Photographic Possibilities ─ The Expressive Use of Concepts, Ideas, Materials, and Processes

The long-awaited new edition of this seminal text features clear, reliable, step-by-step instructions on innovative alternative and traditional photographic processes. Over and above a full update and revision of the technical data, there are new sections on digital negative making, electrophotography, and self-publishing. Foremost practioners, including Edward Bateman, Dan Burkholder, Tom Carpenter, Mark Osterman, France Scully Osterman, Jill Skupin Burkholder, Brian Taylor, and Laurie Tümer, have contributed their expertise to this edition. Perfect for practitioners or students of handmade photography, the book covers classic black-and-white film and paper processes, hand-coated processes like Cyanotype and Platinum/Palladium. Also featured is an enhanced section on gum bichromate, invaluable instruction on workflow, and the integration of digital, promoting the effectual union of one’s concepts, materials, and processes. The book showcases work and commentary from more than 150 international artists.

Robert Hirsch is an artist, writer, and the director of Light Research (lightresearch.net). His books include Seizing the Light: A Social and Aesthetic History of Photography, Light and Lens: Photography in the Digital Age, Photographic Possibilities: The Expressive Use of Concepts, Equipment, Materials, and Processes, Exploring Color Photography: From Film to Pixels, and Transformational Imagemaking: Handmade Photography from 1960 to Now. Hirsch is a former Associate Editor for Digital Camera and Photovision magazines, and a contributor to Afterimage, exposure, History of Photography, The Photo Review, Photo Technique, and World Book Encyclopedia as well as former Director of CEPA Gallery. He has published scores of articles about visual culture and interviewed numerous eminent imagemakers. Hirsch’s work has been internationally exhibited in over 200 solo and group shows.