Cyanotypes are subtle and beautiful. You can have the image a deep Prussian Blue, or dye it with teabags to make a fairly stable brown. Sometimes fugitive, endlessly creative, Cyanotypes are a great intro into the world of alternative photography.
The process is simple. Mixi two iron salts together, which metamorphose into a light sensitive solution. Coat an art paper. Dry the paper. Expose the paper with a negative or subject on the surface. Wash the paper. Dry the paper. You’re done.
The opportunity to coat the art paper with brush strokes or in shapes is the start of the creative process. I call it Cyanotherapy. You heard it here first!
I’ve made a wee #101 video under my foraged_photographs banner outlining the very simple steps of the process. I haven’t used glass to contact print in the vid, but you can put a piece of glass over the top of a bit of plant or feather to sharpen up the edges.
Workshops are available to learn this beguiling process. Have a look at the workshop dates in the calendar.