CYANOTYPE PHOTOGRAPHY
"The English scientist and astronomer Sir John Herschel discovered the procedure in 1842. Though the process was developed by Herschel, he considered it as mainly a means of reproducing notes and diagrams, as in blueprints. It was Anna Atkins who brought this to photography. She created a limited series of cyanotype books that documented ferns and other plant life from her extensive seaweed collection. Atkins placed specimens directly onto coated paper, allowing the action of light to create a silhouette effect. By using this photogram process, Anna Atkins is regarded as the first female photographer."
In even simpler terms, we took hundreds of photos. Produced negatives for each one. Coated hundreds of pieces of paper in cyanotype solution. Placed the negatives upon them, put them in sunlight and let the ultraviolet rays burn the silhouette of the negatives onto the paper. The remaining solution turning blue. Then we animated all the photo's together. It took about a month.
Leaving us with this, a wonderful vision taken from a mind to a screen: ALA.NI - Come To Me
It has been a great pleasure and privilege to have had Alani's and my work treated in such a generous way. I don't think either of us had any real concept of where it would go while we were locked in a small flat in London, hand processing photographs in a bathroom for an entire month!
But with great thanks to Galerie Arts Factory and Molitor and huge thanks to the team at
No Format our photographs from the 'Come To Me' video have been exhibited in Paris and Barcelona for a whole new audience to see and enjoy.
Here below are a series of making of videos that show the process from beginning to end!
