Rob Masters

I continue to play with in-camera cyanotype imaging. My latest experiments have involved using inkjet photo paper as a substrate, and in particular in using it as a cyanotype film roll in a medium format TLR. The results have been rather pleasing.  GoSun Fusion. f2.8 90 minutes. SooC. GoSun Fusion. F2.8 90 minutes post-processed. This first one shows just how much detail you can get out of the process - and also the hazards of using a brush to apply the solution to a high-gloss paper. Nevertheless, I think the result is rather effective, and reinforces the juxtaposition of the very old technique with the ultra-modern subject. Garden, SooC f2.8 90 minutes Garden, post-processed. F2.8 90 minutes. In this case the brush streaks are even more obvious, as are a number of blemishes in the coating. When coating non-gelled surfaces, a bush is OK, and a glass spreading rod even better, but neither work particularly well with a high-gloss gel paper. That said, again, the result is intriguing...

 Dating from 1848, cyanotype imaging is the oldest chemical image-making system known. Following a couple of chance events (a sale at an educational supplies store near us, and some YouTube randomness from BoingBoing), I decided to build a cyanotype camera. Some years ago a friend of mine gave me a lens from a TV projector, so that was a starting point. Add to that a black cardboard camera box, a handful of bolts and some gaffa, and in about 30 minutes I had a camera obscura working. Cyanotype paper is a very slow film - in good light the exposure time is around 15-30. Minutes, that is. Not seconds. Developing, on the other hand, takes about 3-4 minutes and only requires water. So, what sort of results come from this? 20 minutes, part cloud. double-trunked pine tree, surrounded by bushes. Garden with wattle. As you can see, the results are not exactly detailed, but there is a very dream-like quality to them. Part of the reason for this is that the process is not sensitive to visibl...