The Handmade Photograph

As we move deeper into the digital world of pixels and megabytes, there has been a counterbalance taking place—a quiet but steady growth of interest in antique photo processes and alternative ways to print images. The Handmade Photograph workshop offers a wonderful opportunity to discover and explore both historic photographic processes as well as printing on alternative surfaces with a team of instructors.

The medium of photography began in the 1800s after the discovery of the use of heavy metals to dye fabrics using water as a catalyst. Today, these historical photo printmaking processes are still available and known as Alt Pro Photography. This revered but little-known part of the photographic world uses sunlight, heavy metals, and water to create a photographic print.

Christi Wiltenburg and Dana Sullivan, from famed Alt Pro champion and Santa Fe-based Bostick & Sullivan, lead this workshop. They start the week by teaching the important initial step of making digital negatives — a process they have refined with specific curves and adjustments in Photoshop before the actual negative is printed on a calibrated printer with transparency film. Then Christi and Dana introduce workshop participants to three of the most popular historic processes: Cyanotypes, Van Dyke Brown, and Platinum Palladium.

After experimenting with these processes, the next step is to combine them, add toners, and work with photogram compositions. Adding to the wealth of creative possibilities, various alternative printmaking techniques including transfers and printing on various substrates round out this full week.

A field trip to Bostick & Sullivan’s studio on Friday afternoon brings a fitting end to this unique immersion into the world of handmade photographs. Come join the summer fun as Santa Fe’s two world-renown photographic organizations combine their respective resources and teaching talent.

Special support from: