Solarisation

This is also called the Sabattier Effect.

Solarised photograph of boats in Cardiff Bay before the tidal barrier (Photograph: David Bryson)

Following a story from Lauri Novak @LauriNovakPhoto this was my darkroom method for solarisation along with some of the results.

Many famous photographers have used solarisation in their practice including Man Ray and Lee Miller.

Two exposures are needed one initial normal exposure then partial development stopping development with water, then a second exposure to push the overall exposure over the top of the normal characteristic curve leading to decreased density (solarisation).

Solarisation can be a creative way of highlighting biological subjects. The examples below have been produced from a colour slide of the Giant Hogweed.

As a definition “Solarisation was a photo technique popularized by the famous artist Man Ray. Simply put, with solarization dark areas appear light and light areas appear dark and the resulting image has a kind of unusual halo or banding effect called the Mackie line.”

Test exposures and your darkroom set-up

A useful tip is to make a series of test exposures for your first exposure and then the second exposure at right angles to the other so you get a range of effects that can then be selected for a final print or negative.