In 1843 Anna Atkins published the first book of photography made using the cyanotype process called British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions. If you are a cyanotyper, you may also be interested in our tribute event to this true pioneer. Anna Children (maiden name of Anna Atkins) is born 16th of March 1799 in Tonbridge, Kent, UK, the daughter of John George Children (1777-1852) and Hester Anne Holwell (1777-1799). The house of … Read more
Cyanotype is a easily accessible process with one limitation. It’s blue. Unless you know how to create multi-coloured cyanotypes. Here is how. Writer and photography / Jo Bind with tricolour section by Sehera Nawaz It was literally out of the blue when I first saw a post by Annette Golaz on the cyanotype Facebook group in early 2021 which showed a full-colour print that she claimed was done with cyanotype … Read more
Cyanogifts – a collective from Macedonia – channel their creativity into placing art on everyday objects, like their cyanotype tote bags. How did Cyanogifts start? Cyanogifts was an idea that started from our love for alternative photographic processes. The idea is fairly old, yet, as we say, the star constellations were not adequate to make it happen. “We wanted to place our love and passion for cyanotypes into something practical, … Read more
Experimental Photography Workbook by Christina Z. Anderson, 6th edition.
Why would an artist be concerned with ways to make photography more sustainable and how could such query transform one’s artistic practice? Curious writer Miglė Markulytė interviews photographer Dan Hermouet to reveal how he cooks photography by distilling pigments from a river, scrubbing off the rust from old tools, and mixing special photo-sensitive solutions with curds. Writer / Miglė Markulytė Photography / Dan Hermouet “A good chef can not only … Read more
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
World Cyanotype Day 2021 is now over. 427 cyanotypes were entered in our online gallery – and really made the day. There is just so much inspiring work! We would love to get your feedback on the event, please comment below! Make a cup of coffee, sit back and enjoy the show. These are the links where you can find inspiration. See this year’s Gallery here: 👉 https://www.alternativephotography.com/gallery/gallery-by-process/world-cyanotype-day-2021-gallery-rejuvenation/ See artists … Read more
Jim Read likes to do things his own way has contributed with how-to articles on making your own contact print frames amongst other things. From: Midlands, UK. Shows: Cyanotypes. Jim started photography in 1990 purely as a pastime and decided to go down the exhibition route to hone his skills. Over the next ten years he had, or took part in 11 exhibitions in the Midlands area of the UK. … Read more
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
Palle Lindgaard-Jørgensen has worked with alternative photographic processes for more than ten years. He works with photo transfers, photogravure, xerolithography, cyanotypes and albumen prints. From: Nærum, 18 km north of Copenhagen, Denmark. Shows: Albumen prints, Cyanotypes, Phototransfers to metal, Photogravure and Xerolithography. Palle Lindgaard-Jørgensen is an artistic photographer who always uses his own photos as a basis for the alternative photographic processes and experiments with the different expressions, one can … Read more
Dennis Humphrey is an interdisciplinary artist using digital photography, alternative photography (cyanotype and gum bichromate) as well as contemporary mixed media processes, mostly on paper. He shares his cyanotypes here. From: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Shows: Cyanotypes. Dennis Humphrey is an interdisciplinary artist using digital photography, cyanotype and contemporary mixed media processes on paper. A collector of images, an assembler and arranger of mediums and materials, he mixes and … Read more
Carmen Ayala discovered a world of creative possibilities in photography when she learned the cyanotype process in 2015. She has now expanded her work to other photographic processes and also works in liquid emulsion and anthotype. From: Almería, Spain. Shows: Cyanotypes, Liquid emulsions and Anthotypes. Carmen Ayala was born in the South of Spain, where she grew up in full contact with nature. Her interest in photography began as a … Read more
Jalo Porkkala has tested papers for cyanotype printing and shares the result.
Malin Fabbri shows how to care for and wash your cyanotypes printed on fabric.
Blueprint to cyanotypes – exploring a historical altenrnative photographic process, a book with practical instructions to the cyanotype.
Alternative Photography, Art and Artists, Edition 1. A softback book representing over 100 artists working in alternative photographic processes.
Cissy Spoelstra, from Leiden, The Netherlands works in photography, art and design and has recently started exploring cyanotypes. She loves experimenting with materials such as glass. From: Leiden, The Netherlands. Shows: Cyanotypes. Cissy Spoelstra is a Dutch photographer, based in Leiden. She studied creative photography at the Photo Academy in Amsterdam and worked as a photographer until march 2020 when she was forced to stay at home due to the … Read more
JE Piper has learnt how to make cyanotype negatives in-camera. Here is how.
European photographer
Born: Spain, Lives: Edinburgh, Scotland.
Shows: Lith prints.
See gallery
An ironic history of alternative photographic processes written by Dr Mike Ware