Double Exposure

The sunshine today was so inviting. I was in the backyard to photograph the next step of the envelope construction and changed gears for a little while to experiment further with cyanotypes. I was thinking about the different layers created in the monoprints from yesterday and wanted to make a similiar effect by creating multiple exposure cyanotypes. When making multiple exposures I really had to get in tune with the value change that happens during the exposure of the print, and move swiftly to move the objects to continue the exposure.

The layers that emerge of faint images enhance the depth of the print. It has a similar feeling to the ghost prints from monoprinting with the gelli plates. 

I am always awestruck with the botanicals. The man-made stencils are fine, but do not have the same ethereal aesthetic as the organic matter. I posted the short video above of the prints in the wash because it is so tranquil to watch the images emerge in the water and just float. 

Cyanotypes

Who needs a darkroom when you can harness the sun and make visually stunning imagery using the greenery in the yard. Once the paper is treated and dry, this is such a portable medium. It would be so easy to take along while traveling. 

 This was a perfect weather day spent experimenting with Cyanotypes. I printed digital negatives on transparencies, but really found that working with the ferns, dried out hydrangeas and grass was more appealing. I appreciated the opportunity to be outside all day away from technology. 
I may combine architectural digital negatives with layer of botanicals in the next iteration.