The salt print is the foundation of photography. William Henry Fox Talbot, known as the of photography, discovered the salt print process in 1834. The history of Talbot is quite remarkable. His early discoveries were the foundation of numerous photographic and print processes, many still practiced today. Due to the inherent masking ability the salt print can create a greater tonal range than other photographic print processes. The challenge is to create negatives that reach this extraordinary range. The salt print offers flexibility in controlling the colour, tones and hues.

Photography emerged in 1839 in two forms simultaneously. In France, Louis Daguerre produced photographs on silvered sheets of copper, while in Great Britain, William Henry Fox Talbot put forward a method of capturing an image on ordinary writing paper treated with chemicals. Talbot’s invention, a paper negative from which any number of positive prints could be made, became the progenitor of virtually all photography carried out before the digital age. Talbot named his perfected invention "calotype," a term based on the Greek word for beauty. Calotypes were characterized by a capacity for subtle tonal distinctions, massing of light and shadow, and softness of detail. In the 1840s, amateur photographers in Britain responded with enthusiasm to the challenges posed by the new medium. Their subjects were wide-ranging, including landscapes and nature studies, architecture, and portraits. Glass-negative photography, which appeared in 1851, was based on the same principles as the paper negative but yielded a sharper picture, and quickly gained popularity. Despite the rise of glass negatives in commercial photography, many gentlemen of leisure and learning continued to use paper negatives into the 1850s and 1860s. These amateurs did not seek the widespread distribution and international reputation pursued by their commercial counterparts, nearly all of whom favored glass negatives. As a result, many of these calotype works were produced in a small number of prints for friends and fellow photographers or for a family album. This richly illustrated, landmark publication tells the first full history of the calotype, embedding it in the context of Britain’s changing fortunes, intricate class structure, ever-growing industrialization, and the new spirit under Queen Victoria. Of the 118 early photographs presented here in meticulously printed plates, many have never before been published or exhibited.

"The definitive textbook for students and professionals studying the art of handmade photographic prints, The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes, 3e brings students, hobbyists, and professionals up to date with the latest techniques and artists." -- Provided by publisher.

History of 19th-century printing, plus how to identify types of prints, deterioration, collection management, storage, handling and display.

Jill Enfield’s Guide to Photographic Alternative Processes, 2nd edition, is packed with stunning imagery, how-to recipes, techniques and historical information for emulating the ethereal, dream-like feel of alternative processing. This fully updated edition covers alternative processing from its historical roots through to digital manipulation and contemporary techniques and how to combine them. It features several new techniques alongside new approaches to older techniques, including hand painting on silver gelatin prints, ceramics and photography, cyanotypes, wet plate collodion, digital prints and many more. Enfield showcases the different styles and methods of contemporary artists together with suggestions for vegan and vegetarian friendly alternative processing, transforming 2D images to 3D installations, and how to apply darkroom techniques to digital captures. Professionals, students and hobbyists will discover how to bring new life and imagination to their imagery. Whether in a darkroom using traditional chemicals, at the kitchen sink with pantry staples, or in front of the computer re-creating techniques digitally, you will learn how to add a richness and depth to your photography like never before.