"Thistles" by Erin Koger
Thistles
Erin Koger
Media: Polaroid Emulsion Lift
Size: 14" x18"
Price: NFS
PROCESS
For this piece, I used a combination of digital and analog techniques. The original image was taken using a smartphone. The image was printed in 4 sections on Polaroid color i-Type film using the Polaroid Lab instant printer.
To separate the emulsion, the plastic frame and cover are removed from the photo. It is then placed in warm water, and the emulsion is gently coaxed off of the backing of the photo with a brush. Once the emulsion is free, it is then transferred to a backing of choice—in this case, watercolor paper. The emulsion is very delicate, but can be manipulated to be smoothed, wrinkled, or torn where desired. The process is repeated for each section of the image.
When each section is positioned, the piece is left to dry. It is then coated with a clear matte UV protectant. Polaroid film is not considered to be archival, and the image will fade in time. This fading is greatly accelerated by exposure to heat, moisture, and UV light.
STATEMENT
Although my roots are in film and darkroom work, I had transitioned entirely to digital photography in recent years, and I found that I missed developing and printing photographs. I began exploring alternative photographic processes and have worked with emulsion lifts and cyanotypes. I enjoy the tactile process and the challenges that go with them.
BIO
Erin Koger is a photographer from Grand Island, Nebraska. She grew up in Burwell, Nebraska. Her interest in photography began at a young age when she took photography as a 4-H project. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in studio art from Hastings College in 2004. Her work is primarily in nature, landscape, and still life photography.
