The light here today was super lovely. It’s been raining and it’s cool today. I really try to take advantage of this incredible light when it’s here. I’m so grateful for it! I was supposed to be cleaning and organizing my studio and darkroom, and making new chemistry today. I let all that go and made a couple of new negatives for my project. The light was just too nice to pass up. I regret it when I don’t take advantage of it.
The first one, plate #106 is a vertical image of the same little Ponderosa Pine sitting in the middle of a huge (granite) rock bed. I have a beautiful landscape (oriented) of the same scene. That one is a dry collodion negative. I printed it as a Palladiotype and modern Kallitype. This new one is a wet collodion negative. It will be printed as an “old school” Kallitype.
The second plate, plate #107 is the same scene I made an image of a week or two ago. The light today really enhances the quality of the wood and little flowers. It was actually raining when I made these exposures. I love the ground and all of the wood wet. It gives it a rich and deep look.
So why did I make new negatives of the same scenes? Well, I’m seriously considering making a book of this work. Not a “printing press” book, or Amazon book, but a handmade, hand-bound book. Another true work of art. Can you imagine? Art wrapped in art. I’m remaking some of the work so that the images are all vertical. I’m not sure if that will matter or not, but that was the thought. And again, the light!
The book would consist of the prints, and writing bound together on rag paper (the actual prints). The text will accompany the prints on the opposite pages and will be printed as well. More on that later. I’m still working out the details, but feel really good about this direction.
I’m thinking rather than having “hanging” exhibitions, it would be interesting to have the handmade book available to view - one or two people at a time. That idea of intimacy really resonates with me. That’s how I would like this work to be seen. Not framed and behind glass, hanging on a wall. Up close and personal. And then there’s the metaphor of the book. Stephen King said, "books are a uniquely portable magic." I couldn’t agree more. I know people nowadays don’t read much. And some say that books (the physical ones) are going away. It’s a scary thought, but it has some merit. Technology is a double-edged sword for sure.
I’ll write about this more in the future. As I always say, things change. This is just a general direction for now, stay tuned to see what happens!
This print is on Arches paper and is not toned. I’ll make a book print on HPR or Revere Platinum tomorrow.