The Days Before Photoshop

Works from 1987-1990

In the days before Photoshop, I tried some manipulation techniques like rayograms and solarization. The artist Man Ray came up with the idea of creating photographs by placing objects on photographic paper and exposing it to light. I took his technique one step further by printing a negative normally, developing the print, stopping it, washing it, then putting it under the enlarger again without a neg, placing objects on the print, exposing it to light, and then developing as normal.

Toward the end of this period, I also scratched negatives with a pin. Scratches on the emulsion side produced black lines, while scratches on the smooth side produce white lines.

Now that we are in the digital age, these manipulations seem naive.