Solarization - mini assignment

For this assignment, you have to make 1 solarized print that you are happy with. Not all images will work well for solarization due to the contrast of the negative or the image itself. High contrast negatives work best. You can use any negative that you want. It will likely take you at least 5 full sized prints to get a single, final print that you are happy with. It may take many more than that.
Expect to spend a three hour block of time in the darkroom to complete this assignment.
 
Your textbook has a nice write up on the process on pages 300-301. 




Here is a nice little write up on a different approach to Solarization. Another different approach write up. A very, very detailed write up on the process. Probably the best write up of Solarization can be found here. A write up on a selection of alternative printing methods. 

There is a lot of 'luck of the draw' with solarization. Things don't always come out like you expect them to. Be prepared to burn up a lot of paper in order to get prints that you like. 

PLEASE DO NOT TRASH THE LAB DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT. YOU HAVE TO TAKE A WET PRINT IN A TRAY AND SET IT ON THE BASEBOARD ON AN ENLARGER. MAKE SURE THE TRAY IS DRY BEFORE DOING SO. AFTER YOU ARE DONE, WIPE EVERYTHING DOWN. 

Below is a step by step of how I solarized a print. There are many variations on the process. 
I chose to print the image well focuses (some people will print it a little bit out of focus). 
I began by making a good print. The negative is pretty contrasty as the sole light source was a window to the side. I first printed it at grade 2, but found that I lost too much detail in the shadows, so I printed it again at a grade 1 1/2. I was happy with that. I could have printed it with less time and more contrast then burned in the highlights, but I didn't want to do any local editing for the sake of this demo. 

Normal Print

13 seconds, grade 2 filter

13 seconds, grade 1 ½ filter

 Solarization

First Exposure

10 seconds, grade 1 ½ filter

Second Exposure

test strip at 5 seconds intervals

First Exposure

10 seconds, grade 1 ½ filter

Second Exposure

5 seconds at f11

First Exposure

10 seconds, grade 3 ½ filter

Second Exposure

5 seconds at f11

First Exposure

8 seconds, 1 ½ grade filter

Second Exposure

5 seconds at f11