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al·che·my
/ˈalkəmē/ noun a seemingly magical process of transformation, creation, or combination |
Alchemy is life itself.
Perpetual transformation.
A new moment awaits you always.
Printing alchemy is where my passion for photography began. The ethereal moment when memories become matter.
The tangible, hand-made print is an art form in and of itself. It requires a certain type of patience and passion for spontaneity to appreciate the unpredictable nature of alchemy. I believe magic lies in the variables beyond human control and our openness to witnessing reality.
The photographs I make are bijou; as humble and intimate as the moments they convey.
The tangible, hand-made print is an art form in and of itself. It requires a certain type of patience and passion for spontaneity to appreciate the unpredictable nature of alchemy. I believe magic lies in the variables beyond human control and our openness to witnessing reality.
The photographs I make are bijou; as humble and intimate as the moments they convey.
Photogravure Process
Photogravures are where printmaking and photography collide.
Photographic positives are exposed onto a light-sensitive, polymer-coated plate. During the development process the image is etched into the polymer and hardened under UV light for printing.
The plate is then inked, wiping away the excess so all that remains is embedded in the etched image. The plate is places face-up on a barrel etching press, a piece of dampened paper is placed directly on top of the plate, and both are rolled through the press under immense pressure. Through this process, the etching ink transfers to the paper along with an impression of the metal plate.
This traditional printmaking technique creates extremely detailed prints, rich in tone and texture. Many variables contribute to the final print. This makes for one-of-a-kind, limited edition prints that are timeless.
Photographic positives are exposed onto a light-sensitive, polymer-coated plate. During the development process the image is etched into the polymer and hardened under UV light for printing.
The plate is then inked, wiping away the excess so all that remains is embedded in the etched image. The plate is places face-up on a barrel etching press, a piece of dampened paper is placed directly on top of the plate, and both are rolled through the press under immense pressure. Through this process, the etching ink transfers to the paper along with an impression of the metal plate.
This traditional printmaking technique creates extremely detailed prints, rich in tone and texture. Many variables contribute to the final print. This makes for one-of-a-kind, limited edition prints that are timeless.
"The photogravure process is a meditation on impermanence and the transient nature of being. As each print becomes richer in tone, color and texture, the plate degrades with each inking and pull through the press. It is this moment of simultaneous creation and destruction that I find most intriguing about the process." ~nj |
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Pt/Pd Printing
One of the original photographic printing processes, platinum prints are prized for their lengthened tonal range and archival longevity. Unlike any other printing process, the midtones of a platinum print are more evenly distributed with greater detail in the darkest shadows and delicacy in the highlights of the print.
Platinum printing requires a large negative, the size of the final print, as it is a contact printing method. The paper, or substrate of choice, is hand-coated with equal parts of sensitizer (ferric oxalate) and metal salts. In addition, a restrainer (oxidizer) is added to control contrast. Upon exposure to light, a faint image appears. During the development process, the iron salts are converted to Pt/Pd, thus etching the image into the paper.
Platinum/Palladium printing is nearly as old as the medium of photography itself.
Platinum printing requires a large negative, the size of the final print, as it is a contact printing method. The paper, or substrate of choice, is hand-coated with equal parts of sensitizer (ferric oxalate) and metal salts. In addition, a restrainer (oxidizer) is added to control contrast. Upon exposure to light, a faint image appears. During the development process, the iron salts are converted to Pt/Pd, thus etching the image into the paper.
Platinum/Palladium printing is nearly as old as the medium of photography itself.
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"The platinum process produces photographs of unrivaled beauty and permanence. The detail in a Pt/Pd print is exquisite. The matte finish and visible grain in the paper lends itself to crisp, well-defined edges, subtle tonal gradations and luminescent highlights. " ~nj |
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Nicholette Jean is a multidisciplinary artist based in Portland, Oregon.
She received her BA in photography from the University of Nevada, Reno. Her work is characterized by a balance between the personal and environmental. Her photographs draw on both the inner landscapes of emotional trauma, healing and recovery and the natural landscapes showing humanity’s inevitable connection to and impact on place. |
"Photography is a way of feeling, of touching, of loving. What you have caught on film is captured forever... it remembers little things, long after you have forgotten everything”
- AARON SISKIND