Historical photographic methods in use today – the art, processes and techniques of alternative photography. Photography as it should be: hands on, fun and inspiring.
Processes used: Anthotypes, Bromoils, Cyanotypes, Daguerrotypes, Kallitypes, Lith prints, Lumen prints, Mordancages, POP - Print out paper, Salt prints, Vandykes, Ziatypes, Wet plate collodions.
Jalo Porkkala studied photography in Lahti and Helsinki, Finland. He currently lives and works in Pori, Finland.
Since 1970's Jalo has worked on numerous photographic projects, including photojournalism, museum and theatre photography and freelance work. He has been a teacher of photography and digital image processing since 1990, lately at the Satakunta University of Applied Sciences / Fine Art Kankaanpuu, Finland.
As a museum photographer Jalo became interested in historical and alternative photographic printing processes, which he is also researching and teaching now. He has been granted awards in Finland for artistic work since 1979. His work has been exhibited in numerous solo and group exhibitions.
"I respect the specific essence of photography - its sharpness, tone rendering, the close relationship with reality. A mood and its interpretation are important, a photograph as a mere technical reproduction is dead to me. A photograph is a strange, surreal depiction of the familiar environment, and I want to keep it that way by using printing processes that support the content and atmosphere. Why would I photograph the obvious that everyone can see without my photographs?"