PROCESS Photograms are a camera-less form of photography that uses objects placed in direct contact with the photographic sensitizing chemicals and exposure to light to create the final image. Although the process of cyanotype photograms has been in existence since 1842, this contemporary version allows the artist to push the envelope of creativity by the use of natural dyestuffs and other materials added to the wet cyanotype chemistry, exposing the image to light while everything is wet. These exposures can last from 30 minutes up to 4 hours or more in order to create the imagery. With minimal control over the end product and a non-traditional color palette, each image is a unique piece of artwork.
STATEMENT Botanicals A Fanciful World
As a biologist and artist, my interests and artwork migrate to the environment and natural world, from the tiniest belly flowers to vast landscapes. The Botanicals portfolio elevates the simple plant materials found in nature to a more mystical and fanciful realm. These images are one of a kind works of art created using the alternative photographic process technique of wet cyanotype photograms. Photograms are a camera-less form of photography that uses objects placed in direct contact with the photographic sensitizing chemicals and exposure to light to create the final image. Although the process of cyanotype photograms has been in existence since 1842, this contemporary version allows the artist to push the envelope of creativity by the use of natural dyestuffs and other materials added to the wet cyanotype chemistry, exposing the image to light while everything is wet. These exposures can last from 30 minutes up to 4 hours or more in order to create the imagery. With minimal control over the end product and a non-traditional color palette, each image is a unique piece of artwork.
BIO Debra Small is a fine art documentary photographer based in Sacramento, CA. Her work explores important socio-political and environmental issues, such as climate change, habitat loss due to suburban development, and damage from extraction mining. She shoots in digital as well as medium and large format film. She also uses alternative process photography to create her images. One of her current bodies of work is a fine art cyanotype project exploring the fanciful aspects of botanicals while pondering the effects of climate change on the flora. Her work has been exhibited in numerous juried and non-juried exhibitions in the United States and Europe, and has received numerous awards for her work. Debra’s work has been published in the Sierra Journal, Stone Voices Magazine, Still Points Arts Quarterly Magazine, the 7th Edition of the Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers, the Berlin Foto Biennale, Emotions and Commotions across Cultures, Hawk and Handsaw – Journal of Creative Sustainability, and Lenscratch – Fine Art Photography Daily (http://lenscratch.com/2019/07/debra-small-habitat-lost-negative-effects-of-suburban-sprawl-on-ecosystems/ ). For over 10 years, she has been a volunteer teaching assistant in the photography department at Sierra College in Rocklin, CA.
