kingzcavern

[kingzcavern]

Moving forward, I'd like to experiment with alt process techniques of contact printing.

This includes:

-More LCD contact printing

-Developers created from organic material

-Exposing images through a layer of various textures/surfaced (ex. Seaweed) for texture within the image

-More drone prints

-Iron photo decals onto ceramic

-Sun printing methods

[kingzcavern]

"I seen you through the glass"

2024

1 second LCD contact exposure from cell phone onto silver gelatin paper. Various development times.

This project is one of my finalized works, which consists of 4 LCD prints on silver gelatin arranged in a composition that implies a relationship between the two individuals. By choosing the title "I seen you through the glass", alongside visual cues, this work expresses a narrative of two individuals who overcome their traumacann as they become closer. By overlapping these images, I can create a timeline. The image closest to us is a figure on the right, which appears darkened, intense, and foggy, where there is then a transition of the lightening of the figure as they approach the figure to the left.

[kingzcavern]

Cyanotype test

2025

Cyanotype over fixed silver gelatin prints. Testing reactions on different paper, as well as intensity of cyanotype application.

This series was an experimental test of cyanotype on a handful of spare prints I had made and had lying around. I observed the cyanotype stuck better to fiber paper and produced better results, where on rc it seemed to dissolve the print underneath.

[kingzcavern]

The lionfish project.

2025

Lionfish sketch scanned to digital, then contact printed via LCD phone screen to analog. Various exposures and development times.

This series was an experimentation with lcd phone contact printing.

Top left: Development observed beyond 5 seconds.

Top right: Exposure without phone case

Bottom right: Exposure with phone case

Bottom left: Inverted test

[kingzcavern]

Self portrait

2025

Silver gelatin on fiber paper, 1 second lcd exposure followed by 5-15 second development time.

[kingzcavern]

The LCD project.

1 second cell phone exposure on silver gelatin fiber paper, followed by 1-15 second development time.

This series of work was my first experiment with LCD screen contact printing. I experimented with:

-inverted images vs uninverted images.

-B&W vs color images

-size of image

-exposure & development time

-masking subject & background

[kingzcavern]

Where the dust remains

2025

Silver gelatin on woven fiber paper

[kingzcavern]

The gold fading from your eyes, the silver fading from your soul.

2025 Lumen print & silver gelatin print on fiber paper

[kingzcavern]

1. 'Untitled'

2. "Girl with the Mini Schnauzer"

3. "It's hard to just let you be."

Silver gelatin on fiber paper, from a broken camera

These prints were some of my favorites from this spring. I enjoyed the unpredictability of my broken camera, and I found it challenging to attempt to control what was rather uncontrollable. I was able to control these 'mistakes' and carefully compose 'random' images that were overexposed onto each other. This creates a lengthy horizontal aspect ratio, which resembles the stitching of images onto another. The equipment used was faulty, and even when I did attempt to control the faultiness, other issues would arrive, but I managed to use this to my advantage.

[kingzcavern]

As I go.

2025

Silver gelatin on fiber paper

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Drone project continued.

2025

Silver gelatin on fiber paper.

These three images were also taken from a drone (as last post was also), however they are taken near active rivers and streams along the san Joaquin River, where salmon spawn and migrate. Unfortunately, it wasn't the right time of year, but this served as an excellent study of the environment and composition with natural landforms. Even out here in the distance, we can still view our presence.

[kingzcavern]

The drone project.

2025

Silver gelatin print on fiber paper.

This project came to me as a result of feeling lost photographically with my content. My work revolves around aquatic conservation, but in a valley of drought and heat, I find it very difficult to find concepts that hold my interest. After sitting with this realization, and doing some research, I decided to borrow a drone from a relative and take it out to irrigation systems and canals that connect to the infamous 'Tulare Lake'. This lake once flourished but was drained with the sole intention of using the land for agriculture. It now consists of dry canals, barren landscape, cracked soil, and subtle algae growing over any presence of water. The presence of the algae is bittersweet, as even in harsh situations, life finds a way to thrive.

The images chosen depict various compositions of these aqueducts, and show how isolating these systems are from the environment. In every direction, there is a lack of life, where the only presence of life is seen to be surrounded by our presence.

[kingzcavern]

Critique pics + digital negative process picture. B&W photography.

[kingzcavern]

Moving forward, I will be experimenting with darkroom contact printing through digital negatives on transparency paper. I would also like to experiment with layering multiple transparencies while printing to observe how the results will skew.

Along with this, I will be continuing to develop 35mm film printing.

[kingzcavern]

"How could you forget?"

35mm b&w print on fiber paper. 2025

These images were captured on a 35mm Pheonix camera, using 400iso b&w film.

These photos depict various preserved specimens of aquatic life in a static state. The camera used has a faulty advancement trigger and results in random double exposure. I used this to my advantage by taking several captures of the same specimen in hopes they would produce interesting compositions. During the development process, I rolled the film very tightly onto the spool, which produced 'splotches' as a result of overlapping film and imperfect development. Using an enlargement machine, I final printed 8 of these. These 8 were specifically chosen, matted, and framed as a series. Altogether, they create a cohesive narrative that draws connection to human interaction in these creatures' natural environments. This is directly observable in contamination we produce, which ultimately pollutes, degrades, and harms these ecosystems, in turn harming the inhabitants as well. The title "How could you forget?" references a form of 'memory fog' and how we have been conditioned to rarely think about some of these creatures. How often do you think of porcupine fish? Or an eel? Or even seahorses? When presenting these typically foreign creatures to an audience under these circumstances, my goal is to remind the viewer of this conflict.

As I reflect on this piece, I feel satisfied following through on what would be considered imperfections, and pursuing this as an experimental process, start to finish.

[kingzcavern]

Thursday, February 12th.

Here are my first test prints for 35mm Film. Yes I will take pictures without backlighting, but as of today I have this image conveniently on hand. I will retake them once they are printed on 11x14in Fiber Paper. I decided to take pictures of marine biofacts to reflect my current ongoing body of work. The subjects were chosen meticulously from the beginning and placed in compositions i thought best fit my concept. As for technical aspects, I enjoyed how the splotches developed on the film to connote a sense of instability. Though the splotches were 'accidental', i was aware of the tightness i was rolling the film, which resulted in a completely unpredictable execution of form. This can not be replicated and does not take away the value of the work. This series helps my overall body of work regarding aquatic conservation by commentating on the effect of instability we channel onto the world we live in. Through the use of oil rigs, atmospheric pollutants, and artificial pollutants, we have a direct hand in changing the environment. The dark shades of B&W film work with the biofacts to provide a somber viewing experience. Moving forward, I plan to repeat the process of film manipulation via rolling while taking more images relating to my body of work. I will also print my favorites on fiber and frame them for gallery display.

#film #b&w #photography #marinescience

[kingzcavern]

"Mother doesn't approve of the way that you've been living" 2024