Platinum Prints

Platinum prints are generally made with a solution of 50% to 90% palladium.  Pure Platinum is not generally used.  In addition to the cost, Platinum used alone does not give good blacks making the print looking very anemic.  Lately I have been experimenting with brush development and other sensitizers and have made some good pure Platinum prints.  Using just Platinum in the coating and fresh developer which has no Palladium in it as even minor amounts would act as a catalyst but then the print would not be pure Platinum.  These are the first four  prints.  Need to refine my exposure and contrasting agent in the developer but the results are encouraging.  The 5th print on the lower left is done with 50/50, Platinum/ Palladium and the other four are done with only Platinum.

4 Days after Fire

Four days later there was still some smoke coming out of the ground where roots were still burning.  Apparently the fire started at someones camp. The fires the last few years were usually due to fireworks on the 4th of July or semi permanent camps in the dense brush.

Someones Camp

Hot enough to melt bottle

Roots still burning 4 days later