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Contributed by JTravlos
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This unit introduces students (grades 10-12) to the history and evolution of the cyanotype process. Students will examine cyanotype images from various nineteenth century and modern day photographers. Students will visit Fairsted (The Fredrick Law Olmsted National Historic Site for a guided and informative tour of the history and evolution of the blue printing process -- a process similar to cyanotype. Studens will collect and classify -- using plant taxonomy, various plant specimens for their cyanotype designs. Students will further explore the arrangement of visual elements within the frame of a photograph's composition and consider the various differences between a "casual record" and a true work of Fine Art. Students will learn about cyanotype chemistry, how to set up and use it as an Ultraviolet light sensitized solution and how to adjust cyanotype formulas for specific corrections. As a culminating and performance task, students will design cyanotype prints using the various foliage specimens collected from their visit to Fairsted. The unit will conclude with students evaluating their work as well as the work of their peers and ultimately, a formal exhibition of their work.
Essential Questions:
• Is cyanotype and blueprinting a form of art?
• How does the cyanotype and blueprinting process use both technical and creative skills to produce artistic expression without the use of a camera?
• How are both Art and Science practices similar in gathering information?
• What cyanotype techniques do photographers use to produce work that is well composed, exposed and printed?
• How are both the cyanotype and blueprinting process similar?
• How do photographers develop the ability to arrange visual elements required to compose a thought provoking image?
• How does the Cyanotype and blueprinting process work?
• What is a sensitizing solution?
• What is a standard working solution?
• What is low contrast solution?
• Why is the sun best when producing cyanotypes and blueprints?
• How is critiquing different than criticizing?
• What are the three basic questions to ask yourself when evaluating a photograph?
• How do photographers identify the technical and objective factors that define a photograph and how do they evaluate them?
• How do photographers develop their own style or way of expression?
The entire unit can be read and downloaded as a PDF file:
The Cyanotype Process
unit author: John Travlos
Lawrence Public Schools
Grades: 10-12
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