Dogwood and Sumac, Cumberland Springs, TN. 1986. Platinum-palladium print on 100% cellulose (Van Gelder Simili Japon) from 8×10 original negative.
It had been well established that the addition of mercuric chloride to platinum-palladium sensitizers would render a warmer and smoother image, along with lower contrast. I wanted the prints from this series, made during a personally transformative time, to feel tenuous but certain. A strange mix.
Now we know that mercuric chloride creates some problems, archivally speaking. Hence the edge marks. The print was made about 20 years ago.
detail:
