Episode 40: Deep Dark Blue - Cyanotypes and Denise Grays

<p>We’ve got a case of the mean blues!  – it’s Cyanotypes this episode! What are they, where’d they come from and how can You, the listener at home, do them? We also talk to Denise Grays (<a href='https://www.instagram.com/deniseg316/'>@deniseg316</a>) about Kansas and her new zine, A Love Letter to Kansas. Tiffen Sinclair (<a href='https://www.instagram.com/tiffen.sinclair/'>@tiffen.sinclair</a>) drops by with some news about disposable cameras. There’s also the answering machine and zine reviews.</p> <p> </p> DENISE GRAYS: A LOVE LETTER TO KANSAS <p>Denise Grays has been photographing Kansas for more than a decade. Her recent zine, a Love Letter to Kansas, released by Themselves Press,  sold out quickly. Since we both adore Kansas more than life itself, we thought it was a great time to have Denise on and talk to her all about it.</p> <p>Here are a few of Denise’s photos:</p> <p>And here are her blog: <a href='https://deniseonfilm.blogspot.com/'>https://deniseonfilm.blogspot.com/</a></p> <p> </p> CYANOTYPES: THEIR HISTORY AND HOW TO LOVE THEM <p>Cyanotype is a printing process that produces a deep blue negative print. Generally, a piece of paper is coated with an emulsion made up of potassium ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate. Once dry, an opaque object is placed on top of the paper and exposed to light. After exposure and washing, the unexposed emulsion is washed away, leaving an impression of whatever object was placed on the paper. The exposed emulsion turns a deep Prussian Blue.</p> <p>We talk about John Herschel, who invented/discovered cyanotypes. So here are a few of his kinda crappy prints:</p> <ul class="blocks-gallery-grid"><li class="blocks-gallery-item"> </li> <li class="blocks-gallery-item"> </li> </ul> <p>We also talk a lot about Anna Atkins, who printed Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions in 1843. Here are a few of her cyanotypes:</p> <p>And some by her friend and “almost sister,” Anne Dixon:</p> <p>Vania has als