Portraits in Platinum and Polaroid

Gary Auerbach

Tucson, Arizona, e-mail: auer@azstarnet.com
Gary Auerbach Platinum Photography

all images © Gary Auerbach

In 1991, I made my first transfer. I had just opened my studio in the arts district of Tucson, and I needed to find a photographic medium that I could process quickly and would have a unique look. I was going to photograph/process and sell the prints during the downtown Saturday night festivals.

Because I was working in platinum palladium printmaking as well, I was beginning the move up in formats. I had just picked up a 4x5 Noba studio camera on a trolly, with a Rodenstock Imagon lens and decided that I would work with the Polaroid materials… I liked the way the transfer looked on water color paper. I also liked shooting direct 4x5 type 59 film and making live transfers. And so off I went working with semi dry papers on top of a heated light box. I found I could get full laydowns, or if I used the wrong papers, could get a variety of abstract lifts. Sometimes I used the wrong paper on purpose… knowing that I would get a certain effect.

Live transfers are first generation, made from the original negative. I am essentially making a 4x5 contact print. No magnification.

Elizabeth #1. This image transfer was used as a cover on Tucson Lifestyle Magazine. The art director wanted semi spots on the print as she had to match that to a floral transfer done by someone else who printed that way. Using Polaroid 4x5 type 59 film on Arches paper.

Elizabeth #2. Again this image was used in the magazine story with a minimal spotting lift. Polaroid 4x5 type 59 film on Arches paper.

Donine. One of my first models, I used Cranes kid finish paper (one that I use for platinum) which does not grab the pigments well. Therefore, I almost always get lift in dark zones of the print. In this particular image, the laydown worked just perfect, in an abstract way. This is before computers.

Sabino and the Apple. Having known this gentle man, he showed up in my studio one Saturday night just before going to a theatrical performance, and I photographed him with his body makeup on. I was looking for a full lift and got it. This image is unusual in the way the pigments layed down, almost having a three dimensional look. Printed on Arches paper. Imagon lens.

My concern with image permanence is paramount. I think many of us are missinformed regarding the archival qualities of many of the products we use. Platinum printmaking solves the image permanence problem.

Tiffany, Arapaho. This platinum-palladium photograph was taken with 8x10 camera, 450 mm Nikor M lens at 1/10 sec at f11. Printed on Cranes platinotype paper using handcoated platinum and palladium metal salts.

"Tiffany" is one of my six native American platinotypes recently acquired by the Library of Congress for their permanent collection (six architectural images were also purchased).

last updated: 9/04/1999 ... ... other web pages by Marek Uliasz ...