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Old 22nd January 2010, 08:53 AM
DavidC DavidC is offline
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Default Hello From Cambridge....

Dave said I should introduce myself so here goes, my name is David Chow and I specialise in Alternative Photographic Printing Techniques. I shoot with all manner of cameras included large and medium format film as well as digital and teach workshops in Cyanotype and Platinum/Palladium printing as well as providing introductory half day workshops on a number of Alternative Processes including Cyanotype, Kalitype, Photopolymer-gravure, Wet Plate and Platinum/Palladium printing

I starting learning Alternative processes some 8 years ago as I became dissatisfied with prints I was producing via inkjet and in the darkroom. Although they were technically perfect, to me they had something missing that I could not quite put my finger on. This all changed when I viewed a book of Sally Mann’s Platinum prints that was created and published by 21st Editions (www.21stEditions.com), a small publisher and printing press based in Massachusetts. The book contained 10 bound platinum prints that were simply breathtaking, both from an aesthetic and technical point of view. They depicted the artist’s graceful figure and drapery studies that were taken in 1978, preceding the Immediate Family (1992) series of images that the artist is perhaps best known for. It was the first time I had viewed a platinum print, and I was astonished by the subtle yet powerful quality of such prints, radiating gentle warmth with delicate high tones and rich details in the shadows. They indeed had an almost three-dimensional quality to them. I was totally inspired and determined to somehow incorporate some of the magic seen in this book of platinum prints into my own personal work.

Over the subsequent years I found myself on a journey of discovery as I attempted to learn all I could about alternative photographic printing techniques. I initially learned how to make cyanotypes as it was an inexpensive way to learn how to coat and expose alternative prints (this has now become especially useful when I coating large 20x24inch Cyanotype & Platinum prints for myself and others)

Following this I moved on to photogravure (polymer), I researched and printed extensively with this process for a year whilst studying for MA in Printmaking at the Cambridge School of Art. As much as I loved the results from this process I found it to be quite unreliable, I still print occasionally with this process but it is not a favourite of mine.

This was followed by experiments in Kalitype, another process which I like but had problems with and finally onto Platinum/Palladium printing, a process that I dearly love. When I set about learning this process I searched far a wide for any workshops that were able to teach me the process, mainly because the initial start up costs can be quite high and I wanted to make sure this was a alternative processes I was going to pursue, however there were none available in the U.K so I taught myself and now am able to teach others this exquisite printing process.

I have learnt over the years that choosing the right subject matter as well as understanding the unique aesthetic qualities a platinum print has (and knowing how to best take advantage of these) is the key to creating beautiful prints with this alternative printing process, a point I try to convey to all who I teach.

I will sign off now but if anyone needs any help or advice in starting various alternative processes please feel free to email me and I will try to give the best advice I can, I will also try to become an active member of this forum as it seems to be a nice place to hang around.

Last edited by DavidC; 22nd January 2010 at 08:58 AM.
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Old 22nd January 2010, 08:57 AM
Dave miller Dave miller is offline
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Welcome David, and thank you for such a comprehensive introduction.
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Old 22nd January 2010, 09:03 AM
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Trevor Crone Trevor Crone is offline
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Welcome to the forum David and good to have you on board
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Old 22nd January 2010, 09:15 AM
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Welcome David I'm glad you found us. I look forward to seeing your work, hopefully the 'real thing' at at future fadu gathering?
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Old 22nd January 2010, 09:29 AM
DavidC DavidC is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Barry View Post
Welcome David I'm glad you found us. I look forward to seeing your work, hopefully the 'real thing' at at future fadu gathering?
Thanks Dave, Trevor and Barry. Attending a Fadu gathering sounds like a great idea, when's the next one and where is it going to be held?
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Old 22nd January 2010, 09:34 AM
Dave miller Dave miller is offline
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Quote:
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Thanks Dave, Trevor and Barry. Attending a Fadu gathering sounds like a great idea, when's the next one and where is it going to be held?
Follow this link for details.
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Old 22nd January 2010, 10:01 AM
Richard Gould Richard Gould is offline
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hi David and welcome to the forum looking forward to your input and to seeing some of your work,Richard
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Old 22nd January 2010, 11:48 AM
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Hello DavidC and welcome to FADU. Thank you for taking the time to do your introduction which I enjoyed reading.

Neil.
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Old 22nd January 2010, 11:55 AM
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Welcome to FADU David and Thanks for the comprehensive introduction.

Looking forward to seeing your work in the future.

Bill
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Old 22nd January 2010, 12:49 PM
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Andrew Bartram Andrew Bartram is offline
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A warm welcome from another Cambridgeshire inhabitant
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