ANTHOTYPE

Anthotype is an experimental photographic technique that uses photosensitive pigment from natural materials, such as roots, stems, flowers and fruits.

The pigment is extracted by crushing the plant (or part of it) with some solvent (alcohol and water are the most common), thus forming a photosensitive emulsion.

This emulsion, once applied to a substrate and exposed to light, may create a photographic image by fading or darkening. It’s important to have in mind that this process may take days or weeks in order to generate a distinguishable image.

However, this emulsion reaction continues over time and the image tends to fade, even in indirect light.

And that's why you won't see anthotypes displayed in frames out there!

About experimental techniques: experimentation is not a result, but a process. 1

1 ÁGORA of Experimentation, ‘An experimental photography MANIFESTO’ – “Experimental photography is an attitude and a way of doing things, not a result.”