Category: Photography (page 1 of 1)

Today I printed my first Cyanotypes on watercolor paper. The Cyanotype process was discovered in 1842 by Sir John Herschel the English scientist, astronomer and botanist. I started researching the process about a week ago. Iron salts turn a rich, dark blue when exposed to ultraviolet light. Water is used to develop the print. The process appealed to me because it was something I could easily do in the bathroom sink that was non-toxic and archival. I ordered a kit of chemicals and a UV lamp.

Photographic prints can be made by contact printing negatives. Digital negatives can be made using an inkjet printer and printing to transparency film. I experimented and discovered that I could edit images on my iPad and print a negative wirelessly to my printer onto film.

I brought in three items from my darkroom – an 8×10 tray, a contact printing frame and an electronic enlarger timer. The chemicals come in two parts that are mixed together in equal amounts to produce a liquid sensitizer. I coated the paper with a brush and waited for it to dry. I contact printed the negatives for three minutes using the enlarger timer to turn the UV lamp on and off. I then washed the print in a 8×10 tray in the bathroom sink in normal room light. I still get a thrill watching the image come up in the developing tray. Wash time is about 10 minutes.

Now that I know how to do the basic process, I want to branch out and try some variations. Prints can be toned with tannic acid to produce a brown or black tone instead of blue. Prints can also be hand colored with watercolor or colored pencil. Cyanotypes can also be combined with other printing techniques. There are lots of things to try.

Strathmore Mixed Media paper, OHP Film Overhead Projector Film 8.5×11 inch for inkjet printer, Jacquard Cyanotype Set, Lightstarter 60 watt 100 LED UV flood light.

Jim

Click the picture to see a larger version.

This week I examined my basic approach to photography. For 65 years I’ve been using the same process. I photograph what I see through the viewfinder. What would happen if I didn’t do that? I tried it out in our backyard. I have a little point and shoot camera that lets me turn the viewfinder off. I held the camera in the middle of a bush or tree and clicked the shutter without looking – no composing, no focusing, no exposure settings. Above are all nine shots with no cropping and no image editing. They surprised me by capturing views of my own backyard that I didn’t know existed.

The experience intrigued me. So, the next day I took my little camera to the Oregon Garden. I tried all kinds of unusual angles and perspectives. It was fun. I took around 50 pictures without looking. I waited to look at them until after I got home. The anticipation added to the fun.

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