“When I started working in the darkroom, I’d enter with a sense of excitement and descend to a realm of shuffling, sighs, delight and sometimes disappointment. The outcome, whatever that was, always made my creativity flow and competitiveness bubble like champagne.”

The eagerness and motivation that Ann first experienced in the darkroom is what also led her to investigate the chrysotype process. This began twelve years ago following a workshop with Dr. Mike Ware, creator of the New Chrysotype process, at Gold Street Studio in Victoria, Australia. Enamored with the process, Ann explored chrysotype with a range of subject matter including landscape, portraits and still life.

Idun, 6 x 7.5 chrysotype print, Esme Ann Everingham, 2013

Ann also tested mild acids to use as a developing agent in the first wet processing bath. She was curious to work out those that might affect colour differently from the standard developing acids. Ann tried ascorbic acid in various forms (crushed Vitamin C tablets, powder and granules) and varying acid strengths and water temperature to produce different colour intensities and variations that she found ‘quite pleasing to the eye’.

To read more about Ann’s experimentations with chrysotype and to view her imagery, purchase Chrysotype: A Contemporary Guide to Photographic Printing in Gold.