Digital BW, The Print

Steve, I believe what you're looking at is at least in part a 
Polaroid transfer technique, though I think he's working with the 
neg part of type PN Polaroid. onto 4x5 polaroid film in the 
Photograph a straight image with Polaroid in a 4x5 camera. If you 
partially peel up the edges while it is developing and remove the 
paper mask that gives it a clean edge, that gives you the super 
sloppy edges and perhaps some of the internal messiness as well. The 
effect would be a bit ifferent using the print oart versus the 
negative, as I said I believe he's using the negative. If that isn't 
enough you could then float the polaroid in a tray of 105 deg(F) 
water with a very gentle stream washing over it. That releases the 
emulsion, which you can then maneuver onto a piece of glass or a 
piece of watercolor paper. This can produce quite a lot of 
distortion, which I don't see on Brandt's work, though that ripped 
layer effect could be from the water stream hitting the emulsion & 
peeling it a little.  You can do all of this without a darkroom-all 
you need do is borrow an old speed graphic and a 4x5 'roid holder, 
buy a couple boxes of film (you think inkjet paper is pricey?) and 
you're in business.

Hope some of this gives you some ideas

Steve Karafyllakis

--- In DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com, "Steve Kale" 
<stevekale@b...> wrote:
>
> OK so I struggled with the topic heading!  I am interesting in 
creating an effect similar to that 
> used by Nick Brandt in some of his images (see  
www.nickbrandt.com ).  A good example is 
> his Rhino mother and baby" image.  I am not worried about the 
external border effect but 
> rather the liquid-like effect he has used internally close to the 
border, as if the film plate has 
> been damaged by a chemical spill. (See the top centre edge of the 
image I mentioned.  Also 
> see his "Lion Portrait" image.)  I have used the external edge 
effects in the past (using 
> Photographic Edges 6) but have not been able to figure out the 
internal edge effect.  (I hope 
> this makes sense.)  I was thinking of getting some old plate scans 
but have no idea where to 
> find some.  I was even thinking about buying some water colour 
paint and painting on the my 
> scanner glass but thought that this would not end up being 
realistic.  Any ideas or help 
> appreciated.
> 
> Steve
>