Printing your own analogue photographs and images without a darkroom – Cyanotype taster session - Saturday 30 January 2027

Back in the 1840s, long before printers, digital cameras or darkrooms, people used the UV light of the sun, objects and images captured as negatives on glass, to make beautiful and distinctive ‘blueprints’ using an early printing process called cyanotype.. The process is low cost, ecofriendly - an easy-to-use printing method, still widely used today by photographers and artists.

During this 2 hour, informal, easy-going and relaxed taster session you will:

·      Hear about and see a demonstration of the cyanotype process

·      Spend at least an hour making your own cyanotype prints and watch the magic of your print appearing in the development tray (you can expect to make at least 3 prints during the session)

·      Receive all the information you need to explore and make your own cyanotype prints at home

·      The workshop host, Jo, will be on hand to answer questions and support you to make the most of your printing experience

No special skills or experience required, all materials provided. Just bring yourself and enjoy experimenting with a slow and mindful historical photographic printing process. Your clothes might get splashed with water so don’t wear your favourite jumper!

What can I print?

There will be a range of ready to pick up and use materials including found objects and photo negative images to layer together to create cyanotype photo collage.

You can also hand draw your images or text onto acetate to print on their own as a cyanotype or incorporate into your collage. There are no rules about what you choose to print – it’s an opportunity to be creative and explore the process.   

Cyanotype is also perfect to use for making prints of old black and white photographs, or your own camera phone or film images.

If you’d like to make prints using your own images, you’ll receive information when you sign up for the workshop about how to share 2 of your phone or digital images in advance of the session – images that are already black and white or have good contrast (both dark and lighter areas in your image) work best

The workshop will be facilitated by photographer and print maker Jo Stapleton. Jo first began using cyanotype and other historical and alternative printing process as a way to creatively explore the natural world and analogue photography. You can find out more about Jo and her work here: https://jostapleton-beatniksoupphotography.com  She very much looks forward to meeting you.

Cost £25 per person - including all materials and producing 2 of your own images in advance of the sesssion as transparency negatives for contact printing (maximum group size 9 people) For booking please contact me by email or visit my online shop: https://jo-stapleton-beatniksoupphotography.sumupstore.com