Beech Leaves on Snow
Beech leaves clinging to tree branches throughout winter become yellow and gradually pale until they become partially translucent. Wind eventually dislodges these leaves and they accumulate on the snow-covered ground over time. To create an image of individual leaves, I collected, dried and flattened decomposing leaves and then arranged them directly on the surface of an emulsion coated solar plate. The placement of leaves could be accomplished without a darkroom since incandescent light will not expose this type of emulsion (primarily sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) light).
To hold the leaves in place during UV exposure, the plate and leaves were covered with thin plastic film and placed in an exposure unit equipped with a vacuum pump that evacuates air, pressing the leaves firmly to the surface of the plate. The plate, leaves and plastic cover could then be exposed while under pressure because even small movements would result in a blurry image. After a minute-long UV exposure, the leaves were removed and the plate was “developed” by placing it in water. Those parts of the emulsion that had been exposed to light dissolved and washed away, leaving only those sections of emulsion which had been protected from light by plant material. As is evident, thinner areas of leaf allowed some light to pass through, thus partially exposing the emulsion beneath. Any protected emulsion remaining on the plate after washing was then hardened or “fixed” into place by drying and re-exposing the plate to prolonged light. The fixed lumps and crevices thus created an exact replica of leaf in direct proportion to the protection afforded by the remnants of leaf material to the underlying emulsion during exposure.
Alternatively, the plate could be exposed to direct sunlight. Using this method, however, means limited control over the intensity and constancy of the exposure.
This type of process produces a “relief” plate, that is, the image is actually raised above the surface on the plate. When ink is rolled onto the plate with a hard brayer, only the raised areas catch ink while the lower background itself remains ink-free. When the inked plate is covered with dampened paper and passed between the bed and the roller of a printing press, ink is transferred from the plate to the paper creating an exact (reverse) replica. Deeply etched, relief prints may leave an impression on the reverse side of the paper which can be felt as well as seen.
