Cyanotypes for the unartistic
Learning more about the history of photography was one of my ideas for 2026. I figured I would start with cyanotype as an easy do-it-yourself option.
Mixing the solutions makes me feel full mad scientist. A definite point in its favour.
For subjects I've very helpfully got a garden full of leaves. Botanical images go right back to the beginning of cyanotypes so it felt relevant. I'm interested in the Victorian botanical artist Marianne North and fellow botanical artist Anna Atkins published the first ever photographic book - of cyanotypes.
My very first cyanotype was the best I'd ever done.* The edges were blurry and I realised the stuff needed pressing down firmer. I was using plastic but then got an old pane from the greenhouse which was an improvement.
* I love this about learning new things. I got this attitude from Great British Bake Off years ago, where someone who had never made this particular bake before pointed out her disastrous attempt was in fact the best she'd ever done. It's true.
Cyanotypes are also great because you don't need a dark room or anything. That doesn't stop me fantasising about having a dark room. There's no window in our downstairs toilet so in theory that could definitely work. (Reminder to self: I really don't need a dark room.) But it's a fun idea. I might need a dark room for the next historical photographic adventures.
For now though I'm happy just prowling around looking for stuff to make cyanotypes of. I'm so unartistic but I can certainly find interesting leaves.
This is me Trying new things and doing more stuff