This cyanotype session was a departure from my photographic cyanotypes where I expose a negative of a photograph onto a watercolor paper coated with cyanotype chemicals. Here, I had no photograph and no negative. Instead, I placed various leaves I found in the back yard onto the coated paper, selectively added pepper and green tea from a tea bag into some areas, sprayed the whole thing with a diluted vinegar, covered with a foil, squeezed behind glass, and exposed as I would a normal cyanotype photograph under my UV lamp for about 8 minutes.

Leaves 1, Wet Cyanotype PhotogramFrom the Garden

Leaves 1, From the Garden, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Wet Cyanotype Photogram

I wish I could share more details but this was a spontaneous activity and I did not take any notes. I just wanted to see if I could make it work. I came across wet cyanotype work on some Facebook groups dedicated to alternative photography and wanted to give it a shot myself. Even there, I was sloppy keeping notes for my inspiration. Thinking about it now, I traced back at least two articles off Facebook that served as some of the inspiration:

• Wet Cyanotype by Galina Manikova published on Alternative Photography
• Wet Cyanotype – injecting colours and double exposing by Tena Smith published on Alternative Photography

Leaves 2, Wet Cyanotype Photogram, Batch 26From the Garden

Leaves 2, From the Garden, An Original Hand-Made 5" x 7" Wet Cyanotype Photogram

As you can see, I have ways to go and a lot to experiment with and learn. But it worked and it was a lot of fun! I have not even dipped into the whole double exposure possibility where one can creatively hide things from the previous exposures.

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 - 20. Cyanotypes XX: Wet Cyanotype Photograpms

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!

Mountain Top Music, Abstract Color CyanotypeColored Cyanotype Fort Morgan Wagon Wheel Toned CyanotypeToned Cyanotype Country Store, Abstract Colors CyanotypeColored Cyanotype