Cyanotype, like my other processes, relies on sunlight to create lasting images. Instead of silver images cyanotype produces images in iron. The process was invented by John Hershel in 1842 and was one of the first photographic processes. Herschel discovered that iron salts would be treated to become light sensitive. When exposed to sunlight, or any rich UV source, the salts formed a permanent iron dye with intense blue color. Known as Prussian Blue, the color is ranges from light blue to almost black.

Cyanotypes are produced through a contact printing process:

Prussian Blue dye. Cyanotype The an intense blue dye Under ultraviolet light cyanotype does not use silver Unlike my other processes, cyanotype The Cyanotype prints can also make compelling portraits! Blue is not the first color one would choose for humans and human skin – except maybe at an awesome cosplay convention! But in the palette of monochrome colors the blue of cyanotype can be most interesting.

• Paper (or other mediums) is coated with iron salts in a darkened room and allowed to dry
• A full sized negative is used to produce the image – the negative can anything from physical objects to developed photographic film
• The sensitized paper is placed in contact with the negative and clamped in a printing frame
• The frame is placed in sunlight to develop and image
• After exposure the print is washed in water (in a darkened room) to remove unreacted iron salts, leaving behind an image
• The washed print is hung to dry
• I often coat my images with wax to give a nice finish and protect the image

Here is a portrait of one of my favorite people in the entire world. She is beautiful inside and out and has so many layers of thoughts!

Want to see your portrait in blue? Contact me and set up a portrait session and I will be happy to produce some amazing cyanotype prints!

Here is a close up – those eyes and expression hold a world of mystery! In Your Eyes I see the doorway to a thousand churches!