phytogram_kodak azo f c3 sw 2.5x3.5_1955-1.jpg

Lumen Prints/Phytograms (2023–2025)

My mother called weeds "volunteers," a generous appellation, I thought, from an avid gardener such as she. I suppose that's as good a place as any to begin to try and explain my attraction to invasive plants. They are survivors in inhospitable spaces. I harvest them on "weed walks" around campus and in neighborhoods and image them directly to expired photo papers in contact print frames using lumen and phytogram techniques. I lith-develop the result to express shadow details, allowing me to fix the otherwise ephemeral impressions for permanence. While I find the process immensely pleasurable—from seeking out handsome weeds to printing, developing, fixing, and pressing—I consider the product more a collaboration between the plants, whose phenols eagerly begin to act as their own developer prior to any tray treatments, and the fabulously unpredictable emulsions on decades-old papers of unknown provenance.

Brome – Haloid Industro, Buff Matte, Soft, DW, 5" x 7", ca 1910s

Brome – Haloid Industro, Buff Matte, Soft, DW, 5" x 7", ca 1910s

White Clover – Agfa Brovira 1, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 4.5" x 3.25", exp 1953

White Clover – Agfa Brovira 1, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 4.5" x 3.25", exp 1953

Agfa Portriga, Silk Grain, DW, 5.875" x 4.125", ca 1950s

Agfa Portriga, Silk Grain, DW, 5.875" x 4.125", ca 1950s

Bluegrass – Kodak Studio Proof, Smooth Lustre, 5" x 7", exp March 1947

Bluegrass – Kodak Studio Proof, Smooth Lustre, 5" x 7", exp March 1947

Garlic Cress – Agfa Portriga, Silk Grain, DW, 5.875" x 4.125", ca 1950s

Garlic Cress – Agfa Portriga, Silk Grain, DW, 5.875" x 4.125", ca 1950s

Strawberry Clover – Agfa Portriga Rapid, Glossy, Contrast 2, DW, 4.125" x 3", ca 1970s

Strawberry Clover – Agfa Portriga Rapid, Glossy, Contrast 2, DW, 4.125" x 3", ca 1970s

Strawberry Clover – Agfa Portriga Rapid, Glossy, Contrast 2, DW, 4.125" x 3", ca 1970s

Strawberry Clover – Agfa Portriga Rapid, Glossy, Contrast 2, DW, 4.125" x 3", ca 1970s

Ansco (GAF) Allura, Kashmir, DW, 3.5" x 2.5",  ca 1975

Ansco (GAF) Allura, Kashmir, DW, 3.5" x 2.5", ca 1975

Ansco (GAF) Allura, Kashmir, DW, 3.5" x 2.5",  ca 1975

Ansco (GAF) Allura, Kashmir, DW, 3.5" x 2.5", ca 1975

Strawberry Clover – Ilford Ilfomar IB2-26K, Velvet Stipple, DW, 3.5" x 5", ca 1990

Strawberry Clover – Ilford Ilfomar IB2-26K, Velvet Stipple, DW, 3.5" x 5", ca 1990

Broadleaf Plantain – Kodak Kodabromide, Smooth Lustre, Contrast 2, DW, 6" x 4", ca 1955

Broadleaf Plantain – Kodak Kodabromide, Smooth Lustre, Contrast 2, DW, 6" x 4", ca 1955

Garlic Cress – Kodak Aristo, Silk, Contrast 1, DW, 6" x 4", ca 1955

Garlic Cress – Kodak Aristo, Silk, Contrast 1, DW, 6" x 4", ca 1955

Kodak Azo, Fine-Grained Lustre, Contrast 2, DW, 3.75" x 2.25", exp Dec 1944

Kodak Azo, Fine-Grained Lustre, Contrast 2, DW, 3.75" x 2.25", exp Dec 1944

Common Polypody – Kodak Azo, Fine-Grained Lustre, Contrast 1, SW, 4.5" x 3.5", exp May 1951

Common Polypody – Kodak Azo, Fine-Grained Lustre, Contrast 1, SW, 4.5" x 3.5", exp May 1951

Kodak Azo, Glossy, Contrast 3, SW, 2.5" x 3.5", ca 1955

Kodak Azo, Glossy, Contrast 3, SW, 2.5" x 3.5", ca 1955

Kodak Azo, Glossy, Contrast 3, SW, 2.5" x 3.5", ca 1955

Kodak Azo, Glossy, Contrast 3, SW, 2.5" x 3.5", ca 1955

Kodak Illustrators Azo, Fine-Grained Lustre, SW, 4" x 3", ca 1955

Kodak Illustrators Azo, Fine-Grained Lustre, SW, 4" x 3", ca 1955

Kodak Opal, Fine-Grained Lustre, DW, 7" x 5", exp Dec 1947

Kodak Opal, Fine-Grained Lustre, DW, 7" x 5", exp Dec 1947

Kodak Platino, Fine-Grained Lustre, DW, 5" x 4", ca 1955

Kodak Platino, Fine-Grained Lustre, DW, 5" x 4", ca 1955

Fallen Yellow Hibiscus – Kodak Velox, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 3.5" x 2.5", ca 1955

Fallen Yellow Hibiscus – Kodak Velox, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 3.5" x 2.5", ca 1955

Kodak Velox, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 3.5" x 2.5", ca 1955

Kodak Velox, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 3.5" x 2.5", ca 1955

Wilted Basil – Kodak Velox, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 3.5" x 2.5", ca 1955

Wilted Basil – Kodak Velox, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 3.5" x 2.5", ca 1955

Green Onion – Kodak Velox, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 4.5" x 2.75", ca 1955

Green Onion – Kodak Velox, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 4.5" x 2.75", ca 1955

Kodak Velox, Deckle Edge, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 4.5" x 2.75", ca 1955

Kodak Velox, Deckle Edge, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 4.5" x 2.75", ca 1955

Kodak Velox, Deckle Edge, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 4.5" x 2.75", ca 1955

Kodak Velox, Deckle Edge, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 4.5" x 2.75", ca 1955

Spotted Spurge – Mitsubishi, NR2, DW, 7" x 5", ca 1980s

Spotted Spurge – Mitsubishi, NR2, DW, 7" x 5", ca 1980s

Fallen Yellow Hibiscus – Kodak Azo (presumed), Glossy, SW, 5" x 4", ca 1955

Fallen Yellow Hibiscus – Kodak Azo (presumed), Glossy, SW, 5" x 4", ca 1955

Kodak Azo (presumed), Glossy, SW, 5" x 4", ca 1955

Kodak Azo (presumed), Glossy, SW, 5" x 4", ca 1955

Wilted Basil – Kodak Velox, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 4.5" x 2.75", ca 1955

Wilted Basil – Kodak Velox, Glossy, Contrast 2, SW, 4.5" x 2.75", ca 1955

Common Sowthistle – Kodak Azo (presumed), Glossy, SW, 5" x 4", ca 1955

Common Sowthistle – Kodak Azo (presumed), Glossy, SW, 5" x 4", ca 1955

Pfeil Dunka, Glossy, Hard, SW, 3.75" x 2.5", ca 1940s

Pfeil Dunka, Glossy, Hard, SW, 3.75" x 2.5", ca 1940s

Pfeil Dunka, Glossy, Hard, SW, 3.75" x 2.5", ca 1940s

Pfeil Dunka, Glossy, Hard, SW, 3.75" x 2.5", ca 1940s

Risse KW1, Glossy, SW, 3.75" x 2.5", ca 1940s

Risse KW1, Glossy, SW, 3.75" x 2.5", ca 1940s

Agfa Portriga Rapid, Glossy, Contrast 2, DW, 4.125" x 3", ca 1970s

Agfa Portriga Rapid, Glossy, Contrast 2, DW, 4.125" x 3", ca 1970s

Brome – Aristo Gold Collodion, Matt Sepia, DW, 5" x 7", exp Aug 1919

Brome – Aristo Gold Collodion, Matt Sepia, DW, 5" x 7", exp Aug 1919

Red Hibiscus Flower – Kodak Polycontrast, Fine-Grain Lustre, DW,  4" x 5", exp Dec 1972

Red Hibiscus Flower – Kodak Polycontrast, Fine-Grain Lustre, DW, 4" x 5", exp Dec 1972

Shepherds Purse – Kodak London Bromesko, Fine-Grain Lustre, C2, 4.75" x 6.5", ca 1980s

Shepherds Purse – Kodak London Bromesko, Fine-Grain Lustre, C2, 4.75" x 6.5", ca 1980s