King Protea, 2025

Part of a family of flowers over 300 Million years old, predating bees by 180 million years.

This Cyanotype of a King Protea is an extension of ‘Fossil’ a series of images that explores the human mind's struggle to grasp the vastness of time and our fragility within it. The collection features prehistoric plants that evolved before the existence of bees, serving as tangible reminders of our temporal limitations. Unlike stone fossils, which often feel distant and abstract, these living fossils offer a tactile immediacy. They highlight the dual nature of life - its persistent drive to survive alongside its inherent fragility.

Created using a 4 × 5 inch large format negative on 100% cotton fibre Bergger Cot paper. Due to the handmade process, each print is unique, possessing its own distinct characteristics, making every print a unique photographic art object. The beauty of this technique lies in the individuality of each print bearing its own unique character.

Contact printing involves creating a negative, which in this case was captured with a 4×5 large format camera and developed in studio. The sensitiser is then applied by hand and dried. The negative is placed directly on the emulsion surface and exposed to UV light. The print is then washed, revealing the final image.

Each print is signed and editioned in graphite on the front. The back is signed, dated, and serialised, which will be reflected on a certificate of authenticity.

Test Prints - Newsletter offer to choose from a test print. These test prints will have more characters and faults in the prints. They are still very beautiful, however if you would like something with more faults which show this printing process please feel free to choose a test print. They will be signed on the back only and noted as a test print. A certificate of authenticity will not be provided.