Lensbaby

By coincidence I came across a description of the cyanotype process. It is a very simple process for making paper prints from a negative (you are not limited to paper. Fabric can also do it).

I have been reading about other processes before, but the cyanotype was new to me, apart from the preset development method in "Lightroom", which I always though looked odd.

I studied the cyanotype process at alternativephotography.com, bought the dry chemicals on ebay, and voila, I was doing cyanotypes.

Contrast control is really difficult, but I am getting better control of it now, but there is a long way to go still.

For those of you who have never heard of it (as was the case for me one month ago), I will give you some info:

*It is not a digital plugin/filter etc.
*It is a method of making paper prints based on a negative.
*The light source is UV light. Usually the sun is used. I used a studio flash (which obviously emitts enough UV). Some use sun-tan lamps
*Due to the power required for processing, only contact copies can be used. I made contact copies by printing transparencies on an ink-jet printer (so there is a digital stage in the process, as I have done it)
*Two chemical compounds are mixed right before coating of the paper (Potassium ferricyanide and Ferric ammonium citrate)
*When working with the stuff you can use normal (not too bright) tungsten light. So no special requirements for darkroom lighting, light sealed doors etc.
*Development is made in water. Just as simple as that.

Some of the images have been presented here in the digital form, now transformed to 19th century photography technology.

The first four images are toned in tea.

Enjoy.

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My website: [www.fotoaalborg.dk]
Blog (English): [www.retrofoto.dk]
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Edited 2 time(s). Last edit at 06/03/2010 04:14AM by rannestad.

Bjorn,

Very cool work, taking us back in time.

Rich

bjorn, true labor of love... i am inspired... thanks for sharing -- this set is very good

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rob castro

website = [www.justanobserver.com]

blog = [www.juzno.com]

thanks for sharing information on this process - interesting and I really like the resulting images - especially 1 & 3 in this series.

Thank you. Now it is weekend. Hopefully I will be able of making a couple of cyanotypes more...

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My website: [www.fotoaalborg.dk]
Blog (English): [www.retrofoto.dk]
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great to see your work

have a great weekend and much time :-)

oliver

[olivertudorasphoto.jimdo.com]



"some people make the world special just by being in it "

They look very lovely, cool process, Bjorn!

Codrin
[1x.com]

Potassium ferricyanide sounds a LITTLE SPOOKY to me .Great work Bjorn. Wait till you get to the 1940's and start Dye transfers:) tony

I don't know if I will run through all the photographic processes from the Daguerreotype until ink-jet printing, but let's wait and see if I reach the Dye Transfers:) Potassium ferricyanide sounds very spooky, but is actually not very poisonous. It's ok, as long as you don't mix it with strong acids...

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My website: [www.fotoaalborg.dk]
Blog (English): [www.retrofoto.dk]
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Fantastic images, your work is truly inspiring!

My Flickr Page

www.taylorimages.ca

Man, these are just fantastic. I love the direction you've been going in lately. Good stuff.

.................
Peter

Thank you Lorna and Peter. Going backwards in time is great.

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My website: [www.fotoaalborg.dk]
Blog (English): [www.retrofoto.dk]
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Great stuff! You are a proof that analog ways are still modern! Love #2 & #4.

[elenisworld.blogspot.com]
[www.flickr.com]

These are great! I can't wait to see more. I am also drawn to these types of processes but I don't have the extra $ to experiment yet.

Joby

Thank you. Joby, you don't need much $$ to experiment with cyanotypes. It is a very cheap process.

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My website: [www.fotoaalborg.dk]
Blog (English): [www.retrofoto.dk]
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I really admire the effort and devotion you put into your work. These look superb, no.2 & 3 are particularity beautiful.

Matt.

[www.flickr.com]

I think I have found my next project. And funny that it is something that I have been thinking about for a while. What do you reckon the life time of the image would be?

Thank you. Appreciate that.

Life time of the images should be "very long". Cyanotypes made in the mid 1800's are still in good shape today. Keep the cyanotype away from basic environment and strong light (sun). It is said that a fading cyanotype can be recovered by storing in the dark for some time. A great feature:)

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My website: [www.fotoaalborg.dk]
Blog (English): [www.retrofoto.dk]
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Very very interesting and excellent results!
Love them all!

Wow! BEautiful works Bjorn

Thank you Steve and Mark

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My website: [www.fotoaalborg.dk]
Blog (English): [www.retrofoto.dk]
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Bjorn, these are simply FANTASTIC.
Ian

Thank you Ian. I don't know how to handle those CAPITAL LETTERS though :)

I have ordered a new batch of chemicals. Hopefully they will arrive soon. Hope to do some more work in the weekend.

Have a nice day.

Bjorn

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My website: [www.fotoaalborg.dk]
Blog (English): [www.retrofoto.dk]
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Fabulous work, Bjorn! They look similar to the Gum Bichromate work I did a few years ago....also printed on transparencies, and also developed in the sun...

I see it's mentioned on the site you referenced...I'm keen to do some more of that sort of work, especially after seeing what you've done here!

Mel :) In sunny Brisbane, Australia
[melbrackstone.com]

Thank you Mel. Lately I have tested the cyanotype rex formula, but I am soon giving up. I have seen beautiful work with it, but I can't get it to work, so I will probably go back to the standard cyanotype, or maybe the modern cyanotype.

Gum Bichromate. Just the sound of it is awesome. I have read about it and seen some videos about it. It seems like a great technique. I may try one day.

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My website: [www.fotoaalborg.dk]
Blog (English): [www.retrofoto.dk]
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I don't need to go back in time to get this effect, I just wait until my ol' inkjet printer runs out of ink :O !

But I do like your Blue Bending imaging, but I like the timeless captures better the images that seem just blue in hue ! :)

By the way Bjorn do the cyan-Oh-types look cyan in the original or as posted ?



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 07/13/2010 04:28AM by ranfoto.

Thanks Randy

The Cyanotypes are blue in the original, hence the name. The Cyanotype is one of the very first photographic printing techniques, but because of the color didn't become too popular as final print. But as proof it was used very much, because of it's simplicity.

Good luck with your ink jet

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My website: [www.fotoaalborg.dk]
Blog (English): [www.retrofoto.dk]
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Very cool work, Bjorn! I love how the images look, and I appreciate what it took to make them. :D

Graham