In response to her recent submission I asked Jane Linders of St. Louis, MO a few questions about her craft, how she got started. Here is our interview:

PSMag – How did you find the opportunities to have your work published in so many different venues?

J.L. – St. Louis has a very lively art scene and there are many opportunities for emerging artists to exhibit their art. I will exhibit my photography almost anywhere, coffee houses, restaurants, furniture stores, bookstores or yoga studios. Being open to exhibiting opportunities increases the odds for getting your work out there.

PSMag – I notice that you’ve been published by some user-generated content publications as well, what is your experience with them?

J.L. – I enjoy using places like flickr, Fine Art America, and facebook to show my photography. I like the feedback that goes back and forth on these user generated websites.

PSMag – Can you describe some of the more difficult aspects of the business of being a photographer?

J.L. – The most difficult aspect of being a photographer is finding time to do the photography and work at the business of photography. Like many artists, my time is divided between my family and my job. I always manage to squeeze in a little photography as I go about my daily life.

PSMag – How did you find these alternate media – Polaroid transfers, cyanotypes, etc?

J.L. – My friend, Mary Walton, taught me how to do Polaroid transfers and I haven’t looked back since. I went to an exhibit at Subterranean Books in St. Louis and was inspired by an exhibit of cyantoypes by local St. Louis photographer Barbara Zucker. I searched the internet, found the information needed and taught myself to do the process.

PSMag – What drew you in about them? Do you find them freeing or alternately, do they present unique limitations that you draw inspiration from?

J.L. – I am fascinated by both the simplicity and the alchemy of the cyanotype process. This old process has changed the way I take photos. While composing a photo, I am considering which printing technique best suits the image. I am enamored of the brush strokes so typical of cyanotypes and the moody blue color intensifies the sense of loss in my cemetery images.

PSMag – In your departure from the more traditional photography, do you find that you miss it? Do you continue to shoot traditionally in addition?

J.L. – I still shoot traditional black and white silver gelatin photography and have recently begun experimenting with HDR photography (High Dynamic Range). For the past 2 years I have explored shooting medium format using a crappy plastic Holga and I always have a digital camera in my car “just in case.”

PSMag – Could you please, briefly, describe the processes involved in your media of interest?

J.L. – The traditional recipe for Cyanotypes was invented by Sir John Hershel in 1842 and is a cheap, easy way to print your photos.

1. Dissolve 25.0 grams of ammonium iron citrate in 70ml of distilled water. This is Solution A.
2. Dissolve 10 grams of potassium ferricyanide in 80 mls of distilled water. This is solution B.
3. Mix equal volumes of stock Solutions A and B.
4. Use a paint brush and coat your watercolor paper with this solution and allow the paper to dry in darkness.
5. When the paper is dry, place your negative over the paper and expose the paper and negative to UV light. You’ll have to experiment with exposure times to get the proper effect.
6. Rinse the print in a weak solution of Hydrochloric acid for 15 mintues. Continue rinsing with water for another 15 minutes and allow your print to dry.

(Read more at AlternativePhotography.com)

Polaroid Transfers technique:

1. Load a Vivitar with Polaroid 669 film
2. Place your slide in the Vivitar slide printer and print.
3. After 15-20 seconds peel the film apart and brayer the negative on to Arches 140 lb watercolor paper.
4. Place the print and the watercolor paper in hot water for 10 minutes.
5. Slowly peel the negative from the watercolor paper.
6. Place the transfer in a weak solution of acetic acid for 10 minutes.
7. Rinse the print with water for 10 minutes.

(Read more at AlternativePhotography.com)

PSMag – Thanks to Jane for taking the time to help us learn more about alternate photographic media!

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