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Re: alternative processes.

First I'd ask if there is really a resurgence of interest, at least by the
practitioners? Or is that you're just paying attention and finding more than
you'd expected in the US? Or is it that other non-practitioners are paying more attention?

Second, it was digital that got me interested in pt/pd. I bought a digital
camera, inkjet printers, etc. so I could take a photo, enlarge it on the
computer, print out huge prints. I would not have tried to do this using more
traditional techniques since I'm an amateur these days. I quickly found out that
unless I spent about $20,000 on a camera and/or back, the image taken by digital
camera is nothing to get excited about (not just resolution, but also what I
call the blue meanies, or the blue edge fringing on backlit objects). So I
amended the proces to start with 4x5 and larger negatives (yeah, had to buy
whole new camera systems), scan, then follow the path. Meanwhile, I found books
by Dan Burkholder and Carl Weese that pointed me to making digital negatives for
pt/pd prints. Lovely. But, without the interest in doing digital photography, I
would never have gotten to alternative processes.

Pam

"Bussey, Linda" wrote:
> 
> A big hello to everybody out there on the list.
> Wondered if there was anybody out there who can spare a bit of time. I'm a part time student studying BA Fine Art and for my final year
> dissertation I'm doing research into alt processes. What I'm trying to find out is why there has been a resurgence of interest in these
> processes.  As digital imaging, the computer et al is being hailed as the future of photography why are some photographers/artists choosing
> to go back to the roots of photography and in a sense rediscover historical processes? Just what is about alt processes that fires you up
> (the mixing of chemicals, appealing to the mad scientist in us all, the hands on, coating the paper, the way image and substrate become one
> , artistic input, whatever.) I've only just begun to experiment with the processes myself and do feel there is something about them. I just
> need to hear from more of you to get a balanced feedback.
> One interesting discovery I have found is that the atl process movement ( or Post-Factory as Judy Seigel's excellent mag calls it) is
> stronger in America than the UK. I wonder why?
> I was disappointed to hear that the Photo-Historica conference due to have taken place in Bath England this Oct was cancelled due to low
> numbers. This kind of shattered my research so far and made me question whether or not there is actually a resurgence , in the UK at any
> rate.
> My apologies to anyone on the list who has already provided me with feedback on this topic.
> Look forward to hearing from anybody on this.
> Thanks in advance
> Linda Bussey
> (In wet and windy Sheffield UK)

-- 
Pamela G. Niedermayer
Pinehill Softworks Inc.
600 W. 28th St., Suite 103
Austin, TX 78705
512-236-1677
512-236-8143 fax
http://www.pinehill.com