CYANOTYPES
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Cyanotypes are a camera less printing process that leaves a blue (cyan) print. To create a cyanotype you have to place photo sensitive paper and place your objects onto it, as the light exposes the image it leaves a mark on your paper. The word cyan comes from a greek meaning-dark blue substance. This process is unexpencive and uses only the power of the sun and iron salt solutions instead of a darkroom where more equipment is essential. Here is a slideshow of cyanotypes made by Anna Atkins.
Anna AtkinsAnna Atkin's was a photographer who was believed as the first woman to create a photograph. She was originally a botanist and used cyanotypes in a way to document her botanical specimens-used for a scientific reference book. The book she made was named 'British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions' this book was infact the first one to have published images made by light- sensitive materials. After this, she carried on to make these beautiful cyanotypes and eventually got another book published also to do with 'British Algae'
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How did I make my own cyanotype?
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What Went Well?
Even Better If?
My own cyanotypeI am fairly pleased with how my cyanotype turned out, however if I were to complete this task again I would make a few alters. I really love the contrasts of opacity in this image as it really gives the image a lot of depth to it as my image consists of light and dark tones. This gives a lot of effect as you feel like you could really dive into the image. I'm also really pleased with the objects I chose as to use objects with similar shapes makes the image a lot more meaningful rather than just chucking random objects onto the paper. On factor about this image that I dislike is the arrangement. Although objects have been set out okay I think I should have either used less objects or more objects, this is because I strongly believe an image looks better when it is either busy or minimilistic. Because the arrangement in my image is quite boring it makes the image lifeless and not particularly interesting. I was inspired by one of Anna atkin's cyanotypes of botanical plants. I love the way her her images are simplistic yet emotional. Although my image doesn't evoke much feeling I think if i used more natural objects such as flowers of twigs it would be more. Next time I create a cyanotype I shall use those objects.
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