It has been some time since my last post, with a number of things getting in between my desire to get to my darkroom, and the reality at hand. Reality won out. I was able to put the final layers of color on the print I've been working on. A photo taken from the dinner table at Eladios Restaurant in Progresso, Yucatan, Mexico. Highly recommended restaurant. The larger section of the main dining area is a Pallapa style design, with viewing all around. This restaurant sits right next to the Malacón, with early evening activities, observable from the tables. This particular late afternoon, a squall was building in the distance, off shore. The wind was up, yet the activity along the Malacón was unaffected, casual as usual in that town.
This print was amazingly complex to make. I wanted soft colors representing the image, not bright, brilliant colors normally seen in many Mexican towns. What caught my eye was the color of the sky, warm toned, slightly ominous, and the activity on the Malecón, with pastel colors, light up from stray sunshine. This was a turn in your chair, frame and snap, image. Not tripod setup, calculated exposures and timeless waiting for the exact right moment. Sometimes it just works out all of its own.
This image derives from the Progresso Portfolio, of palladium prints. This image was meant for gum printing, to achieve the mood of that moment This gum was an eleven print layer print. One of the reasons it took so long to complete. I spent much time analysing the image, working out the color to be used, and in which order they would be printed, how shear to make them, and all the other considerations made during the gum printing process. My biggest consideration is getting the colors right, being I'm all but color blind to red/green, which makes printing colors a bit dicey for me. Overall, I'm happy with the outcome. The original is a bit richer than the digital copy. A casualty of copying the print with a 20 year old digital camera.
Gum Dichromate Print ~ Unique
“Building Storm” ~ 11”x14”
Progresso, Yucatan, Mexico
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