JAPHETH A STORLIE

RA4 Color Reversal is an alternative analog darkroom process used to create unique, direct-positive color photographs without the use of a traditional negative. Standard color photographic paper is loaded directly into a large-format camera film holder and exposed in-camera. Because RA4 color paper is manufactured with a built-in color bias designed to compensate for the orange mask of a conventional color negative, extensive color filtration is required during exposure to counteract a strong cyan shift. These photographs were made directly onto traditional color photographic paper using a variety of large-format cameras, including both conventional large-format cameras and custom, hand-built cameras. Because the photographic paper itself is loaded into the camera and processed as a direct positive, each photograph is a one-of-a-kind original. One of the most challenging aspects of the process was developing a custom filter pack capable of shifting the inherent cyan bias toward a more natural color rendition. Determining the correct filtration required extensive experimentation and refinement. Approximately 50 tests were conducted before arriving at the final custom filter pack used to produce the desired color balance. Chemical Process The development workflow moves from black-and-white chemistry to color chemistry through a carefully controlled sequence of steps: 1. First Developer — Black-and-White Chemistry The exposed photographic paper is developed in complete darkness using a standard black-and-white print developer. This creates an initial, latent black-and-white negative image by converting the exposed silver halides into metallic silver. 2. Stop Bath and Wash The paper is transferred to an acidic stop bath to halt the first development stage, followed by a thorough water rinse. 3. Re-exposure — Fogging White room lights are then turned on, or the paper is otherwise exposed to uniform light. This fogging step exposes the remaining silver halides that were not developed during the first stage. 4. Color Developer — RA4 Chemistry The paper is immersed in standard RA4 color developer. The newly fogged silver halides undergo color development, producing metallic silver together with the cyan, magenta, and yellow dye layers that form the color-positive image. 5. Bleach-Fix — Blix The print is then processed in a bleach-fix bath. The Blix converts the remaining metallic silver into soluble silver compounds and removes it from the emulsion. This eliminates the temporary black-and-white silver image, leaving the final color-positive image formed by the embedded dyes. 6. Final Wash and Dry Finally, the print is thoroughly washed in running water to remove residual processing chemicals and then dried. The resulting photograph is a direct-positive color print made without an intermediate negative. The combination of in-camera exposure, experimental color filtration, and a hybrid black-and-white/RA4 chemical process makes each finished photograph both materially and visually unique.