“Film soup” – not a lunch option.

Photography has changed and there’s a whole lot of experimentation going on.  Photographers are finding unusual ways to redefine what a photograph really is, and over the past few years there’s been a resurgence of analogue and historic processes,  I for one think this is fabulous, and have personally done a deep dive into the world of pinhole photography, cyanotypes and other weird and sometimes wacky ways to make an image.  One of my favourites is “film soup”.  You won’t find this on the lunch menu, but you may see edible substances in it.  Basically, you shoot a roll of colour film as usual, then soak it in a concoction of various liquids – really anything you find.  My last recipe consisted of raspberry wine vinegar, silica gel, turmeric, salt, a slice of birch bark and a spruce branch.  Let it stew for a few days, then let it dry (I put it in a tub of rice for a couple of weeks).  Process the film as usual, and voila!  You’ll see your image on the negative, but with drips, streaks, or altered colours through the frame.  When printed, the effects are surreal.  Try it sometime.  Note: most photo labs won’t process souped film, you’ll have to do it yourself.  But that’s fun too!