gum platinum . . . ?

Greetings all,

I've just stumbled upon a remarkable image from the Eastman archives, a
self portrait by one Alvin Langdon Coburn
(http://www.eastman.org/9_colphoto/9_coll/9ninetw/9n07.htm) entitled
The Copper Plate Press. The image is characterized as a gum platinum
print.

I have a constellation of questions about this image, and trust the
list to clue me in, to wit:

        -- who was Alvin Langdon Coburn?

        -- what is (was. . . ?) a copper plate press?

        -- do we have recipes for "gum platinum" prints, and are any of us
doing them?

        -- what's with the garb Alvin is wearing? (i.e., do the hood,
drawstring, and forearm pad bear significance to the printing process?).

        -- was the backdrop paper, canvas, muslin. . . or a precursory
Photoshop plug-in, perhaps? (:~>)

        -- would this print have been toned, and if so, how?

I dunno. . . .

I'm just up late, browsing and wondering. . . .

My best to all,
John
__________________________
John Campbell
PhotoGecko Studios & Gallery
1413 South First Street
Austin, Tx 78704

(512) 797-9375

www.photogecko.com
Received on Fri Nov 28 22:22:26 2003