The 4 colour prints using his own process are really exceptional. Superb
colour and tonality with full detail in both shadows and highlights and
absolutely perfect registration. A superb still life with fruit that
really reproduced the surface qualities of an apple etc in a way that I've
not seen bettered photographically, and many other fine prints. Certainly
some of the most exciting alt-photo prints I've seen - and a noticeable
improvement on his earlier Heliochrome process (of which he also showed me
some examples.)
Of course you all have the opportunity to judge for yourself as some of
his prints are just one of a number of treats promised for the exhibition
at the Royal Photographic Society in Bath in connection with the
forthcoming APIS at the start of July.
Also of interest to those on this list were a number of direct carbon
prints that Dunstan made some years ago - which appeared visually
identical to 'Fresson' or 'carbondir' prints, and had been developed in
the same way with a sawdust slurry. Again they were fine prints, even if
they can't be called 'Fresson' not having been made by the company.
I gained the impression that there are no real secrets - all the necessary
information has been published, and that it is more a matter of working at
getting the techniques right rather than any special tricks. There is a
big gap between having the recipe and directions written down and actually
being able to perform these successfully. Dr Perera has certainly shown it
can be done.
Peter Marshall
On Fixing Shadows and elsewhere:
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~ds8s
Family Pictures, German Indications, London demonstrations &
The Buildings of London etc: http://www.spelthorne.ac.uk/pm/