Some images ask for more than ink on paper.

Elliana is printed by hand in platinum and palladium — a 19th-century process, still done entirely by hand, and one of the most permanent print mediums that exists. Each print is coated, exposed, and developed individually.

This is not a reproduction. It's an object made by hand, by me, one at a time. Each print is unique.

About the Print

• Process: Platinum/palladium print, hand-coated and processed by Fritz Liedtke

• Size: 8×10 inches

• Edition: Limited to only 8 prints, each signed and numbered

• Longevity: Platinum/palladium prints are among the most archival photographic processes in existence; with proper care, they will outlast the people who made them

• Price: $200

Watch the process → [embed process video here]

The Story Behind The Image

This print comes from Dance Obscura, an ongoing series made in close collaboration with dancers, exploring the space between the discipline of dance and raw, unguarded emotion. For me, it was also a way of exploring ‘play’ as an important part of my art practice.

This particular image was made in collaboration with Elliana, a lovely dancer with the Oregon Ballet Theater. Her ability to express fleeting emotion in her movement is incredible to watch, one that could easily have been missed — which is part of why I wanted to print it in a medium as slow and deliberate as platinum.

Why Platinum

Unlike a standard photographic print, platinum and palladium sit in the paper fiber itself rather than on a surface coating; the result is a depth and tonal range that can't be replicated digitally, and a print that will not fade, yellow, or deteriorate the way conventional prints eventually do.

It's slow, precise work, which is why so few photographers still do it by hand.

Why Affordable Editions

As galleries close and the way we encounter art becomes faster and more disposable, I've been rethinking how my work reaches people. This small edition is part of that: a way to make something genuinely handmade, one print at a time, and put it within reach of people who want to live with real art rather than simply scroll past it. It's my attempt to build something sustainable — for me as an artist, and for the people who choose to bring a piece of it home. (Read my thoughts on the subject here: https://fritzliedtke.substack.com/p/surrounded-by-beautiful-things )