[alt-photo] Re: cyanotype [Triangle]

[Christina Anderson]

Hi Diana,
No air conditioning, no humidity, and positively it is paper that is not completely dry (overnight, paper does not dry). It has been rainy for the last several days so I imagine the humidity is close to 90%.  Fresh chemistry just mixed.

However, as far as the paper, I used to always use BFK paper for VDB, argyro, and cyanotype, and have found this year that it is no longer suitable for argyrotype, it is what we've used with cyanotype now, and my guess is they may have changed their sizing agent to a more alkaline one.

I'd have to run in town for some vitamin c tabs to test Loris' advice, but have NEVER used citric for traditional cyano before, only with Ware's, so this was a new one for me.
Chris

Christina Z. Anderson
christinaZanderson.com

On Jun 2, 2010, at 2:20 PM, Diana Bloomfield wrote:

> Hi Trevor,
> 
> Check out the Nasher Art Museum, on Duke's campus:  http://www.nasher.duke.edu/exhibitions.php  Not alt process, but interesting contemporary Chinese art exhibit right now (including photographs), as well as CDS, though not sure what they have going on right now.  Check out all the art galleries in downtown Raleigh, some relatively new:  Flanders (South West St); Adam Cave (Hargett Street-- I have alt process work on exhibit there now, including some new tri-color gums); Lee Hansley Gallery (Glenwood Ave); The Collectors Gallery (Fayetteville Street); ArtSpace (Davie Street-- I can't stand the stuff there-- way too commercial for my tastes-- but most people seem to love it); Lump Gallery (S Blount Street- interesting exhibit now, featuring video work); and be sure and visit the newly renovated and reopened NC Museum of Art (Blue Ridge Rd)-- it's spectacular.
> 
> All of those places have websites, so you can look them up for more information.  Not much in the way of photography-- alt or otherwise-- but those places above are worth visiting.
> 
> With regard to humidity issues, I've actually never had a problem with too much humidity here in NC-- believe it or not.  Where I work-- in my house-- the room is cooled by air conditioning in the summer, or heated in the winter.  So even though it's a very humid climate, that doesn't seem to matter much.  I actually keep a humidifier where I work-- so a cyanotype emulsion, for instance, won't just go sliding off the paper once put in a water development.  Without the added humidity from a humidifier, emulsions just don't seem work all that well for me.
> 
> I'm guessing you're not working in air conditioning up there in the mountains, Chris?   I would guess it's not a humidity issue, though; rather, when I get odd colors like that, the reason is usually the choice of paper, or possibly expired chemistry.
> 
> On Jun 2, 2010, at 3:43 PM, Trevor Cunningham wrote:
> 
>> Things keep coming back to North Carolina. Here in Saudi, I have NO issues with humidty, or benefit from it at that matter...unless you count prints drying indoors in less than an hour as a bonus. I'll be in Raleigh on the 11th. If anyone knows of something interesting alt-wise or photographic in general in the Triangle area over the next month, I'd love to know.
>> 
> 
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