I was really into Van Dyke printing in 2007.

Sans technology - all thats needed is paper, chemicals, water, and sunlight.


The process:

+ The chemical formula is a mixture of silver nitrate and some other acids/chemicals that I can't remember off the top of my head. There are a ton of different 'recipes' to use, but all of them include the same ingredients.

+ The formula is then painted on to paper. Anything works, really, but I always used watercolor paper.. it can handle the moisture without wrinkling. Let the paper dry.

+ Now you've got some old school photo paper. Its not Kodak high gloss but it WILL get exposed to light, so I keep mine in an old cardboard portfolio folder.

+ A negative is then set on top of the paper - which are both sandwiched between glass.

+ Add a few minutes of sunlight (or in my case of a tanning bed or homemade UV bulb concoction due to overdue portfolio deadlines and michigan winter gray skies)

+ Bring inside, rinse immediately, BAM! You've got a Van Dyke print.

The process isn't precise, and it takes a ton of trial and error experimentation. As a photographer you lose a lot of control. I think this is what I like best, though, it makes things exciting.