit for Healing
For me, the act of creating each image is akin to composing a stanza in an ongoing poem dedicated to Abby. The evolving chemistry of the collodion process and the detailed craft required to produce each Kallitype print make my work a dynamic and living dialogue with my loss. I describe this creative process as a sacred journey—a way to navigate the complex labyrinth of heartache and a path toward eventual healing.
The interplay of light and shadow in these images does more than depict the natural world; it acts as a visual metaphor for the flux of grief and gratitude, love and remembrance that defines my life post-loss. Each print, therefore, is not just a photograph but a space for reflection, a moment of connection, and a step towards healing.
Conclusion
“Pictorial Whispers” transcends traditional photography, offering an intimate glimpse into my heartache and recovery journey. It is a series that invites viewers to witness the transformative power of art and the potential of traditional photographic processes to convey deep emotional landscapes. By choosing to work with Collodion Dry Plate negatives and handmade Kallitype prints, I not only preserve the memory of Abby but also create a lasting legacy of artistic expression marked by emotional depth and personal resonance. Each piece in this series is a testament to the enduring impact of love and the cathartic power of artistic creation.
Pictorial Whispers – More Than Art
Each handmade print in the Pictorial Whispers series is a captured echo of love and sorrow, where trees stand as poignant testaments to the memory of my beloved daughter, affectionately known as Peanut.
Through the ethereal embrace of Pictorialism, these stoic beings are transformed into guardians of her legacy, their roots entwined with the depths of my emotions.
This work transcends the realm of visual art; it is a sacred process, a conduit through which I navigate the labyrinth of heartache.
Embracing the 1850s negative process of collodion glass plates, with its inherent imperfections and richness, I have found a profound connection to Abby. The physicality of this medium, with its labor-intensive demands and unique aesthetic, mirrors the intricate complexities of my emotional state.
The complex and constantly evolving chemistry process and the handmade aspect of the workflow all contribute to a deeply personal and expressive narrative. Each image I compose is a stanza of an ongoing dialogue with absence and memory, where the chemical nature of the collodion process adds an almost otherworldly character to the images, blurring the lines between sharp reality and the soft edges of remembrance.
In my handmade photographs, trees are more than mere subjects; they are characters imbued with human emotions, standing as silent witnesses to the internal storm of my grief. They echo my solitude, resonate with my sadness, and yet stand resilient, a reflection of the strength I muster each day.
The dance of light and shadow amidst these arboreal forms is akin to my brushstrokes on this canvas of loss. This interplay becomes my visual language, a means to articulate the indescribable path of mourning and eventual healing. In creating my handmade wet plate collodion negatives and platinum-toned Kallitype contact prints, I find a semblance of peace, a fleeting respite from the relentless grip of emotional pain.
My artistic quest with Pictorial Whispers is to forge an enduring, mystical, and deeply personal collection. In this pursuit, I maintain a profound spiritual bond with Abby, channeling the flux of my emotions—grief, gratitude, and love—into the stillness of the natural world.
Each handmade print is a physical manifestation of my experiences, a testament to the enduring impact of Abby’s presence in my life. Through this process, I hope to offer a visual homage to her memory, crafting expressive artwork that are as singular and special as the moments we shared. Abby’s spirit, her joy, and the name Peanut are forever intertwined with the essence of the trees that I photograph. They are my silent and steadfast companions on a path through the unknown terrain of heartache and recovery.
Kallitype Handmade Printmaking
The Genesis of Kallitype: Dr. W. W. J. Nicol’s Innovation
The process of Kallitype printing was pioneered by Dr. W. W. J. Nicol, a British physician and scientist. Seeking a cost-effective alternative to platinum prints, Dr. Nicol developed this process, naming it Kallitype after the Greek words for beauty (‘kallos’) and impression (‘typos’). His patent in 1889 marked the birth of a new photographic technique that offered similar aesthetic qualities to platinum prints but at a lower cost.
The Chemistry: A Dance of Iron and Silver
At the heart of Kallitype printing lies a unique interplay between iron and silver compounds.
The key components of this process are:
Hand Coating with Ferric Oxalate and Silver Nitrate: The process begins with hand-coating fine art paper with a sensitizer solution. This solution is a mixture of ferric oxalate and silver nitrate. Ferric oxalate serves a dual purpose: it sensitizes the paper to UV light and later, during development, helps reduce silver ions to metallic silver.
Exposure to UV Light: The coated paper is then exposed to ultraviolet light through a negative. In my case, I create collodion dry plate negatives that are optimized for making kallitype prints.
During exposure, the UV light triggers a chemical reaction where the ferric oxalate reduces to ferrous oxalate and in turn, reduces the silver ions from the silver nitrate to metallic silver. This reaction creates a latent image on the paper, visible only after development.
You will see a faint image, so this is why it is critical to create consistent negative densities and perform the necessary testing to get the exposure times correct.
Development and the Reduction Process: Post-exposure, the print is developed in a solution that accelerates reducing the remaining silver ions. The developer typically contains a reducing agent, which reacts with the exposed silver and iron compounds to intensify the image. This stage is crucial as it reveals the latent image formed during exposure.
I prefer sodium citrate as my developer and then I use varying dilutions of potassium dichromate in the developer in the event I need to make some slight adjustments to contrast based on the specific negative.
Toning with Gold or Palladium: Toning is an optional but often employed step to alter the color and increase the durability of the print. Using gold or palladium toners replaces some metallic silver with these metals, giving the print a distinctive color range from warm browns to purples and even blues based on dilution, time, and temperature variables.
Fixing and Washing: The final steps involve fixing the print in a solution like sodium thiosulfate to remove any unexposed silver salts and thoroughly washing it to eliminate residual chemicals.
Artistic Appeal and Textural Elegance
Kallitype prints are celebrated for their broad tonal range and the ability to produce images with a rich depth of blacks and subtle gradations of gray. The hand-coating process allows for a great deal of control and individuality, making each print unique. The texture of the paper and the choice of toner add to the print’s character, appealing to artists and photographers who value the tactile quality of traditional photographic processes.
A palladium or gold-toned print is just as archival as classic platinum/palladium prints. If adequately processed to archival standards, these prints are estimated to last thousands of years so long as the paper substrate isn’t physically damaged.
The Legacy and Modern Resurgence
Kallitype printing is a fascinating blend of chemistry and artistry. Its unique process, involving the intricate interplay of iron and silver compounds under UV light, results in prints that are visually striking and rich in history and texture. This pure analog technique continues to captivate photographers and artists, preserving the legacy of traditional photographic craftsmanship.
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.