The Pictorialists, a group of photographers
active between the years 1880 to 1920, worked using the Platinum process
extensively because of its delicacy and range of tones and its potential
for expressing the characteristics of more traditional art making methods
such as drawing and etching. Championed by Alfred Steiglitz and the
Photo Secession/ Platinum was used by almost all of the great photographers
during this time including Edward Weston/ Edward Steichen/ and Imogen
Cunningham. The process virtually disappeared during World War I when
platinum, mined primarily in Russia/ was diverted to the war effort.
Due to it's scarcity, the cost of thejnetal became prohibitive. Because
of its ease of manufacturing, availibility, and cost, silver gelatin
became the dominant light sensitive material, a fact that continues
to this day. Where once there had been 20 commercial companies supplying
platinum paper, by 1930 the last company went out of business. The
early 1980's saw a renewed interest in alternative processes of image
making of which platinum was only one of many. This has revitalized
the medium, producing a renaissance in this beautiful print making
process. Today, it is estimated only 400 people around the world are
full time platinum printers. A platinum print is considered by many
to be the quintessential black and white photograph.
A FEW WORDS ABOUT
THE PROCESS...
Invented in 1873, platinum printing is one of the
oldest photographic processes, noted for its subtlety in rendering
the tonalities
of the middle grays and it's almost 3-dimensional depth. Like chess,
platinum printing is easy to learn, yet takes years to master.
It is the most archival or long lasting of all photographs. Impervious
to
light fading and acid damage, it is capable of lasting 1000 years without
change. Platinum prints are contact prints-the photographs are the
size of the negatives. They cannot be enlarged. The final size of the
print is achieved in one of two ways. Either the negative is enlarged
in the darkroom or digitally, or more commonly a large camera is used,
such as 11 X 14 or 14 X 17 inch cameras. Each image is the result of
an intricate series of steps. The process begins with blank sheets
of specialized paper. This paper is usually humidified before coating.
Several different light sensitive compounds in water are mixed with
platinum and/or palladium, a closely related metal, and applied to
the paper. Using a brush or a glass rod, the solution is spread evenly
over the paper. The paper is dried and then rehumidified. The negative
is placed on the paper and both are put into a contact printing frame.
Traditionally the sun was used for exposure. Now UV light sources are
used. Exposure times range from 8 minutes to two hours. The print is
developed, cleared, washed, and then dried. It generally takes over
an hour to make one print. Different papers, developers, developer
temperatures, and other toners such as gold and even uranium, allow
the artist to make images ranging from steely greys to warm sepias,
allowing a great range of expressive qualities. Because of the number
of variables involved, such as changes of humidity, age of the chemistry,
paper batch, and the position of the moon, platinum printers must have
a great deal of patience and forbearance. For these reasons, no two
prints are ever alike.
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