Digital Solarization

Artwork by Robert Giordano


Originally the solarization effect was achieved by switching a lamp on and off during the development of a black and white print in a darkroom. This technique was made popular by Man Ray in the 1930's. In a solarized print, some parts of the image reverse and look like a negative while the rest of the image remains normal.

Robert Giordano began experimenting with solarization in the 1990's, recreating the effect digitally and adding color. All of the images in this series start as black and white photographs. Each subject is photographed against a dark background using fine grain black and white negative film.

Prints are made on acid-free, cotton rag paper using archival inks. Each print is hand signed and numbered by the artist.