WORKSHOP: Botanical Toning of Cyanotypes
Saturday, Nov 22nd, 10am-5pm
$150 Non-Members
$135 VCP Members
(Register online below)
Photo by Frank Gorga
Cyanotype is an inexpensive, beginner-friendly alternative photographic printing process—often a “gateway” to other historic methods. Its distinctive Prussian Blue pigment can sometimes feel limiting, but toning offers a way to expand the palette by shifting the blue into a wider range of colors.
Traditionally, cyanotype toning involves two steps: bleaching with sodium carbonate (or less commonly ammonia), then redeveloping in phenol-rich solutions such as coffee, tea, red wine, or tannic acid. This process, however, often reduces contrast due to staining of the highlights.
Recently, Annette Golaz introduced a different approach to cyanotype toning using a variety of botanical materials, many of them traditional dyestuffs used in textiles. Her method produces a broader spectrum of tones while reducing highlight staining.
In this full-day workshop (10 AM–5 PM, with a short on-your-own lunch break), students will be introduced to Golaz’s toning method. The class is suitable for both beginners and those with alternative process experience (though we will not cover cyanotype basics in depth).
Participants should provide the instructor with four or five black-and-white JPEG files in advance. These will be used to prepare digital negatives (5×7″ or 8×10″). All other materials will be supplied.
On the day of the workshop, the morning will be spent preparing cyanotypes. In the afternoon, students will tone their prints using a variety of plant-based materials.
Instructor: Frank Gorga
Since retiring from a career as a chemistry professor Frank has devoted his creative energies to photography. His main photographic interests are wildlife, especially odonta (dragonflies and damselflies), and the landscape. However, he make photographs of many other subjects as he wends his way through life. In addition to making and toning cyanotypes , Frank makes salted-paper prints, platinum/palladium prints, cuprotypes, anthotypes, and cyanotypes. His website is www.frg-photo.com.