Imagemaking outside the (camera)box

Yes, I’m cheating a bit now…. My blog is about film photography, and this post has nothing at all to do with film or for that matter, not camera either.

But I got so inspired when I found out about this kind of image making on Flickr a while ago, and just had to try it myself.

I’m talking about Lumen prints. You can find excellent images and more info at Flickr, and my contacts Diane and John, they are both very generous with information.

But to explain shortly: I put my small daffodils on a photographic paper from my darkroom, put it all in a contact sheet frame and out into the sun for several hours. Then I scanned the paper, then I fixed it all for a minute or so, rinsed it carefully to get rid of ALL fixer. Then I toned the image in a bath with diluted goldtoner. It dried overnight, and then I scanned it again.

I’m not sure about the gold toner, or the dilution of it, but I guess it is all about trial and error…. 😉

I have done this a couple of times now, but this is the first result I like myself. And I can’t wait until the snow is gone, and it is starting to grow out in the nature again…..

I hope you will enjoy! 🙂

Tete-a-tete
Ilford Multigrade Warmtone paper
Hypam fix
Tetenal Goldtoner
Scanned BEFORE fixing and toning

Tete-a-tete
Ilford Multigrade Warmtone paper
Hypam fix
Tetenal Goldtoner
Scanned AFTER fixing and toning

Tags: alternative process, analog photography, analogue photography, art, fine art, gold toner, Ilford Multigrade FB Warmtone, lumen, Lumen art, Lumen print, photogram, photography, wet darkroom

18 thoughts on “Imagemaking outside the (camera)box”

JK Bevill - Lost Creek Publishing on April 11, 2013 at 15:46 said:

Fantastic! Wonderful!

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- Marie on April 11, 2013 at 21:22 said:
  
  Thanks a lot! 🙂
  
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jesús joglar on April 11, 2013 at 15:55 said:

these “shots” are incredibly beautiful, Marie, wonderful work!!!

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- Marie on April 11, 2013 at 21:24 said:
  
  Thank you very much Jesús, I’m happy you like them. 🙂
  
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hemadamani on April 11, 2013 at 18:01 said:

beautiful!!

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- Marie on April 11, 2013 at 21:24 said:
  
  Thank you. 🙂
  
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fgassette on April 11, 2013 at 20:27 said:

STUNNING!

BE ENCOURAGED! BE BLESSED!

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- Marie on April 11, 2013 at 21:25 said:
  
  Thank you Francine. 🙂
  
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Richard Guest on April 11, 2013 at 20:57 said:

Wonderful!

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- Marie on April 11, 2013 at 21:25 said:
  
  Thanks Richard. 🙂
  
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Luddy's Lens on April 12, 2013 at 04:16 said:

Fascinating results, Marie! I’ve read that goldtoning helps protect against fading (in addition to preserving colors). Does that seem to be true?

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- Marie on April 12, 2013 at 09:12 said:
  
  Thanks a lot Luddy! 🙂
  I read that too, and I did not know whether I should fix it or not before the toning. So I fixed it, and then toned it, and I think that was wrong, I didn’t see a difference after the fading from the fix, so next time I’ll tone the image without fixing first. And I didn’t know if the goldtoner should be used without dilution or not.
  I guess there is a LOT of trial with this….. hehe….
  
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lautal on April 12, 2013 at 18:58 said:

That is something different and creative. Looking great.

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- Marie on April 13, 2013 at 21:33 said:
  
  Thank you very much!
  
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jdtphotography.co.uk on April 16, 2013 at 17:37 said:

Fantastic Maire . I do so love visiting your blog and seeing how you are pushing the boundaries with your image taking and developing. Once again terrific and I am so looking forward to the next post. Have a wonderful week.

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etiennedezutter on April 23, 2013 at 17:28 said:

alternative photography , just a new discovery for me .With the natural color- use of pkants and herbs .Anthocyane photography,

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rynnasaryonnah on April 28, 2013 at 14:45 said:

Very interesting. But it sounds like a lot of work!

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simon0252 on April 28, 2013 at 18:54 said:

Beautiful prints, Marie. This is something I want to try myself, your work is an inspiration.

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