The Auratone is a process I developed several years ago...I showed it to a few people and watched as their eyes lit up, but then decided to just keep it close to my heart for a while. Then suddenly it felt like the time had come to set it free and share it with others. Now you can make your own with the Auratone Print Kit, or order custom Auratone jewelry and stationery made by me but featuring YOUR image.
If you’re familiar with early photographic processes like daguerreotypes, ambrotypes, sepiatones, and tintypes, you’ll get this right away. If not, you’re in for an exciting surprise!
Years ago I had seen an original Edward S. Curtis Orotone (circa 1920) at a friend’s house and was completely blown away. Curtis’ Orotones were made in the darkroom where he applied a mixture of gold dust and banana oil to the back of a glass plate print. The results were stunning…when turned over, the gleam of the gold shone through the black-and-white photo for a subtle yet very powerful effect. I started thinking of ways I could accomplish something similar without access to gold dust and banana oil. Early permutations involved the darkroom, glass, and gold leaf...all that, and yet it just didn't really work. Then I had one of those "A-ha!" moments (while in the shower, no less!) and its current incarnation is perfect...simple, classic, and DIGITAL. No darkroom! There is some hand work involved, of course...that's my thing...what to do with your favorite photos "after capture."