The traditional darkroom is, at least until now, a firmly indoor pursuit. Hunched over a blinking enlarger, the room bathed in red light – the time slips by, and day disappears into night. But we at the Sustainable Darkroom believe that the darkroom’s future is rooted in the outdoors; in the shovel of soil, the falling rain, and the growth of green shoots towards the sun.
The cyanotype process is loved by both photographers and printmakers alike. With relative ease, your image is steeped into a realm of rich, velvety blues that convey a sense of serenity and strength. Often you will see gazing portraits, awash with a range of striking blues. Or a simple landscape, the rolling hills or stretching forests no longer green – but a palette of endless blues.
When you think of analogue photography – certain things come to mind. The beautiful dance of grain, the methodical snap of a 1960s shutter, and the red light of a still darkroom at night. But one thing that might not emerge is the environment. And more specifically – the impact of analogue photography.
