This past weekend, I finally found some time to explore a printing process that I had dog-eared years ago. Back in 2015, while producing test prints for my alternative processes course, I showed several methods of bleaching and toning cyanotypes, some of which were new to me back then. I quickly fell for the rustic, dark purple hues created by the concentrated wine tannins that I picked up at our local brewing supply store. I made a mental note to revisit this toning option once I had some work that would fit it well, but I haven’t had much luck over the last three years.

A recent trip to the Lower 48 to attend the Society for Photographic Education’s Northwest Chapter Conference in Grand Teton National Park provided an excellent opportunity to photograph in territory I’d never visited. Although much of what I captured centered around long, nighttime exposures and infrared landscapes, I did stumble upon an abandoned sugar mill just south of Preston, Idaho – a perfect subject for tannin-toned cyanotypes. It’s been years since I’ve photographed abandoned structures to any extent, burning myself out on the subject during my thesis project. With four years between me and then, I found it a nice change of pace.

A few technical notes on the process here: this is the traditional cyanotype solution formula, provided through Bostick & Sullivan. Chosen paper: Rives BFK. I’m using Anderson’s Gum Bichromate and Other Amazing Contact Printing Processes digital negative creation method, printing on Pictorico. After processing the prints, they are bleached for 30 seconds in ammonia (capful per liter water), washed and then toned for 15-20 minutes in wine tannin (0.5oz per liter water).

I’m excited about using this toning method and plan on using it in even more prints in the future. It was good getting back in the darkroom and doing some work that wasn’t connected to any ongoing series or projects – just having some simple fun under the amber glow of the safelights. I need more of that!

As always, critique, questions & comments are warmly welcome.