Artist, Ben Cauchi creates surrealistic and dreamlike photographic works, using the technique such as Ambrotype and Tintype, which were used in around 1850 after the Daguerreotype, the first commercially successful photographic print in the history. This old printing technique seems to be sought after with its capacity of printing one photograph only. Compared to other mediums such as paintings, photographic medium has been less valued due to its possibility of limitless copies. And the advanced technology added the preconception of ‘easiness’ of creating images by clicking shutters regardless they are good quality or not.

The term, ‘Alternative photographic process’  was referred for the historical non-silver process before silver gelatin or c-type process.  Now the broad term, ‘alternative’ appears to include all film processing works in this digital era.

My interest in photography is also started from the hand-on experience of silver gelatin process in a dark room, where I as an author of the work, could control the whole photographic process.

And my next ‘alternative process’ experience was Salt printing, which I developed through the workshop run by Ellie Young at Gold Street Studios. Later, two of salt print works of self-portrait, Untitled were acquired by Brunswick street gallery for the ‘2010 Small Work Prize’.

I have been interesting in trying ‘Photogravure’ printing to adapt printmaking techniques to my photographic work. Now this printing process is called ‘Photopolymer print’ or ‘Solar print’  as it utilise UV light and non toxic polymer plates are used instead of copper plates. This technique led me to further experiments of other printmaking methods, including etching, silk screen and viscosity printing.

 

With an attempt to try a less complicated process, I developed new works through ‘Gum bichromate’ process, which requires only three ingredients: Gum Arabic, potassium dichromate and watercolour. It is a simple process but is quite time consuming as the print requires several layers of exposure to UV light and colouring for a better visual result. However the effects of color tones controlled by the choice of water soluble pigments, made me forget how much time passed.

Another relatively easy but charming process is ‘Polaroid transfer/emulsion lift’. The typical Polaroid film 669 for this process is hard to get nowadays and ‘Fuji 100c film’  becomes the excellent alternative as long as the stock last. My work, Madonna Munch Self, Vinly was exhibited in Medium Vinly 2011 at Hardware gallery.