More processes I have become fascinated with

The Casein Printing method. This process yields very raw, earthy and vintage looking images. After looking at Donald E. Camp's work, I have become very interested in this process and would like to attempt it. By using curdled milk, simple acids and pigment, you can take a negative and expose the pigment which has become photo sensitive. The pigment can also be a wide variety from oil to dirt like Camp's work. Not only that, multiple pigments can be done in multiple layers to create images that almost look like charcoal and pastel drawings.

This process doesn't seem to be too difficult, but requires some skill and finesse to get the hang of it. It also interests me because you don't need chemicals or a serious light room or setup for that matter. Also, as a result of the process, depending on the subject matter, the technique can add a grit and gravity to the image. This process is very interesting and I plan on attempting it in the near future.

HDR photography and my new desire

After just browsing images and photo websites one day, I came upon HDR or High Dynamic Ranging photography, and these shots just blew me away. They are outrageously colorful and lush and just so unbelievably vivid. I only assumed these were all heavily shopped images, but as it turns out, its done by making composites out of bracketed images that are underexposed, correct and overblown. This concept and the results are just so mindblowing I cant get over them.

Unfortunately, im sure the software to do this is outlandishly priced, and requires a buttload of processing power from what some websites have said, but I will try this technique. Since I am more of a painter than anything else, I love color and the luminoscity of this process and I cannot help but try to get this software and do it myself.

One thing about this process though is that some images come out like total shit. Some people seem to push everything way to far colorwise and everything looks really bad and cartoony and over the top. When done correctly, to me the images have a really great balance between real and surreal.