"Edge of Sky and Water" ~ Gum Dichromate Print

 A second print I was able to complete with this round of printing. The photograph is from the view of a sunset from a Caribbean beach. Having owned a 36' Morgan Out Island for some years, sailing is dear to my heart. Seeing the sailboat cruising south, across my view of said sunset, it was one of the 'gimme's' a photographer is  handed  every once in a while.

I interpreted this image slightly differently than the original real deal. Sun sets have many layers of yellow ochres, oranges, and reds of many hues. Being color blind in red/green, that is dicey territory to be working in. I simplified the sunset sky to the rustic orange of skies over Caribbean Islands I had seen so many times. This was a six color print run. What I was after was the transition from the blue of the water in the foreground and the warm earth tones of the sky that met it, right at the edge of the sailboat's path.

Gum Dichromate Print

"Edge of Sky and Water"

"Doctor's Bag" ~ Gum Dichromate Print

 When you reach elder age, life gets really interesting in ways not even thought of earlier in life. I continue to make progress with the gum printing, which, at this time is about the only printing I'm doing at this time. Not that I have a definitive plan on it.

This image is one of my older ones, shot forty years ago while visiting an old building in central Oregon. At that time, I photographed subject matter that simply captured my attention. I was also mostly printing silver gelatin enlargements, and had only begun making gum prints. Also at that time, I was hesitant to print this image, wondering if it was an image worth printing. Same as now. Difference being  now, I'm printing it in gum as I had originally visualized the setting at the time. 

As Edward Weston noted, concerning viewing an image was to be "the strongest way of seeing" said print. The interesting part of that being that tends to be a bit subjective, leaving the photographer to interpret it the best way they can, at the time. That was mine.

Simple print image of an actual doctor's bag, in use at the time, in a rural setting. This print was eleven printings and even more color mixes, using split color print runs. The bag was not a doctor's 'black bag', but  a natural color leather bag; as I remember it. What I had of the image was on a b&w negative.

Gum Dichromate Print ~ Unique

"Doctor's Bag" 8"x10" 

"Lady in Light" ~ Gum Dichromate Print [Reprinted]

 This print image demanded my reprinting it, getting it right. The idea behind the  first go of it had to do with attempting to add mixed and blended colors to the background, in a way, mimicking a version of Impressionism. It's possible, if done right, and if the printer actually  sees the fuller color spectrum, and has the taste and sense to do said mixing and blending in such a way as to leave the printed image pleasant for viewing. I didn't like it.

The second printing was approached in a different way, use of different colors, in a different order. This one is what I had previsualized it to be, sans the Impressionism part. Some day. This was a ten color run, with better textural detail. The first print was destroyed. There can only be one of each image.

Gum Dichromate Print

"Lady in Light"

"Caribbean Beach" ~ Gum Dichromate Print

This print is part of several Caribbean images I want to print. Upcoming prints will be Caribbean sunset images in 11"x14". This one being a mid day shot. I am also now favoring softer colors, more in line with pastel colors rather than the brighter primary colors I have been using.

This print required eight print layers to accommodate the different and areas variant from standard color layering. There was a good deal of local coating for any semblance of color separation between said visual areas. I have also been printing in the skies of the more recent prints far more softer, lighter, than previously. I have been seeking a soft, light blue, just above what might be a light gray. Don't ask me why, it's just a personal thing that tends to change over time. The biggest challenge for me is digitally copying the original print, considering lighting conditions, camera work, and my being pretty much color blind in red/green. It should be at least close to the original.

I stand corrected. There happened to be a color sighted individual that was kind enough  to tell me what they saw of the digital image as posted here. Not what I had thought. The barely light blue sky just above gray, isn't apparently. It's slightly green with a little yellow showing through, which means the blue I added failed to cover that up. The water is not blue/green, at all, and about the only portion of the image being the beach, which should be in the gray arena, the fence, which should be brown(ish) [burnt sienna].and the palm tree, which I am told is green(ish), which I can't see. Hopefully, for the color sighted, the accumulative visual effect is pleasing, or at least interesting.

Gum Dichromate Print

"Caribbean Beach"  8x10

"Last Sailing Ship" ~ Gum over Palladium Print

 The world continues to spin, and all the things demanding one's time continues to spin as well. This latest print was in the works for three weeks before completion. To arrive at the color separations I was after necessitated printing split color layering, and that takes more time.

The color fidelity of the print's digital copy is in question as it doesn't appear, even to me, as saturated as the original print. An outcome mostly attributed to being mostly color blind to red/green. I just do the best I can under the circumstances.

This print image needed local color layering for best results, and of course that takes a lot more print times. All told, there are eight color print layers over the original palladium  print. This print image finishes the 'sailing ship' images I have planned for printing.

Gum over Palladium Print

"Last Sailing Ship" ~ 11"x14"