In a world where it has become increasingly difficult to tell whether an image is real or fake, I felt the call to explore some traditional printing methods. If you have been following me for the last few years, you will know that I enjoy creating Polaroid emulsion lifts. It is a fun, hands-on way to make images that are truly one of a kind. No two will ever be the same.

Recently, I looked back at my early years in photography and decided to revisit some even older printing methods. I still have a large collection of darkroom equipment, but I did not want to revive the old darkroom. Yes, it is a truly magical place to explore and create, but I do not miss dealing with the long list of chemicals that comes with it. So, I decided to return to cyanotype printing. I have not made a cyanotype since I was in photography school at NAIT—and, my friends, that was almost 30 years ago.

Yes, cyanotype does involve some chemistry, but it is not as harsh or as complicated as traditional colour or black-and-white printing. I do not even need to be in complete darkness to prepare the paper. Cyanotype uses UV light, or the sun, to expose a negative onto paper that has been coated with the solution. It uses iron instead of silver, which gives the images their gorgeous Prussian blue tone. The process dates back to the mid-1800s, when photography itself was just beginning. You can look it up online or in a history of photography book for those of us who still love to read books. You may not find it as fascinating as I do, but that comes as much from my love of art history and history as it does from my photography background.

Please enjoy a couple of images I created recently. One is a self-portrait I took a couple of years ago. I never got around to printing it, so this felt like the perfect time. The other is of my dog, Charlie. These are both printed on water colour paper. Right now, I am simply experimenting with cyanotype for my own personal projects, but who knows—maybe I will add it to the products I offer in the future. Stay tuned, I do hope to create a t-shirt in the near future.