All Through a Lens: A Podcast About Film Photography
Arts:Visual Arts
We’ve got a case of the mean blues! – it’s Cyanotypes this episode! What are they, where’d they come from and how can You, the listener at home, do them? We also talk to Denise Grays (@deniseg316) about Kansas and her new zine, A Love Letter to Kansas. Tiffen Sinclair (@tiffen.sinclair) drops by with some news about disposable cameras. There’s also the answering machine and zine reviews.
DENISE GRAYS: A LOVE LETTER TO KANSAS
Denise Grays has been photographing Kansas for more than a decade. Her recent zine, a Love Letter to Kansas, released by Themselves Press, sold out quickly. Since we both adore Kansas more than life itself, we thought it was a great time to have Denise on and talk to her all about it.
Here are a few of Denise’s photos:
And here are her blog: https://deniseonfilm.blogspot.com/
CYANOTYPES: THEIR HISTORY AND HOW TO LOVE THEM
Cyanotype is a printing process that produces a deep blue negative print. Generally, a piece of paper is coated with an emulsion made up of potassium ferricyanide and ferric ammonium citrate. Once dry, an opaque object is placed on top of the paper and exposed to light. After exposure and washing, the unexposed emulsion is washed away, leaving an impression of whatever object was placed on the paper. The exposed emulsion turns a deep Prussian Blue.
We talk about John Herschel, who invented/discovered cyanotypes. So here are a few of his kinda crappy prints:
We also talk a lot about Anna Atkins, who printed Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions in 1843. Here are a few of her cyanotypes:
And some by her friend and “almost sister,” Anne Dixon:
Vania has also done some before. Here’s a handkerchief she gave Eric:
ZINE REVIEWS: ALL TRAVIS, ALL THE TIME
Eric reviewed Better Off #1 by Travis Cannady (@betteroffzine and @travis_cannady on IG)
It’s 60 pages of black and white city street graininess. Apart from some contact information, there are no words. The photos are printed full-bleed, extending to the very edges of the page. This gives it a really enveloping feel. He crops and moves his photos around to get the perfect composition. I’m always a little too afraid to do that. I’m an in-camera composer, and I desperately don’t want to be. And yet…
It’s inspiring. I’m seriously mulling over ripping off his style. You should too. Or at least pick up his zine.
https://betteroffzine.com/
$10
Vania reviewed Travis’ two other zines: Shadow and Light and Hannah & The Cambo Passportrait.
PATREON: THANKS!Thank you to everyone who supports us!
Check out our Patreon for bonus episodes, extended interviews, early drops. Tons of stuff!
patreon.com/allthroughalens
Our featured Patron for this episode is
Alex Percell @grainyblur on Instagram.
THE CREDITS OF ENDING
Music by Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers
Vania: IG, Flickr, Zines
Eric: IG, Flickr, Zines, ECN-2 Kits
All Through a Lens: IG, Website, Patreon, Spotify Playlists
Dev Party #37 - Reversing Reversal
Episode 41: Mugshots and Memorials - Charlie from Themselves Press
Dev Party #36 - Cyanotype Field Trip
Dev Party #35 - Why Is Ortho?
Episode 39: Of Mindfulness and Impostor Syndrome -- Roxannalog!
Dev Party #34 - Dev Fiesta!
Episode 38: Photographers Need Pockets - Marion Post Wolcott (with Tiffen Sinclair)
Dev Party #33 - Back to Basics
Episode 37: A Man With a Camera (and a Death Wish)
Dev Party #32 - DIY ECN-2: The Twoening
Episode 36: Shirley You Can't Be Serious
Dev Party #31- Party in the Tickle Tent
Episode 35: Reciprocity Failure and the Lives It's Destroyed
Dev Party #30 - The Defensive Pessimism Party
Episode 34: Poets, Prophets, Painters, and Lovely Maidens
Dev Party #29 - Positively Marley
Episode 33: Done With The Sugar Coating
Dev Party #28 - Old, Super and Supreme
Episode 32: A Very Dumpsterish Fire
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