Exploring Cyanotype Photography

I have been experimenting with Cyanotype for the past several months. It is an old process from the 19th century, which prints images not with silver, but rather with iron, or Prussian blue.

This also became possible because I found a used inkjet printer for free on a local Facebook neighborhood page. The idea occurred to me that I could probably use it to print digital negatives. The printer is not an expensive one, but the resolution is sufficient to produce digital negatives.

I had a brief interest in alternative photography around 2014-2016, but I did not continue as I got busier. Now, I’m revisiting the practice again. Last time, I mainly tried albumen photography, but I decided to give it another try.

So far, I have been testing with the so-called classic Cyanotype printing technique. I have been trying to create a new Cyanotype chemical as well, but it turns out that this chemical process is rather new to me. I’m not very good at making precise measurements, so this will require some practice. I also drove to a store called American Science and Surplus, where they sell glass beakers and measurement devices. Cyanotype uses somewhat poisonous chemicals, so I need to wear proper protective gear such as an N95 mask, gloves, and eye protection. I ensure to keep any tools used for my photography away from children’s access, and these beakers or any plates are not to be mixed with everyday dishes.

Below is an example of my work using classic Cyanotype. The model is Trish Davis, who’s from Ohio.