Fern Cyanotypes
Added 2020-04-20 03:19:27 +0000 UTCBack when it was sunny and warm I was actively working on making a few cyanotypes each day. So cyanotypes for those that don't know are made when paper that was previously coated in light sensitive chemicals, is exposed to ultraviolet light.
I spent one night many moons before, coating the paper in a fun chemical concoction of potassium ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate. After the paper dried for a half hour or so I stored it away in a box somewhere dark. If the paper is exposed to UV light or humidity before you intend, it can deteriorate the chemicals and light sensitivity. The morning I did these, I went out into the hills and foraged the ferns. I like to use fresh vegetation because I'm able to get the most detail out of the plant. All those little veins and seeds dry up when the leaf is pressed. Once I got home, I laid out my leafings and cutting of paper on my closet floor where it was nearly lit. I placed the clippings on the paper, sandwiched them between two pieces of glass, and placed them outside in direct sunlight 15-60 minutes. After I'm content with how long I've let them lay in the sun, I take them into my bathroom, peel the leafings off and rinse it with water until the water runs clear. Finally, I let it dry then scan it in!
