“Alla in St Petersburg” by Arindam Majumdar, Sunnyvale, California, USA
Parts used: Boiled blueberries
Amount: 3 cups blueberries, boiled in water
Extracted by: Boiling in water for 20 minutes
Thinner: Tap water
Application: Laying watercolour paper on a tub of blueberry extract
Layers: Dipping once
Substrate: Arches watercolour paper, 11″ x 14″
Created with: The source digital image came from a picture taken on a digital camera. The digital image was printed as a positive colour transparency
Exposure: 4 weeks, July, 2024
UV strength: Natural sunlight
Contrast: ✿✿ (Medium)
Challenges or observations: Blueberries have a large dynamic range. Dye extraction using fresh blueberries results in richer, darker extracts, compared to using frozen blueberries.
Additional information: The anthotype “Alla in St Petersburg” is made from a digital photo. The digital photo was used to make the transparency. The contact frame is assembled sandwiching together the dyed watercolour paper, transparency with image, and a matte to create a border. The coloured border shows the original saturation and colour of the blueberry-dyed paper, and when compared to the fully exposed areas of the photo, demonstrates the dynamic range.
Instagram: @arindam_dream_no9
Blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosom) anthotype by Arindam Majumdar
This anthotype is part of World Anthotype Day
World Anthotype Day - celebrated annually since 2022 was started by AlternativePhotography.com. Our global community of artists celebrates the anthotype process by submitting prints. These works are added to our database here and compiled into reference books. The purpose is to build a large resource where artist can learn which pigments and plants work and draw inspiration from others. The reference books can be found here:
Volume 1 is the first book in the series:
Volume 1 contains 60 unique anthotype emulsions from 103 artists taking part from 31 countries.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 1 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2022
Volume 2 is the second book:
Volume 2 contains 100 unique anthotype emulsions from 139 artists taking part from 31 countries.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 2 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2023
Volume 3 is the third book:
Volume 3 pushes the boundaries with emulsions not only from plants and pigments, but also from beans, moss and mushrooms. 135 artists shared their research.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 3 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2024
Volume 4 will be the fourth book:
In Volume 4 we will combine entries from both 2025 and 2026 into one beautiful double edition to include even more inspiring work, insights, and pigments to explore. The release for the combined World Anthotype Day book is planned for November 2026 – a richer, more comprehensive collection worth the wait.
Anthotype Emulsions, Volume 4 – The collective research from photographers on World Anthotype Day 2025 and 2026
If you want to learn more about making anthotypes there is also the first "how-to" book:
Make prints using plants - an environmentally safe process!The first book solely dedicated to Anthotypes.
Anthotypes – Explore the darkroom in your garden and make photographs using plants
Rated 9,8 - based on 224 votes
And also the Complete Guide and How-To book:
Learn everything there is to know about anthotypes in the updated edition 2 of our popular How-To book.The extended and complete guide to Anthotypes.
Anthotypes - The Complete Guide to Making Photographs with Plants and Sunlight
If you are already practising anthotype printing, we suggest making notes to document and learn:
50 pre-defined pages for you to document your anthotype process.
Anthotype notes – Document your anthotype process
Rated 10 - based on 8 votes
Looking for a good paper to use?
The Massive Paper chart
85+ papers tested in the argyrotype, chrysotype, cyanotype, palladium, salted paper and vandyke brown process.Pure Inspiration = A cross between learning and inspiration
Pure Inspiration #2: COLOUR
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Pure Inspiration #1: COMPOSITES
A fusion of moments and visions from artists working in alternative photographic processes – featuring 90+ inspirational alternative photographic processes images. Highly creative!Our 25th anniversary book
Alternative Photography: Art and Artists, Edition 2
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World Anthotype Day
World Cyanotype Day
