California Sycamore, Fall (#2399) copyright 2007/2023 Douglas Stockdale –
When I started experimenting with making solar cyanotypes last year, I somewhat arbitrarily started printing on an 11 x 14″ sheet of rag, since the 11 x 14″ printing frame was relatively inexpensive, a pre-coated 11 x 14″ cyanotype paper was easily available and using a 12 x 16″ processing tray worked with my intermittent (bathroom) dim room for processing the prints. Likewise, when considering what size digital negative and subsequent print size, the ‘classic’ 8 x 10″ seemed to make sense since it was inexpensive and relativity easy to purchase pre-cut 8 x 10″ openings for 11 x 14″ mattes. Honestly, I expected most if not all of these things to change if I continued to find making cyanotype prints appealing. And these have.
At the moment due to processing limitations, I continue to work with a 11 x 14″ sheet, but almost concurrently with starting to cyanotype coat my own paper, I have been reconsidering my image sizes. Especially when I started to use MatBoardPlus.com to purchase quantities of mattes in various knock-out sizes (I don’t have the space for a good quality matte cutter at the moment).
From past printing experience, one of the aspect ratios I wanted to implement was somewhat close to a cinematic ratio, which is close to 2:1, or for my 11 x 14″ rag board, an image of 6 x 12″. I have found that the combination of really wide with relatively short landscape subjects look great when presented in this manner.
For the image above, I had used my framing process that I discussed in my last article; just keeping moving closer. When this broad tree was entirely filling my frame and similar to the previous image, it became more mysterious and surreal. The thick branches radiating from its base did appear similar to a multitude of scraggly arms, like a land-octopus, stretching out to snatch someone.
Above: California Sycamore, Spring (#2399), Unique solar cyanotype print, 6″ x 12″ on 11″ x 14″ sheet of Revere Platinum rag in a Variable Edition of 5 + 1 AP
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.
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