alternative processes

New series: "The lost art of having a deep conversation... "

Exciting…

It is always scary to show new work. Especially when it is different than usual. Scary but in a good way and exciting. That’s the case with this series as well…

“The lost of of having a deep conversation…” started in Morocco. I was having a well deserved holiday which in it’s original incarnation would only consist out of eating a copious amount of delicious food as well as waking up with a view over the old city of Marrakesh, in the company of a good cup of coffee.

Well I go that. And more… I like taking photographs and wiring so much that I do it in my free time as well. Same goes for print making. And during one of the morning I just started shoot… Simple things. Incredible inspiring though. Things don’t always have to be over complicated. Sometimes things are just what they are. And this situation, just incredibly beautiful, is what came to mind. And it is hard not to see why Morocco has not inspired many many many artist.

I didn’t even bring fresh film. Just old expired film that at one point in time was gifted to me and was kept safe in the fridge. Also not even the same types and brands, and took only a couple of rolls. It is what it is and these are the things I have to work with.

It just flowed. And I like it when things just flow. :)

Morocco has a big photographic history, and I can advice anyone who visits the country to dive into this. There is a reason why you see gorgeous photographs in plenty of places around the country. Just be aware and look around you with a open mind. They are everywhere.

I do also recommend going to the House of Photography located in Marrakesh. Besides the gorgeous, and I do mean gorgeous photographs you will see there, you will learn a thing or two about Morocco and their history and photography. Current and classical.

I was looking for a way to print them differently so I experimented with a multitude of alternative processes before I eventually came back to, you can guess it, Gelatin Silver again… I just really love that process that much. Nothing wrong with all the others. But this is just me. I do see the advantages of the others though through the capabilities of artistic freedom they have. If you study the Japanese masters and how they embrace their paper and Platinum Palladium process that is awes inspiring. So I started working with liquid Gelatin Silver as a middle ground. The rich tonalities of silver, yet the freedom of alt.

Somehow I stumbled upon Sandararc varnish which is actually made from a tree from Morocco to finish it. It gives the prints a bit more of a depth and increases the dynamic range a bit. The blacks pop way more, and has a certain 3 dimensional feel to it which does not come across on a computer screen. But to be fair, I am a firm believer in experiencing things for real anyway.

The entire series took about 3 months. From the developing of the film part to the last print.

This, in a way is just a technical explanations though. Which does not matter at all…

I would like to see that everyone who takes their valuable time who has a look at it. Hopefully during an exhibition one day, or on their computer. To experience it the same way as I do. So please don’t look at it on your phone.

It is a poem. Nothing more, nothing less…

The words go along with the photographs and are intertwined. You cannot have one without the other. What it is about, it on the viewer and reader to decide that. And in a way it can be anything if you approach it like that.

That is the beauty of art, no?

It is nothing more than just the result of a hopeless romantic which shares a connection with his cup of coffee, the morning sun, and a cat.

~ Cristian

You can find the new series on the project page or just use the navigation bar.

Lith printing.

If you have been following my stories a bit you've seen that I've been experimenting with alternative processes instead of my regular process. The reason is just to have a bigger pallet of skills in my regular practice. It's something I've learned from being an athlete. Broaden hour horizon, and you will have more insights in your main thing. :)

So in this case I've been figuring out the process called Lith printing. If you are a fan of i.e. Anton Corbijn there was a phase that his printer used the lith technique as well.

As you can see there is a heavy color to mine and to his are none. But that depends on so many variables as well as paper used. And the paper I used here was fomatone since it is easily available and liths very well. There are not many papers available nowadays that lith very well, so it seemed like a logical choice.

Anyways to make a long story short. Printing is amazing and I just wanted to share an experiment. :)

Thanks @hetfotovakhuishaarlem for the scan and @contrastique for helping out with the negative. And @captain.forkbeerd for being a the bearded day dreamer.