Holzhauer_cyan

//Housatonic Tower// is a cyanotype created by the artist Peggy Reeves. Reeves has created many different cyanotypes ranging from abstract to realistic photographs. This specific cyanotype was printed on antique braille. Reeves used a couple of compositional techniques including leading lines, that lead are eyes to the top of the tower and she also used rue of thirds because the top of the tower is at the top left corner intersection point. This artwork is interesting to look at and I found it unique because of the point of view in which this was taken. Along with compositional techniques, she utilized texture. Braille has a unique texture because there are different bumps and ridges in the background. The braille also forms a different pattern. This photo also incorporates line with the towers legs as they lead you to the top of the tower. Although the polka dots are scattered, there is a sense of unity between them and it ties the moon with the tower. The photo has an asymmetrical balance because of the interesting point of view. I really enjoy this piece because she used braille in an interesting way that I would never think to use it. I also have never seen a photograph printed onto braille before and it adds a lot of texture and complexity to the artwork.



This photogram was created by the artist Man Ray on photosensitive paper. Ray has created multiple surrealist and modern art artworks. He was a painter, photographer, and an artist that has created many photograms in which he referred to them as rayographs, in reference to his name. The majority of his artwork is informal but very interesting and intriguing to the viewer. This photogram is a photograph of multiple feathers arranged to fill the frame, a common compositional technique. The feathers stem, the the viewer around the image in a circular pattern. I found this photogram very interesting because something so simple as feathers, can create a unique photo. The way the light is distributed, makes the feathers look like and x-ray and the eye of the feathers are the brightest which also provides contrast from the background. Although there is direct texture in the artwork, there is implied texture because the texture of a feather is unique and has a smooth feeling. The way ray overlapped the feathers allow for the lines within it to tie each of them together, and like mentioned before, it leads my eyes throughout the image. He utilized the space very well and there is part of a feather everywhere you look. Because of the lack of color, there is a major contrast between the black background and the white of the subject. The closer the feather is to the b=viewer, the brighter white it is. As the feather recedes back into the background, it becomes gray and that gives the picture movement. The image is balanced and that allows for the leading lines to do its job and keep the eyes of the viewer constantly moving.



Anna Atkins is a famous cyanotype artist who created an entire book of her works of art. Almost all of her artworks are of different types of algae and plants. Although all her artworks are interesting especially when comparing them to each other, I felt that the concept and idea of them is unique. This artwork above, is the //Sargassum bacciferum//, the very first page of her book. The main reason why Atkins created these artworks, is to express and yo illustrate the plants and algae of he sea, that majority of people don't know about. Although plants are plants, they all are unique and different. I really like this specific form of art and especially her artworks because it shows the detail and difference between small, yet complex plants. She printed all of her cyanotypes onto paper, and the only texture is the one that is implied by the viewer. The only compositional technique that is leading lines. The step of the algae leads my eyes up and around the plant. This is understandable considering she wanted to show the uniqueness of each separate plant. The simplicity of each artwork puts emphasis on the plant, the main focal point. I specifically chose this page of her book because there is so much depth to it and the more you look at it the more unique design there are within the plant. There are dots, lines, stems, leaves, etc. Something so simple can be turned into a complex photograph and I feel that Atkins has successfully done this within her cyanotypes.

3 Images that Would Make for a Good Cyanotype
All three of these images, in my opinion, would make for great cyanotypes. They all have a good range of value, but are not too high in contrast. With these characteristics, the contrast would be more defined and the range of color would still be there. In the first image of the feathers, I was already thinking about rule of thirds. There is one feather in each third, with the most prominent one in the center, in which I wanted the most emphasis. In artworks, artists typically use groups of three or five because it is more pleasing to the viewer. In this image I used three. Also the main point of the image, the feather, are in focus and the background is blurred out. That was all done with my camera and before edits. **The second image (flowers)..** The third image would also make for a great cyanotype because it has multiple leading lines, rage of value, and contrast but not too high of a contrast. There is no pure white or black but the closest to those closer are separated by gray or other colors. The railing to the deck leads your eyes into the center of the image. There is a level horizon in the background, and the grass to the right side leads you back to the left. Your eye starts to go in this circular motion throughout the photograph.