Page 14 - Cape-Camera-August-2023

August 2023 Cape Camera

E & D report back — 16th August

A detailed botanical blueprint created by Anna Atkins. Chloe Obermeyer photographed by Joyce Goldschmidt.

Brilliance in Blue – Unique Cyanotype printing

by Kim Stevens

In August CTPS members were treated to a fascinating cess by coating sensitive paper with a mixture of two
presentation by Chloe Obermeyer on this special type chemicals (half ferric ammonium citrate and half potas-
of printing that goes back to the origin of photography sium ferricyanide).
and has lost none of its appeal in creating alternative art After drying, the paper, together with a negative, is ex-
images. posed to a light source (often for a protracted period)
She started by introducing us to the history of cyano- and then developed through extensive washing in wa-
types, explaining how Sir John Herschel invented the ter— which also completes the fixing process.
chemistry to produce the cyanotype process, which It is a very organic process and the results are not pre-
became known as blueprints. He first used it to repro- dictable, but therein lies its uniqueness. We watched in
duce his mathematical tables and diagrams more cost fascination as the images developed on the paper in
effectively. front of our eyes.
She also highlighted Anna Atkins, an English botanist
who used this simple chemical process to create impres- Chloe offers hands-on workshops in cyanotype and oth-
sively detailed blueprints of botanical specimens, and er printing methods. We hope to engage her in the near
was the first author to publish a book illustrated solely future for all members who are interested to learn more
with cyanotype photographic images. about this very creative way of printing.
Chloe then explained and demonstrated the actual pro- For more information: www.chloeobermeyer.com

Photos of Chloe’s demonstrations by Joyce Goldschmidt.

14 Cape Town Photographic Society