You might wonder how I started down this path of creating Cyanotypes so here it is...In the early 2000's I wanted to created a series of work talking about the Pine Beetle and the resulting denim wood. The blue stain is created in the wood as the tree tries to defend itself against the pine beetle.
I discovered the Cyanotype process when it was introduced as part of a photography class I was taking. "This is it" I thought, the perfect way to talk about denim wood.
Driving out to the Tolko lumber yard in Lavington I shot a bunch of photos of the raw wood and the beetle effects. In the photo darkroom I created large transparencies with the images on them. Creating a package of the prepared paper, transparency and a piece of glass to hold it all down I ventured out into the sunshine. The sunshine did it's work, causing the chemicals to react and the image to develop. After washing the paper to remove any undeveloped chemicals, the images were complete.
That was the start, and my drive to ask "I wonder what would happen if" has led me on an adventure exploring the wild world of Cyanotypes.
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