Anna Atkins tribute journal 2024 - Week starting Monday

Get Inspired – The Anna Atkins Tribute Journal

Christopher Osborne is the editor of Silvergrain Classics and an avid fan of journaling. He reviews our Anna Atkins tribute journal and is pleased with the result. Writer / Christopher Osborne The Anna Atkins Tribute Journal 2023 is the brainchild of Malin Fabbri. Malin is the driving force behind alternativephotography.com, the go-to source of information for anyone interested in alternative photographic techniques. For those of you who are not familiar … Read more

World Cyanotype Day 2022 map

Call for entries: World Cyanotype Day 2023. Open for entries 30th of September and our deadline is 7th of October 2023

We will open for entries on World Cyanotype Day, the 30th of September and deadline is 7th of October 2023. Once a year – on the last Saturday in September – the cyanotype gets special attention. Since 2015 the cyanotype is celebrated on the last Saturday in September in the yearly event World cyanotype Day. If you are not one of those who do cyanotypes EVERY day, it may be a … Read more

Wet Cyanotype Painting: Fun under the sun

Once you’ve explored classic cyanotype photograms, OHP negatives, UV light boxes or wet cyanotypes, you may be interested in having even more fun with wet cyanotype painting. Dennis Humphrey began his explorations between 2018 and 2020. Basically, it is spontaneous painting with liquid cyanotype emulsion, on paper, under the sun—a fun, serendipitous process. Writer and photography / Dennis Humphrey What is a wet cyanotype painting? It is painting, drawing, pouring, … Read more

Cyanotype print wash delay test

Darkroom variations for the classic cyanotype

Paolo Saccheri tests different variations of citric acids, washing and printing variables for the cyanotype process and shares his results with us. Please note that this is for the advanced cyanotyper. If you are a beginner, please start with Cyanotype – the classic process. Writer and photography / Paolo Saccheri Paper white and citric acid variations for cyanotypes Normally, when you print in cyanotype (or any of the other alternative … Read more

Rolling the washi paper

The Welch method for the washing of cyanotypes printed on Japanese washi (and other delicate papers)

Cyanotypes can be printed on Japanese washi paper with added textures and fine results. But washing Japanese washi paper is a fine art in itself. Adam Welch shares his method. Writer and photography / Adam Welch Any logical person might ask “But why”? And who am I to disagree? “In fact, it’s perfectly normal to wonder why someone would choose to place themselves in the way of a photographic quagmire … Read more

World Cyanotype Day

World cyanotype day – last Saturday in September

Once a year the cyanotype gets special attention. Since 2015 the cyanotype is celebrated on the last Saturday in September in the yearly event World cyanotype Day (WCD for short). The next time is the 30th of September 2023. Subscribe to the Cyanotype Newsletter, and you will be notified. Beginner or seasoned cyanotyper, don’t hesitate to take part!. How to take part in World Cyanotype Day 2023 – with the … Read more

Anette Golaz

Interview with Annette Golaz – author of “Cyanotype toning”

An interview with author of  “Cyanotype toning: Using Botanicals to Tone Blueprints Naturally”, Annette Golaz on why she tones cyanotypes, she also shares her favorite toning “recipe” with us. Photography / Annette Golaz, Roberta Fele How did you get interested in art and photography? Annette Golaz: My interest in photography goes back to my childhood. My dad was a real camera buff. He left us a collection of 400 cameras … Read more

Blythotype example of positive cyanotype

Blythtypes – positive-working cyanotype prints

The ‘Blythtype’, is a variation on Cyanotypes by Jeff Blyth where a positive print is made from a positive image. It also has increased light sensitivity through the introduction of a photosensitive dye. Cyanotype experimenters are encouraged to have a go, though NOT for beginners. Writers and photographers / Jeff Blyth and Martin Richardson Abstract This paper describes a new Cyanotype system, the ‘Blythtype’, which offers a new technique resulting … Read more

Cyanotype toning book by Annette Golaz

New book on toning cyanotypes!

The cyanotype toning book from Annette Golaz – another Routledge publication – is here, containing step-by-step instructions and contemporary artists working with toning. As we all know by now, cyanotypes are blue by default. As much as blue is a wonderful color, it is not always suitable for the final print. Luckily, cyanotypes can be toned, and now there is a whole book devoted to this topic. From the publisher: … Read more

A good starting point for cyanotypes – learn the process

Cyanotypes are those blueprints you have probably seen. It is the best way to get started and learn alternative photographic processes. The process is easy to learn but takes a lifetime to master. The cyanotype process is easy to learn, and a good starting point for anyone who want to learn more about alternative photographic processes. Here are some steps to take when you want to learn the cyanotype process: … Read more

World Cyanotype Day 2021 - Rejuvenation

World Cyanotype Day 2021, 25th September – can it possibly get BIGGER?

The 25th of September 2021 is World Cyanotype Day. Last year there were 265 artists taking part here from 50 different countries. Can this year possibly get BIGGER? Well, start by preparing, you have plenty of time to really think of the theme and make something NEW, and the theme this year is “Rejuvenation”.  Enter your work in the gallery at AlternativePhotography.com: AlternativePhotography.com/gallery/gallery-by-process/world-cyanotype-day-2021-gallery-rejuvenation/ There are many more ways to take … Read more

classic cyanotype process

Cyanotype – the classic process

Cyanotype process – a modified extract from the book Blueprint to cyanotypes describing the classic or traditional cyanotype process.

UV LED Box – LED Strips

Build a UV led box for cyanotypes

Gavin Lyons shows how to make a Cyanotype image with a UV LED box. Cyanotypes are traditionally developed in sunlight, but in the winter the UV light isn’t so strong and readily available. Here is how to make a Cyanotype, Van Dyke Brown or Salt Papers at any time during the year. Writer and photography / Gavin Lyons This box will produce an A3 or A4 size cyanotype print just … Read more

World Cyanotype Day – on the last Saturday of September

World Cyanotype started in 2015, and was created by the artists of shootapalooza. The official celebration day is always the last Saturday of September. There are several events taking place over the world, here are a few – if you know of more let us know. Contribute with your own work, or if you don’t practice it yourself, you can enjoy the other artists’ work. Here are some links to … Read more

Preparation & use for Siderotypes: Cyanotype, Vandyke Brown, Argyrotype, Ziatype, and the silver halide process of B&W silver gelatin v.1.5

The Special Edition Art Project was created to afford photographers and artists practical access to the creation of wet-processed photographic prints. This photographic processes user guide focusses instruction on classic B&W silver gelatin printmaking as well as the historic light-sensitive iron based Siderotypes processes of Cyanotype (iron), Vandyke Brownprint, aka VDB, (silver / gold), Argyrotype (silver / gold), and Ziatype (palladium / gold / tungsten / platinum). Writer and photography / … Read more