Hello. I'm leaning towards alternative processes!!!!!! I've been a committed traditional black and white worker, not fussed on colour, but REALLY interested in using a recently acquired 10x8 Deardorff to try some contact printing with a view to "experiencing" a platinum print! I need a book to refer to - this is all new to me so an "easy" read would be helpful! Any advice?

Check out the bostick-sullivan.com website as they have an overview of the books available. They are also having the APIS convention coming up in July for alt processes.

While your at it, you may be interested in trying the ziatype process that uses sunlight as the UV source untill you either buy or build an exposure unit. It's a quick way to get a fix for a reasonably close alt process, and there is really no darkroom needed per se'. Just a room with low incandescent lighting for coating. You also don't need to develop out the print.

I had the pleasure of seeing a variety of alternative works by JT Saterlee and Matt Magruder (scootermn) at the Texas workshop. The work was excellent.
JT showed several mondracage (sp?) prints and Matt had Van Dykes and cyanotypes.

What I have gathered from Matt and others on APUG is that your best route to success is to start out with one of the simpler processes such as Kallitype or van dyke. It is far less expensive, more forgiving, yet provides the opportunity to learn about coating, exposing and chemistry.

For a real good overview of a variety of processes check out the following sites.

http://unblinkingeye.com/index.html

http://www.mikeware.demon.co.uk/index.html#anchor931815

http://www.alternativephotography.com/

Doesn't matter what you do or where you start. You're screwed now, buddy. Say goodbye to everything you've ever loved, because your brain is about to make an abrupt turn that leads to utter, complete and hopeless obsession.

This could be the cocaine board.

Go to the B&S web site and order "The New Platinum Print." It is a great introduction to working with traditional platinum and ziatype. Once you have read it a couple of times, buy Dick Arentz' book on platinum printing. It is the platinum standard for books on platinum printing. It gets very technical, but is excellent. I also recommend you sttart with the Arentz' set of chemicals from B&S.

I started with Dick Arentz's "Platinum & Palladium printing" and Sullivan/Weese "the new platinum print" both are excellent books and between them you will have all the information you will ever need. I am partial to the Arentz's books since it teaches you how to calibrate your printing times, has a lot of info on papers and even if you decided to use (god forbid! :) ) digital negatives it has a chapter on it. It is a very complete book.

If you want to explore other processes, the book "Comming into focus" edited by John Barnier is also very informative. Each of the Chapter authors made a quick list of the materials and methods required for their chosen topic, so it gives the basic info needed to try any of the processes presented.

Good luck.

Then come back here and ask lots of questions because this place is a hell of a lot more informative than any book I have read on the subject.

If you want to explore other processes, the book "Comming into focus" edited by John Barnier is also very informative. Each of the Chapter authors made a quick list of the materials and methods required for their chosen topic, so it gives the basic info needed to try any of the processes presented.

Good luck.

Was hoping someone would mention this book, could not remember the name of it...Thanks Jorge!! :)

For some on-line information check out the web sites below. .


Keith Schreiber
http://www.zianet.com/jkschreiber/index.html

Jeffrey Mathiass
http://home.att.net/~jeffrey.d.mathias/

Eric Neilsen
http://e.neilsen.home.att.net/PapersPositionsComments.html

Sandy King

If you want to have a look at a platinum printing session on 21 pictures

http://payral.club.fr/tirage_pd/tirage.html

(sorry in French) but pictures say everything