IG @beach.lifestyle.art

Surf-Rider II, Cyanotype, copyright 2012 Douglas Stockdale –

Yesterday I wrote that I had worked all of the bugs out of my solar cyanotype printing process and that might ALMOST be the whole truth. That solar cyanotype that I featured was very much on the darker side, a ton of stuff going on in the shadows. After the dry down and reviewing it this morning, I began to think that the shadows were too block up and missing some details in darker areas of the print.

Nevertheless, I proceeded to print another solar cyanotype subject, above, Surf-Rider II, that is in a much higher key tonal range, not as much shadows and a lot of high values. I think that my adjustment curve is providing what I need for the higher values, while still noting a small loss of detail in the shadow area. So I probably need to tweak my modified Anderson adjustment curve one more time. A small tweak as part of the fine tuning process.

One of my new subjects that I find resonate with this blueprint process has been those things I see at and around the ocean beaches, such as the intriguing dynamics of the surfers who hang out there. An interesting combination of an ocean seascape and the resulting interaction that surfers create. Likewise, there are all of the other things I find when walking the beach, the forms and shapes of the kelp and seaweed that float ashore, the oceans and sky patterns and a small collection that is growing of observing folks who chose to read books while at the beach, which was recently featured on Eye of Photography.

Late last year, I started to collect and feature my beach lifestyle and art photographs on Instagram, here, under the IG beach.lifestyle.art thinking that this might also become a way to sell my resulting cyanotype prints. So please follow along to see what develops and maybe even consider a small print to help remind you of your sunny days enjoying the coastal air and wonderful beach vibes.

Surfs up!

Above: Surf-Rider II, solar Cyanotype, series of five, 8 x 10″ image on a 11 x 14 sheet of 100 lb watercolor.

Cheers & make every day an Earth Day

Doug

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 The Flow of Light Brushes the Shadow, an artist book from Singular Images Press, Fall 2022 release, $60.00 (CA sales tax for those residing in the USA) plus shipping expenses. Message me douglas.stockdale.artist@gmail.com or singularimagespress@gmail for shipping details and PayPal invoice.

Note: The Artist Special Edition (book + extra print) is Sold Out. 

Book workshop:

Southeast Center for Photography (SEC4P): Creative PhotoBook workshop, (Sold Out) a virtual event on Zoom; February 25, 26 & March 4 & 5th 2023; from 10am – 1 pm, EST (3 hour session each day, with a week between the weekend sessions to work your book-dummy).