Silver Car by Kat Swansey - Framed Photograph
Silver Car by Kat Swansey
8 x 8 medium format film photograph on Hahnemuhle Photo Rag
matted and framed in black frame to 10.75" x 10.75 " overall
Ready to Hang
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Experimental Artist's statement:
These photographs were made with Ilford XP2 film expired in December 1994 and shot through a Holga toy camera. The numbers and circular patterns visible in the frames come from the film’s backing paper. Over time, photo numbers and markings physically imprinted themselves onto the emulsion.
Although XP2 is a black and white film processed in color (C-41) chemistry, it records light as tone, forming images with dyes rather than silver. That hybrid process, combined with decades of age, introduces instability. As the film deteriorated, its ability to hold consistent tones began to break down.
Because the rolls were between 26 and 31 years past expiration, the results vary dramatically. Earlier exposures read closer to traditional black and white, while later frames drift into sepia and purple hues. What emerges is not just an image of a place, but a record of time itself, where subject matter, material decay, and photographic process collide.
While my primary practice centers on shooting fresh color film and favoring high contrast images made across Texas with 35mm and medium format cameras, these black and white photographs, made with expired film and a toy camera, sit outside my usual work. They embrace unpredictability as both method and subject.
Artist's bio:
Kat Swansey is a self-taught documentary photographer known for preserving the spirit of rural and abandoned Texas. Born and raised in Brenham, Texas, her small-town roots deeply influence her work, which highlights the beauty and stories of Texas's backroads. Now based in Austin, Kat's work celebrates the beauty, history, and resilience found along the backroads of the Lone Star State.
Kat's photography spans from shuttered beer joints to national parks, revealing the diverse and rugged charm of Texas. Her acclaimed series, Texas Textures, features rich, vibrant images that highlight the state's expansive blue skies and weathered structures. She recently released the second volume of this series, continuing her journey into the heart of Texas.
Kat's work has drawn comparisons to renowned photographers like Walker Evans, William Eggleston, and Stephen Shore, earning her recognition in publications such as Alcalde Magazine, Pellicola Magazine, and Fstoppers. She has also been featured on NPR’s Texas Standard and in numerous online platforms.
When she’s not driving the backroads of Texas, Kat can be found cheering on her beloved San Antonio Spurs, seeing live music, or spending time with her grandfather on the porch of their family home in Brenham, Texas.