This was a fun cyanotype session. Some old tricks and some new. I've played with different paper types again to see which one will fit the subject matter the best. I also did some toning to have non-blue alternatives. And for the first time I've tried introducing some color into the my cyanotypes.

Country StoreTextured Traditional Blue Cyanotype

Country Store, Textured Traditional Blue Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Rough Textured Shizen Design 140lbs Watercolor Paper

Both photographs here are from the same location in Virginia, a random mountaintop find on a beautiful scenic route through the mountains.

Country StoreTextured Green Tea Toned Cyanotype

Country Store, Textured Green Tea Toned Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Rough Textured Shizen Design 140lbs Watercolor Paper

As you can see, for the Country Store I started with my favorite rough textured watercolor paper. It renders the photographs in low-fi, which I really like with structures of all kinds.

Country StoreSmooth Blue Cyanotype

Country Store,  Smooth Blue Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Smooth UCreate 90lbs Watercolor Paper

But I also tried a smooth paper version for comparison, and as a starting point for the next experiment. There are many ways one can introduce color to this monochromatic process but on this day I specifically wanted to try the random and abstract approach of pre-coloring blank watercolor paper and then coating the cyanotype emulsion over it. I did not have any specific color matching plan, just the opposite. For the Country Store I went with rather pronounced random patches of color. The result? see below :-)

Country StoreAbstract Colors Smooth Cyanotype

Country Store, Abstract Colors Smooth Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Smooth UCreate 90lbs Watercolor Paper

For the second photo I started with the same approach, a traditional blue cyanotype on the rough textured watercolor paper. It removes most of the detail in the photograph and increases contrast providing bright highlights and deeper shadows. It works for some subject matter and not so much for other.

Mountain Top MusicTextured Blue Cyanotype

Mountain Top Music, Textured Blue Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Rough Textured Shizen Design 140lbs Watercolor Paper

I really like how the green tea toned version came out here. The low detail low-fi quality of the paper still came through but the toned version lowered the overall contrast and opened up some of the deep shadows. The old truck looks great!

Mountain Top MusicTextured Green Tea Toned Cyanotype

Mountain Top Music, Textured Green Tea Toned Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Rough Textured Shizen Design 140lbs Watercolor Paper

I've also printed the smooth version as a baseline to see what I was going in with into the coloring.

Mountain Top MusicSmooth Blue Cyanotype

Mountain Top Music, Smooth Blue Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Smooth UCreate 90lbs Watercolor Paper

Unlike the Country Store, I tried a more subtle approach here with the Mountain Top Music scene.

Mountain Top MusicAbstract Color Cyanotype

Mountain Top Music, Abstract Color Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Textured Meeden 140lbs Watercolor Paper

Well, maybe not so subtle for the second version but the smoother transitions between colors still provide a different mood than the Country Store variety of color patches.

Mountain Top MusicAbstract Color Smooth Cyanotype

Mountain Top Music, Abstract Color Smooth Cyanotype, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Cyanotype
Chemically Printed on a Hand-Coated Smooth Strathmore 140lbs Watercolor Paper

What do you think? The Cyanotype process can be tuned to be almost as predictable as traditional darkroom printing, or it can be left somewhat unpredictable. It's all a choice. And pre-coloring the paper can add a new twist to both. You can pre-color with the final image in mind, or do so before even knowing what will be printed over it. I liked this initial experiment a lot and will definitely be doing this again.

Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy

Previous posts in the Cyanotypes series: 1. First Cyanotype - 2. More Cyanotypes - 3. Highlands Cyanotypes - 4. How do Cyanotypes Happen? - 5. Cyanotypes V: Tweaking the Curve - 6. Cyanotypes VI: Toning - 7. Cyanotypes VII: More Toning - 8. Cyanotypes VIII: Toning Different Papers - 9. Cyanotypes IX: Horní Rozsíčky - 10. Cyanotypes X: From Black and White or Color - 11. Cyanotypes XI: Moravian Countryside - 12. Cyanotypes XII: Prague Castle - 13. Cyanotypes XIII: American History - 14. Cyanotypes XIV: Gulf Shores, Alabama - 15. Cyanotypes XV: Different Take on Travel Photography - 16. Cyanotypes XVI: Nostalgic Pernštejn - 16. Cyanotypes XVII: Rajhrad Monastery Variations - 17. Cyanotypes XVII: Rajhrad Monastery Variations - 18. Cyanotypes XVIII: Pernštejn, Brno - 19. Cyanotypes XIX: Mountain Top Country Store & Music

If you like cyanotypes, you can explore the Cyanotypes Photo Gallery dedicated to my growing collection of them. Would you like to browse through traditional darkroom wet prints? Visit my Darkroom Photo Gallery and enjoy!

Fort Morgan Wagon Wheel Toned CyanotypeAlternative Process Photography Smith's Fort, Toned CyanotypeAlternative Process Photography House of Memories, Tea Toned Cyanotype IIAlternative Process Photography

Chautauqua Belle Steamboat, Meeden CyanotypeAlternative Process Photography Bon Secour Alley, CyanotypeAlternative Process Photography