my first cyanotype

Deniz · Sep 26, 2006

today i did my first cyanotype.

turned out very good. Didnt have any problems. It took 25mins in the sunlight. could have gone for 40mins for some more density. the print looks alot better than this digital photograph of it.

Soeren · Sep 26, 2006

Con gratulations. Looks good though it smells a bit of..........
Which size is it, is it the Wares cyantype formula or traditional, kit or mixed yourself, and and...?
Cheers
Søren

Deniz · Sep 26, 2006

Its an 8x10" contact print.

Traditional formula, mixed by yours truly. paper is Arches aquasomething.

Jerevan · Sep 26, 2006

Nice one! The dead fish works well in blue. Do some more and put them in the Experimental Gallery. One can never get enough of well made cyanotypes. I think, at least...

EDIT: I realized you aren't a subscriber, but well... keep them coming anyways.

reellis67 · Sep 26, 2006

I like it! It turned out much better than my first attempt. I'm also glad to see that I'm not the only one using ye olde sun for exposures. I was beginning to think that everyone had some sort of indoor UV device but me.

- Randy

BrianShaw · Sep 26, 2006

I like it too. I haven't cyanotyoped for a decade or so, but my color with traditional formula was always more "brilliant" blue. Did you do anything special to get the deeper blue that you have in this image? I like it!

BrianShaw · Sep 26, 2006

reellis67 said:
I like it! It turned out much better than my first attempt. I'm also glad to see that I'm not the only one using ye olde sun for exposures. I was beginning to thing that everyone had some sort of indoor UV device but me.

You're not alone!

Robert Hall · Sep 26, 2006

awesome!

Deniz · Sep 26, 2006

Brian i dont think i did anything special to get the blues like this. I did not use any peroxide in the washing.
This stuff is fun!! I have 10 new negatives that i will be trying cyanotypes with. Just gotta develop them first.

reellis67 · Sep 26, 2006

Brian, the blue you get varies from paper to paper, and is typicaly stronger in the darker areas if you coat the paper twice.

- Randy

Davec101 · Sep 26, 2006

One tip i heard the other day about using the sun to develop your cyanotype is that using direct sunlight you get less contrast in the print and you get more contrast on an overcast day.
Have not tried it yet as i am one of those people with a UV lamp thingy

Deniz · Sep 26, 2006

Well the exposure was 40mins in bright sun, i would assume it would be a few hours in an overcast day.

Salmonoid · Sep 27, 2006

I been making sun exposures recently and it seems that 40 minutes is much to long an exposure. I find that 6 minutes should be about max for bright sun. 40 minutes is hard to believe!

roy · Sep 27, 2006

Well done. Are you pleased with it ?

BrianShaw · Sep 27, 2006

Salmonoid said:
I been making sun exposures recently and it seems that 40 minutes is much to long an exposure. I find that 6 minutes should be about max for bright sun. 40 minutes is hard to believe!

It depends on where you live. Vancouver is quite a bit North. 6 minutes is more like my experience for summer printing in open sun where I live. There are tables in almost all of the old (early 20th century and before) photo books that give sun-exposure time corrections for time of day and latitudes.

EDIT:

I can't locate one of those tables (I'm not at my library right now) but here is an interesting survey on Cyano printing times. Many variables are not described, like neg density, etc. but hte data is interesting in terms of ballpark exposure times. Fortunately location is always mentioned:
http://www.alternativephotography.com/articles/art068.html

reellis67 · Sep 27, 2006

Here in Sunny Florida, my exposures can be as short as 3 minutes in direct sun. Wonder what it's doing to my skin?!

- Randy

rippo · Oct 2, 2006

yeah i saw that long exposure time and thought "where's he from?" mine are typically 4 to 6 minutes. but hey, vancouver's up by the north pole, isn't it? probably hardly any sun at all this time of year. one good thing about sunny southern california i guess.

Ole · Oct 2, 2006

Anywhere from three minutes to three hours is my experience, from even farther north. All depending on time of year and haze levels and whatnot.

Willie Jan · Oct 2, 2006

Maybe it is overexposed somewhat.
There are no white areas left in the photo.

Or your original has not enough contrast if it looks to flat with less exposure time.

yes, it's a very nice process to work with.
enjoy it.

my first cyanotype

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