Introduction to Printing In Cyanotype with Shane Powers, MFA — Aug 16 - 17

Dates: August 16, 2025 → August 17, 2025
Times: From 6pm-9pm.
Level: All Levels
Membership Price: $180 (Members use discount code MEMBERS10 at checkout to receive 10% off)

Workshop Description:
Cyanotype was used widely in the mid- to late 1800s, and produces beautiful blue prints on a wide variety of surfaces.  The cyanotype print is activated by ultraviolet light, developed with water and offers a very wide variety of creative techniques.  This hands-on class will demonstrate basic techniques such as:

• Choosing images or objects that will work well with the cyanotype process

• How to coat the chemicals on various papers

• How to make cyanotype prints using plants, objects or stencils, versus photographs

• How to expose and control contrast of their images

• Overview of how to make digital negatives from any image using digital printers

• How to tone the prints in tea, coffee and other solutions Students will be given a detailed Supply List for continued enjoyment and study of the process, and each student will complete the workshop with a handful of beautiful cyanotype prints.

About the Instructor:
Shane began his photography career in Boise, Idaho in the late 1990's, through his desire to reveal the meaning inherent in relationships between people and places. From 2003 to 2005, Shane built a comprehensive, year-long photojournalism program for 80 students and 10 teachers in 6 Boise-area high schools, funded by the state of Idaho and featured in Photo District News Magazine. In 2005, Shane moved to San Francisco to pursue his Master of Fine Art degree from Academy of Art University, which he completed in 2008. It was during this time that he continued his Boise-born fascination with "old-world" traditions by beginning an ongoing photographic exploration of San Francisco's 150 year-old Dolphin Swimming & Boating Club. As part of that exploration, Shane began working with the cyanotype process, which he used to complete the first phase of that exploration, a 16-image collection entitled "Swimming With Ghosts".

Shane's photographic work has been displayed nationwide in galleries such as the Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, Colorado, The Vermont Photographic Workplace, and Rayko Photo Center in San Francisco. Shane's work has been selected by prestigious Introduction to Printing In Cyanotype 5 professionals such as Mary Ellen Mark, Andy Adams of Flak Photo Magazine and Cig Harvey. Shane also spent four months in Tamil Nadu, India, as a guest lecturer in India's premier private photography college, Light & Life Academy. From 2008-2014, Shane taught cyanotype, Photoshop, digital printing and other classes in San Francisco's Harvey Milk Photo Center, one of the oldest and largest community darkrooms in the nation. Shane is now the proud owner and operator of Cyan Art Studio, part of the Art Scene Collective in Downtown Fort Bragg, California.

$10 dollar materials fee to be paid to instructor on first day of class. Cash is appreciated.

Required Materials:
- Notebook and pen/pencil for taking notes and keeping track of exposure times
- etc. I will provide all other necessary materials for this workshop.

Optional Materials:
- Various kinds of paper