This medium was the first time I started thinking of objects as negatives.
What are Phytograms?
Phytograms are a great way to repurpose photosensitive material that was accidently exposed to light. Instead of creating an image by blocking light, In this process objects are soaked in a plant-based photographic developer, placed directly onto photographic paper, and left to expose.
Unlike traditional darkroom printing, this process can be carried out in daylight because the developer blackens the paper only where it touches. Continuous tone is .achievable, and with some practice the image can be very detailed.
Findings:
Exposure time is only one variable. The strength of the developer also determines how deep the blacks become, making chemistry more important than light.
Each species of plant behaves differently. Absorption, moisture content, and contact with the paper all influence the final image, making experimentation an essential part of the process.
Environmental note:
The plant-based developer itself is non-toxic, however during fixing, unexposed silver halides are removed from the paper and enter the fixer, meaning the chemical waste must still be handled and disposed of responsibly.
Working with phytograms changed how I think about photography. Instead of using light to describe an object, the object itself becomes the mechanism that creates the image.
