Blueprint – AlternativePhotography.com

Measuring Cyanotype Chemicals Without a Scale – including Cheat Sheet

A practical guide to measuring cyanotype chemicals with teaspoons and tablespoons. Many cyanotype practitioners (I am one example) like to work with precise measurements and repeatable results using a gram scale, but beginners may not yet have invested in a gram scale. Fortunately, there is another option using spoons. I measured common kitchen measuring spoons filled with cyanotype chemicals 20 times each and calculated the averages. The results provide a … Read more

Cyanotype printed in vaccuum sealed bag. The air pressure stiffens the bag when you remove the air, and the bag is not even. Put it in a frame behind glass when exposing to flatten it further.

Vacuum-Sealed Cyanotype Printing with Leaves

Bernd Hutschenreuther shares how he enhances cyanotype prints by using a vacuum-sealed bag to press leaves or other materials tightly against the paper, ensuring sharp detail. Inspired by Lothmann’s experiments, this technique is practical for achieving high precision in botanical cyanotypes. Writer and photography / Bernd Hutschenreuther The main benefit of using a vacuum-sealed bag for cyanotype printing is achieving sharp, high-detail prints by ensuring perfect contact between the object … Read more

Hands-On Workshop for Future Educators

Josephine Schreibers shares how she did a hands-on workshop introducing teacher training students to alternative photography, emphasizing creativity, sustainability, and classroom applications. They explored anthotype, cyanotype, and camera obscura, discovering new techniques through experimentation and collaboration. Writer and photography / Josephine Schreibers In a recent workshop, a group of 20 teacher training students explored alternative photographic processes through a hands-on, self-directed approach. The session was structured around four workstations: camera … Read more

The website www.Cyanotypes.com at the start in the year 2000.

25 Years of AlternativePhotography.com – our story

It’s hard to believe, but AlternativePhotography.com is celebrating 25 years! What started as a small online resource has grown into a thriving community of artists, experimenters, and lovers of alternative photographic processes. Our story is still being written, but here is how it started. To mark this milestone, we’re releasing Alternative Photography: Art & Artists, Edition 2! This much-anticipated book showcases the work of 137 artists, featuring everything from cyanotypes … Read more

Sir John Herschel by Juliet Margaret Cameron

Sir John Herschel – his life and discoveries

Sir John Herschel gave us, who work in alternative photographic processes, so much. Without him would we have the anthotype, chrysotype and cyanotype? I also find it fascinating that a century and a half later his discoveries and new words are still relevant. ‘Snapshot’ and ‘negative’ are two that are still in use. Writer and photography / Malin Fabbri Many historians and researchers have written accounts of Sir John Herschel’s … Read more

Cyanotype Lace Purse – Trompe L’oeil

Printing on fabric involves similar techniques as on paper, with a few key differences. Cyanotype prints on fabric are often more striking and can be embellished with embroidery. Kim Tillyer shares her project uses a 100% organic cotton purse blank, requiring more solution and careful drying for optimal results from her book Beginner’s Guide to Cyanotype: Beautiful projects to print with light. Writer and photography / Kim Tillyer Printing on … Read more