Workshop Phytography

You don't need a darkroom to make phytograms as this technique relies primarily on the chemical reaction between plants and photographic emulsion.

The basic procedure is as follows: select a plant and carefully pick the leaves or select flowers and take apart the petals. The leaves or petals should be relatively flexible and flat in order to make good contact with the films’ emulsion.

Soak the leaves or petals in a solution of water, soda and vitamin C. Place the paper, or roll out a strip of film, on a table or other flat surface in full daylight (the film strip can be as long or short as desired). Apply the soaked plants to the film, taking care that none of the solution is spilled on the emulsion and secure maximum contact between the plants and the emulsion.

Leave the filmstrip with the applied organic material in full sunlight for quick and high contrast results and in the shadow for slower and less contrasty results. Carefully remove the leaves, petals or flowers and submerge the filmstrip in normal photographic fixer or use a strong salt solution as fixer. Wash the paper or filmstrip well and use some ecofriendly soap as wetting agent. Gently brush off any remaining organic residue with your hands and let your results dry before handling further for projection, exhibition or scanning.