Flora…and the handmade photograph
Every year a friend brings me arum lilies from her garden, and every second year or so, a neighbour’s white magnolia tree blooms. Irresistible subjects for a black and white photographer.
The form, texture and grace of these flowers suggest a print process that can capture their tonal range.
That process uses platinum and palladium.
For each image I made an enlarged digital negative. Under subdued light I coated heavy cotton rag paper with a sensitized platinum/palladium solution, placed the negative in contact with the paper and exposed the ‘sandwich’ under UV light. After clearing and washing the print is left to dry.
I love the “hands on” aspect of making photographs and find it deeply satisfying.
Lyn Arnold
November 2023
