LECTURE THREE
DEVELOPING WITH PLANTS

Lecturer: Ricardo Leite
LECTURE THREE
It is possible to develop photographic film with plants. Flowers, seeds, or leaves, in a combination of household ingredients like washing soda (sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate) and vitamin C (ascorbic acid) can be an effective biodegradable substitute to toxic synthetic developers. Basically what we are looking for in a potential developing agent is its capability to donate an electron to the silver halide emulsion that creates the image in the acetate film. Plants and their components that are rich in terpenoid or phenolic compounds are excellent candidates to work as an efficient developing agent. Spearmint contains it in the form of catechol, Thyme contains thymol, Oregano contains catechol and hydroquinone, the hyacinth flower contains hydroquinone, but these are just a few plants in a huge list. The magic happens by finding the most accessible and easiest plant to work within your area.

Ricardo Leite, filmmaker from Portugal, conducted research at the Faculty of Fine Arts-University Porto into a combination of organic chemistry with simple and innovative techniques for application in photochemical processes. Not only in response to ecological issues, but also to create opportunities for (experimental DIY) filmmakers in countries where there is no access to conventional chemistry and no waste management policy.
PHOTOGRAPHIC GARDEN
LECTURE SERIES
LECTURE 2
LECTURE 3
LECTURE 4
LECTURE 5
LECTURE 6
LECTURE 1
LECTURE ONE
26 June 2021
Alternative image-making processes
Lecturer: Hannah Fletcher
Videos of all lectures can be viewed below.
Click on the lecture title for more information.
Check out the Filmwerkplaats page on Vimeo (click here).
LECTURE TWO
17 July 2021
Silver-gelatin (light sensitive) emulsion making
Lecturer: Esther Urlus
LECTURE THREE
28 August 2021
Developing with plants
Lecturer: Ricardo Leite
LECTURE FOUR
18 September 2021
tinting & toning with plants
Lecturer: Joanna Mayes
LECTURE FIVE
16 October 2021
Pioneering to capture an image with light
Lecturer: Mark Osterman
LECTURE SIX
13 November 2021
regenerating outdated film materials
Lecturer: Adrian Cousins