PORTRAIT ON PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM
THE PERFECT BLACK AND WHITE
Deep blacks, an infinity of incredible tones and details.
Your perfect Portrait
A PORTRAIT ON PLATINUM AND PALLADIUM
WHEN PERFECTION IS EVERYTHING
There is a reason if art galleries around the world appreciate a Platinum and Palladium print: it is simply perfect and has an indefinite duration.
An authorial portrait printed with this ancient technique, dating back to 1872, is a monument to beauty that can be admired without ever getting tired.
FROM 1872 WITH LOVE
Printing a portrait of Platinum and Palladio was the spark that made me fall in love with the magical world of the ancient authorial print. It is a source of pride to be among the few Italian photographers to be able to offer my clients such a precious and rare print.
One of the peculiarities of almost all ancient techniques is the brush application of the sensitive emulsion. This operation makes the work unique and gives it its characteristic jagged edge appearance.
After having prepared the exact quantity of Platinum and Palladium solution, calculated in drops, I spread the emulsion with a soft brush and let it rest to let the paper absorb it completely.
The paper is placed in contact with the created ad hoc negative and exposed in an handmade ultraviolet oven for several minutes. At the end of the process the photograph must be developed, fixed and washed in a process that lasts about an hour.
A Platinum and Palladium print is virtually eternal since the two precious metals are extremely stable. This translates into a print that remains almost unchanged over time.
Ritratto su Platino e Palladio – Tiziana 2019
THE EXPERIENCE
To create your Authorial Portrait on Platinum and Palladium, we will proceed in two distinct phases.
The first part will be a 10/15 minute portrait session during which we will take several photographs. Unlike the Wet Plate Collodion technique, where we have only one chance to take a good shot, with this technique we can take advantage of digital photography so we will choose the ideal candidate for the Platinum and Palladium print.
The second part will be linked to the printing of the photograph with the creation of an internegative. This digital file will be printed on a transparent support.
While the negative is drying, we will prepare the paper and, after about 30 minutes from the beginning of the second part, we will be able to start the actual printing process.
The whole experience will last between 2 and 3 hours.
The printing process – Cecilia e Francesco 2019
As previously said, therefore, you can follow the whole printing process like with the Wet Plate Collodion experience.
Platinum and Palladium is not sensitive to visible light therefore it will be possible to work with attenuated light without the need for a dark room.
The portrait on Platinum and Palladium that I propose passes through a digital phase which allows, if necessary or desirable, the possibility of post production. This means that we can intervene on the original shot to obtain a reduction of facial imperfections.
The interventions will be, in any case, small and minimally invasive.
The idea behind the portrait that I offer is sincerity with oneself and using too much post production would cancel this philosophy.