Aug 7, 2014 6:30 AM

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

Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
Photographer Ajay Malghan bathed 35mm film negatives in a variety of acidic household products.
Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
Coffee, lemon juice and vinegar were commonly used to distress the strips of film.

Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
Malghan applied multiple liquids to the film in different amounts and different orders to vary the results.
Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
In many cases, Malghan put down coffee or vinegar first to buffer the very corrosive effects of bleach.

Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
"I took on this concept because of my affinity towards the tangible experience and engaging in art in a physical manner," says Malghan.
Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
The two main agents used for the majority of the 'Bleached' series were oven cleaner and bleach.

Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
After distressing and washing the film, Malghan scanned the small negative and enlarged the image file to reveal the beguiling details.
Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
In time, Malghan started adding more to the palette; different vinegars, soap, hydrogen peroxide. "Basic items that we all have in our kitchens."

Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
All within a small frame, the results resemble space photographs of galaxies and nebula.
Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
Certain images resemble microscopic images of cultures, germs or viruses.

Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
Some of Malghan's scanned negatives even resemble the drips and scratches of abstract painting. Jackson Pollock, anyone?
Ajay Malghan
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Ajay Malghan-Bleached-91-1
Other images even have the look of satellite imagery or geological survey.

Ajay Malghan
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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.
Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
“Pursuing cameraless photography changed everything for me,” says Malghan. “My art gives someone an experience and I consider that a privilege.”

Ajay Malghan
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Bleached
Malghan did not keep track of which combinations yielded which results. Every abstraction is unique and unrepeatable.
Ajay Malghan
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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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