Cyanotype Printing in A Level Photography

The autumnal sunny days in Bristol this month inspired an idea to create some cyanotype prints with the new Lower Sixth A Level Photography pupils. Cyanotype printing, otherwise known as the ‘blueprint’ relies on exposure to ultraviolet light, the recent spell of bright weather offered perfect conditions.

Our Art Department garden was a great location to work outside to expose the papers. The girls prepared their negatives using Adobe Photoshop, creating high contrast images, learning how to apply effects and navigate through certain Photoshop tools. They then coated watercolour papers in light sensitive solution. 

Lots of preparation led up to ‘exposure’ day, which in the morning was yet another sunny blue sky day. To our dismay, mid-morning the weather changed, the blue sky disappeared, replaced by a misty grey coverage threatening to drizzle. Everyone was disappointed yet the consensus was to carry on regardless. 

The girls chose to double the UV exposure time and waited with bated breath. To everyone’s delight, when the papers were submerged into the water baths, the Prussian blue colour synonymous with cyanotype ‘blue prints’ appeared. Anna Atkins, an English Botanist was a pioneer in the development of cyanotype printing in the nineteenth century. In a male dominated field, she pushed her explorations to the limit and this week has inspired our Sixth Form photographers. Here are some photos from ‘exposure’ day!