Cyanotype Develop and Fix – Video

Blog / Cyanotype

Just a short video showing the final steps of my cyanotype process. I usually use sunlight to expose my cyanotypes but it was too cold and dreary outside so I used an LED UV lamp for this print. After exposure the print is taken to a dark room, removed from the printing frame, and washed with tap water. The wash process removed unreacted iron from the dark areas in the negative. This leaved behind the image in Prussian Blue dye. It also renders the image light safe. I usually do 4 rinses in the dark room followed by about 10…

Collodion Tintype Portrait in The Summer

Blog / Portrait / Wet Plate Collodion

Summer is for outdoor collodion tintype portraits! I am so blessed that I have friends who are willing to pose for practice sessions. A good friend braved the Summer heat to pose for an outdoor practice plate. This is an 8x10 inch tintype made with the collodion process. They say the practice makes perfect. But I don't think that is true. What I think is practice + reflection + adjustment puts you on the path to "good". You have to reflect on the result and think about what worked and what could be improved on. Then make a change and…

Speedotron Capacitor Safety

Blog / Tutorial / Wet Plate Collodion

The capacitors used in a Speedotron flash power pack are powerful and potentially dangerous if not cared for properly. This is especially true when the unit has not been used for a long time. There is a simple way to reform the capacitors after extended down time which ensures they are safe and fully functional. Every day is like Christmas, at least it is when you believe! I am building up my wet plate kit and the newest member is a wonderful Speedotron 4803 power pack. My current pack is a 2403 which can deliver a mighty 2400ws of flash…

Collodion Portrait Session FAQ

Ambrotype / Blog / Portrait / Tintype / Wet Plate Collodion

So you booked your portrait session.. Awesome - I am so excited! So let's chat about important collodion portrait session FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions). Collodion sessions are a little bit different from digital photo sessions. The mood is slower paced and much more relaxed. We only produce a small number of images so it pays to plan things out in advance. Collodion is also a one-of-a-kind image process so there is always a bit of randomness to the final image. Of course, the surprise is just part of the fun. So here are some frequently asked questions.. How long does…

Oregon Shore - Cyanotype

Oregon Shore Cyanotype

Blog / Cyanotype

I get to travel a lot in my life and have been many wonderful (and not so wonderful) places. The Pacific coast in Oregon is one of my favorites! Here is a cyanotype made from a picture I took on the beach in Oregon. It was a cloudy and rainy day and I saw the almost glowing piece of driftwood. The contrast between the white drift wood and the wet rocks was very appealing so I snapped a few frames. This is a 10in x 14in cyanotype of that scene. The process really accentuated the contrast between the dark rocks…

Lily Pads - Cyanotype

Lily Pads Print Cyanotype

Blog / Cyanotype

A Cyanotype print of lily pads and sparkling water. This 12in x 9in print is for sale I used the new cyanotype process for this print which produces deep cobalt blue color - almost black. I think the contrast of the water sunlight sparkles and the dark water is especially beautiful. This print was made using a film (black and white) negative from pictures I did this summer in Northern Wisconsin. Here is another photo which shows both the amazing color and the texture from the renaissance wax finish. This print really brings me memories of Summer! So as the…

Thistles in Collodion

Blog / Wet Plate Collodion

When life gives you thistles - why make a collodion wet plate? I made a series of 5x7" tintypes and Ambrotypes (images on glass) yesterday and am so pleased with how the images turned out! I harvested a variety of plants in the morning for still life images but stuck with the thistles all day. Sometimes you get in the "zone" and time fades away and things just flow. Before I knew it dinner time was approaching. So I shut down image capture and set up varnishing my day's production. Like all my plates, this set was preserved with traditional…

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Fall is Cattail Season – Wet Plate Collodion

Blog / Wet Plate Collodion

Fall is cattail season! Here is a wet plate collodion still life of some cattails I found by my home. This plate was more for practice than for "keeping". I am learning how to manage colder temperatures. The cold has an impact on the chemicals used for wet plate. Mainly everything takes longer. Longer exposure (more light) and longer development times. One of the appealing parts of this process is the randomness. You never can be sure how things will turn out until you actually shoot a plate. That makes it surprising and gives a satisfaction to the finished product.…

Character is Power

Blog / Cyanotype

Character is Power - a cyanotype. This 9in x12in cyanotype is meant as a Christmas present (and a few copies will be offered for sale). I am not sure where I first encountered this drawing and it was certainly many years ago. I have an earlier cyanotype version hanging on my office wall and I find it to be filled with meaning and inspiration. I though I should find the original author and ensure I was not infringing copyright to offer my cyan interpretation. I spent a lot of time digging and finally found the original author. The drawing is…

Collodion Orchids on Stained Glass

Blog / Wet Plate Collodion

Part of the fun with wet plate collodion is experimentation. Here is a plate of collodion orchids on stained glass. There is a lot of challenges to shooting on stained glass. But the final image is so beautiful! The first challenge is getting the exposure correct - just a matter of trial and error (which takes a lot of time). Next is developing the plate. Development is most challenging because the glass makes the image look less intense than on clear glass. The development process is done under red "safe" light and the blue glass looks strange. This plate could…

Waxing Alternative Prints

Blog / Cyanotype / Salt Print

Waxing alternative prints to protect them is a critical step in my production process. I use archival quality paper and methods to make the prints last beyond a lifetime and the final step is just another layer of protection. There are two types of prints here, salt prints and cyanotypes. Let's talk about cyanotypes first. The deep blue colors of cyanotypes are from ferrous (iron) ions in a 2+ oxidation state. This "Prussian Blue" dye is caused by sunlight and the interesting thing is that if cyanotypes ever "fade" they can be regenerated by putting thin in the sun for…

Ibanez Artist – Happy Birthday

Blog / Salt Print

Happy birthday to my Ibanez Artist Electric Guitar! She turned 40 this year. Here is a salt print of my favorite guitar. She has a lot of mileage and the wear and tear to prove it. However, she is just as sweet to play now as when I picked her up 39 years ago. I was the 2nd owner. My acquisition will remain private to protect innocent parties in my long forgotten past. Her body is a sunburst maple with gold plated hardware. She is an AR300 model but has the tail of the AR 305. Not sure how that…