Cyanotypes:

As the next development of my project I creates some cyanotypes using some of the material that I gathered such as flowers and leaves. I wasn't too sure how these were going to turn out due to some of the coated paper being quite old but overall I think that they turned out nicely. The shape of the leaves and flowers are clearly defined and can be seen, however I would have preferred there to be a stronger contrast between the image and the rest of the background but that could be fixed easily by using a fresher cyanotype solution. 

My favourite out of the three is this image, not only is the shape of the flower that has been used appealing with soft edges that make it seem like a cloud floating in the ocean. But I also think that the way the words not the paper can be seen adds a sense of curiosity to the piece as if the viewer is discovering a secret message. I think that this piece has an antique look about it, the the old book paper is faded and stained and the cyanotype mixture has only been painted on the middle which I think gives off a feeling of authenticity. As if a child has created this in the middle of their diary and hidden it away.

I believe that my other two cyanotypes are both successful, there is a nice contrast between the main image and the blue tones of the background. I think that there is something quite haunting about these images, the cool blues tones create a sense of sadness and loss. I think that it feels as if the viewer is seeing the after image of something that is long gone and never coming back. I also believe that the way light has been capture within these images is fascinating and enticing, especially in the second image. The streak of light seems add another layer to the work and a sense of depth that draws the viewer in and makes it seem as if they could step into the image. 

As a final test I used a very old cyanotype mixture to see if it would work or not and what it would look like. while applying I instantly noticed that there was a strange discolouration, and after leaving it in direct sunlight for 3 hours with an oak leaf on top there seemed to be a shape that had formed. Unfortunately when washing the paper in the sink all of the solution seemed to wash off leaving the paper with no images all. I believe that this was due to the mixture being years old that it didn't function correctly anymore.