Gallery: What Happens When You Bathe Film in Bleach and Lemon Juice

  • Image may contain Crystal Ornament Mineral Art Painting Purple and Pattern
    Ajay Malghan
    01

    Bleached

    Photographer Ajay Malghan bathed 35mm film negatives in a variety of acidic household products.
  • Image may contain Ornament Pattern Art Painting and Fractal
    Ajay Malghan
    02

    Bleached

    Coffee, lemon juice and vinegar were commonly used to distress the strips of film.
  • Image may contain Plant
    Ajay Malghan
    03

    Bleached

    Malghan applied multiple liquids to the film in different amounts and different orders to vary the results.
  • Image may contain Rock Nature and Outdoors
    Ajay Malghan
    04

    Bleached

    In many cases, Malghan put down coffee or vinegar first to buffer the very corrosive effects of bleach.
  • Image may contain Rock Plant Ground and Texture
    Ajay Malghan
    05

    Bleached

    "I took on this concept because of my affinity towards the tangible experience and engaging in art in a physical manner," says Malghan.
  • Image may contain Rug Pattern Drawing Art and Doodle
    Ajay Malghan
    06

    Bleached

    The two main agents used for the majority of the 'Bleached' series were oven cleaner and bleach.
  • Image may contain Food Bread and Rock
    Ajay Malghan
    07

    Bleached

    After distressing and washing the film, Malghan scanned the small negative and enlarged the image file to reveal the beguiling details.
  • Image may contain Purple and Pattern
    Ajay Malghan
    08

    Bleached

    In time, Malghan started adding more to the palette; different vinegars, soap, hydrogen peroxide. "Basic items that we all have in our kitchens."
  • Image may contain Art Painting Texture and Modern Art
    Ajay Malghan
    09

    Bleached

    All within a small frame, the results resemble space photographs of galaxies and nebula.
  • Image may contain Light and Glitter
    Ajay Malghan
    10

    Bleached

    Certain images resemble microscopic images of cultures, germs or viruses.
  • Some of Malghan's scanned negatives even resemble the drips and scratches of abstract painting. Jackson Pollock anyone
    Ajay Malghan
    11

    Bleached

    Some of Malghan's scanned negatives even resemble the drips and scratches of abstract painting. Jackson Pollock, anyone?
  • Image may contain Texture Rock Rug and Concrete
    Ajay Malghan
    12

    Ajay Malghan-Bleached-91-1

    Other images even have the look of satellite imagery or geological survey.
  • Image may contain Foam
    Ajay Malghan
    13

    Bleached

    Battery acid has a Ph of 1.0. Many sour candies are between 1.4 and 3.4 on the Ph scale. The caustic nature of sugary treats got Malghan thinking about the acids in our everyday lives.
  • Image may contain Rug Rock Texture Art and Modern Art
    Ajay Malghan
    14

    Bleached

    “Pursuing cameraless photography changed everything for me,” says Malghan. “My art gives someone an experience and I consider that a privilege.”
  • Image may contain Plant Flower Petal Blossom Art and Modern Art
    Ajay Malghan
    15

    Bleached

    Malghan did not keep track of which combinations yielded which results. Every abstraction is unique and unrepeatable.
  • Image may contain Art Painting Modern Art Canvas Texture and Purple
    Ajay Malghan
    16

    Bleached

    Thinking of experimenting with this process? "Please do so in an open area with gloves and a mask," urges Malghan.
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