In 1842 Sir John Herschel decided that the Daguerreotype, the first photographic printing process, was too expensive, difficult and potentially lethal. Thus, he invented in that year the printing process to which he gave the name Cyanotype.
Location: Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 5 Uplands
Presented by:
In 1842 Sir John Herschel decided that the Daguerreotype, the first photographic printing process, was too expensive, difficult and potentially lethal. Thus, he invented in that year the printing process to which he gave the name Cyanotype. It produced a monochromatic Prussian blue photographic print on inexpensive materials such as paper or cloth. The Penumbra Foundation/Center for Alternative Photography will offer an introduction to the Cyanotype Process. Participants of the workshop will be given a piece of paper pre-coated with the Cyanotype synthesizer on which they will place small objects (also supplied) before putting this assembly in sunlight. After the exposure, the paper will then be developed in a tray of tap water. This workshop is especially designed to introduce children to the Cyanotype Process; however, adults are certainly welcome to participate. Small, transparent and/or translucent objects may be brought to the workshop as well as black and white negatives up to 5″ x 7″.
Penumbra Foundation is a nonprofit organization that brings together the art and science of photography through education, research, outreach, and public and residency programs. Our goal is to be a comprehensive resource for photographers at any level, artists, students, professionals, historians, researchers, conservators, and curators.
This website was made possible thanks to the generous support and partnership of 