hand-made instant photography
about me
Hi, I'm Sophie, a photographer and DIY chemist based in Louisville, Kentucky. I make instant photographs the hard way.
I mix the chemistry myself. I coat the receiver sheets by hand. I use x-ray film as my negative. Every part of the process is made from scratch. My basement is my darkroom and my laboratory.
The project is called SophiePeel.
watch it happen
what is SophiePeel?
you make this yourself? how?
Yes! SophiePeel is peel-apart instant film that I make myself: the receiver sheets, the developer (goo), all from scratch. It is not Polaroid, it is not a re-release, and this is just a one-woman show.
The proper name for this process is Diffusion Transfer Printing. A sheet of Agfa x-ray film takes the exposure, a hand-coated receiver sheet becomes the photograph, and developer paste moves the silver from one to the other. This isn't like packfilm, it's an alternate photographic process that requires the use of a darkroom.
Someone who is truly interested in getting into doing this themselves can take a gander at the Photrio thread mentioned below. It's not for the faint of heart, but someone who is SERIOUSLY interested in a truly unique photographic process can find everything they need to learn how to get into it.
a note:
none of this started with me
Alec Myers originated the foundational research on Photrio's diffusion transfer printing thread, and conceived the laminator element that is essential to the process. I built on his work and developed my own receiver and developer formulations from there. He has also answered an unreasonable number of my questions. My process would not be as refined as it is without all the work he originally put into it.
questions
No. There is no shop and no preorder, and I don't have a date for you. I would rather tell you I don't know than hand you a timeline I can't keep. I'm also not interested in a Kickstarter or Indiegogo or similar crowdfunding exercise.
Sadly, this isn't as simple as popping over to Amazon and buying a couple of chemicals. True enthusiasts can visit the Photrio Thread. I've published various recipes in that thread.
No. If I gave some to every single person that asked, I'd be a very busy girl. I'm actively working with a select few beta testers. We are going to see what kinks show up in the process to try and get things ready for more people.
There's a Ko-Fi page if you'd like to put something toward chemistry and film. Following along on Instagram helps too.
SophiePeel is designed around using a standard 4x5 cut film holder. I'm not interested in making it packfilm compatible... I'll leave that up to the fine folks at One Instant.
Yes! After peeling the print away, you get an x-ray film negative that can be used just like any other traditionally processed film negative. Darkroom enlargements from the negatives are beautiful. Check out the gallery for negative scans.
that's everything people ask. keep your eyes peeled ♡
gallery
more added as they peel ♡
contact
want to support the project?
There's nothing to buy yet, so if you'd like to help the work along, Ko-Fi is the place. It goes straight into film, chemicals and receiver stock.
beta and kits
I don't take requests for materials. Nothing is for sale right now. If and when the Beta program reopens, I'll make an announcement on Instagram and Ko-Fi.
everything else
Chemistry and process questions, press, collaborations, or just saying hello. Have a look at the page first, it covers most of what comes in.
This is my favorite thing to do. I bring the whole setup and shoot portraits on 4x5, one per person. You watch the chemistry happen, and about a minute later the print is in your hands. You keep it. I keep the negative.
Gallery openings, camera shop events, festivals and markets, photo conventions, workshops. If you're putting something together, just ask. I travel!
don't be shy ♡