Just this past week, photography icon Kodak announced its bankruptcy. In spite of that dire news and the fact that the company failed largely due to its reluctance to embrace digital photography in a meaningful way, film photography is not a lost art. In fact, film photography is seeing a resurgence along with a host of other archaic photographic processes. Lately I’ve been shooting a little more film, and looking for ways to expand my horizons within the art of photography, including the beautiful, blue cyanotype print.

The cyanotype process was invented in 1842 by English scientist Sir John Herschel, who saw it as a way to reproduce diagrams and plans. Even today, most of us know cyanotypes for their more common use in making blueprints. It was pioneering British female photographer Anna Atkins who first saw potential in cyanotypes as an photographic medium. Wikipedia has an excellent article about cyanotypes here and about Anna Atkins here.

A photogram of Algae, made by Anna Atkins as part of her 1843 book, “Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions,” the first book composed entirely of photographic images.

Unlike the more common silver prints used in traditional black and white photography, blue cyanotypes use a combination of irons to chemically sensitize a surface (which could be paper, fabric, or other receptive surface). Cyanotypes are exposed by UV rays from the sun or a UV lamp, and rinsed in water to stop development. It’s a very simple process!

Cyanotypes are contact prints and can be printed from film negatives, from digital negatives made on an inkjet printer, or from objects such as flowers placed directly onto the paper.

See many more great cyanotypes on the Flickr cyanotype group page here.

Make your own cyanotypes

Want to mix the chemicals and coat your own cyanotype paper (or other surface) from scratch? This alternative photography page provides a recipe and explains the process. Be safe with the chemicals!

Or for the less ambitious, you can purchase very affordable cyanotype paper that’s sensitized and ready to use. Just place an object or negative on the paper, expose to sunlight for 10 – 15 minutes, and rinse.

See more of my own black and white photography

Visit me at my Web page here, or say hello on Facebook here.

Thanks for reading!

~Keith

Yes, the Harriman Temperance Building is reportedly haunted and a Tennessee paranormal investigation team has the evidence to prove it. The Chicago Tribune reports that the city of Harriman has approved broadcast of the evidence on a Web-based paranormal program, and will authorize paid tours and overnight visits in the building, which the city owns. The proceeds will be used to aid in restoration of downtown Harriman.

Last week, by unanimous vote, the six-person city council agreed to let Ghost Hunters of Southern Tennessee — G.H.O.S.T. Paranormal — show footage caught during a night spent inside the city-owned building. It will be aired on January 27 on the web-based Paranormal Network.

The haunting is a part of local lore, said Mayor Chris Mason, who grew up in the town of about 7,000 residents. Ghost enthusiasts often visit the Temperance Building, but G.H.O.S.T. Paranormal “found an exceptional amount of paranormal activity” there, said the mayor.

– Excerpt from Chicago Tribune article by Tim Ghianni

Read the full Chicago Tribune story here.

One of my black and white photographs from Harriman, Tennessee: Wooden handrail on the interior of the Temperance Building.

“The Remains of Utopia — Harriman Tennessee.” This is not the Temperance Building, but another part of Harriman’s aging downtown.

To see more of my photographs, visit my Webpage here. Or come visit me on Facebook and let’s talk about photography.

Thanks for reading.

~Keith

WINTER TREES
The wet dawn inks are doing their blue dissolve.
On their blotter of fog the trees
Seem a botanical drawing
Memories growing, ring on ring,
A series of weddings.
Knowing neither abortions nor bitchery,
Truer than women,
They seed so effortlessly!
Tasting the winds, that are footless,
Waist-deep in history–
Full of wings, otherworldliness.
In this, they are Ledas.
O mother of leaves and sweetness
Who are these pietas?
The shadows of ringdoves chanting, but easing nothing.

– Sylvia Plath

See more of my black and white photographs here.

Or visit me on Facebook.

Thanks for reading.

~Keith

One of my goals is to use more film, and get my darkroom back up and running. What are your goals for 2012?

What are your goals and resolutions for 2012? Share them here or come over and talk to me about photography on Facebook.

The strange work of “Cedar Creek Charlie” Fields left me so fascinated (and a bit unsettled), I had to learn more about him. Fortunately, members of his family have posted information and photos about Charlie, and their RootsWeb page is supplemented by a great synopsis of his art on the Smthsonian’s folk art Website. Born in 1883, Charlie was a bachelor who lived in a cabin with his mother in rural Appalachian Cedar Creek, Virginia. After her death in the 1930s, Charlie began painting every surface of the cabin in red, white, and blue squiggles, stripes, and polka dots. He even painted a set of clothes, which he wore to greet visitors. He worked and lived in Cedar Creek until his death in 1966.

Some of Charlie’s work was downright creepy, like the cabinet with baby dolls seen in the photo below. But apparently he was a fun-loving and popular local character, who built a ferris wheel in his yard and welcomed families with children to tour the house and enjoy the rides.

Some of the painted folk art of Cedar Creek Charlie — CREEPY?

I encourage you to learn more about this fascinating American original by visiting his family’s well-illustrated page about him here: http://rootsweb.ancestry.com/~varussel/photos/cedarcreekcharlie.html. Or read about his artistic legacy on the Smithsonian’s page about him here: http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artist/?id=1536.

Thanks for reading!

~Keith

My Etsy Store

Thanks!

Keith

Melissa and Joey – Graphic courtesy of ABC Family

Three of my black and white landscape photographs were recently featured on the TV show “Melissa and Joey”

Find out more about me and my work on my Website, or come over and talk to me about photography on my Facebook page.

Thanks for reading! ~Keith

There are several software companies out there to help you accomplish making custom iFrame tabs for Facebook pages, but I used one that’s simple, fast, and FREE — Static HTML iFrame Tabs.

You can essentially build a custom html Web page to fit within the iFrame tab, if you have the skill, or you can take the easy route like I did. My custom tab is simply a JPEG graphic pasted into the frame. Static HTML makes the process easy to follow and they have great FAQs. By the way, I get no compensation for this tip, and I have no financial relationship with Static HTML.

You can see my custom tab on my Facebook page here, and while you’re there, be sure to “Like” my page!

Thanks for reading!

~Keith

Black and white photographs add a distinctive artistic sensibility and timeless beauty to licensed products. As a fine art photographer who specializes in black and white images, I’m excited to offer my catalog of photos for select licensing opportunities. All of my photographs are available for licensing (except, of course, a few which are currently under exclusive contract).

Contact Me to Arrange Licensing

If you’re an art buyer, art director, or product manager interested in licensing one of my photographs, please contact me here.

I’m easy to work with and experienced in arranging licensing agreements. I can supply high-resolution art in a variety of formats through email, drop box, or FTP. I have an extensive catalog of black and white landscapes, cityscapes, abstracts, and locations.

Browse my work samples here: http://www.keithdotson.com/photographs.html.

Here’s a short list of places my licensed images have appeared so far:

Check back often. I’ll keep this updated as new opportunities arise.

FILM AND TELEVISION:

My photographs are available for motion picture and television use. They continue to appear in a growing list of television programs and advertisements.

Gossip Girl TV drama
Two photographs appeared in a restaurant scene, Fall 2011

Pier 1 commercial
Five photographs licensed for a TV spot for Holidays 2011

Charter Communications commercial
Three photographs licensed for a TV spot, Fall 2011

Spiriva pharmaceutical commercial (with elephant)
Two photographs appeared in this widely broadcast national TV commercial, Spring 2011
See the TV spot here 

Two photographs by Keith Dotson appear in this Spiriva elephant TV commercial, 2011

PRINT AND PUBLISHING:

Black and white photography is particularly well-suited for print applications. My photographs have been licensed for many retail and fine art products. High-resolution images are available for even very large posters.

Sunflower Greeting Cards
This detailed macro photo of a sunflower is currently available in The Netherlands and the other Benelux countries, October 2011

Yellow Heart – Highly-detailed Sunflower macro photograph by Keith Dotson is available on greeting cards in The Netherlands

Chicago River at Night, a black and white photograph by Keith Dotson

Posters of “Chicago River at Night”
One of my most popular photographs, Chicago River at Night was licensed by a publisher in London for global distribution on posters. October, 2011.

Calendar for Historic Indian Agency House Museum
One of my photographs was used to represent a historic Wisconsin house and museum in a 2012 calendar.

Fathead / SMART Squares
SM/ART Squares has licensed 13 of my black and white photographs for retail on Fathead.com as repositionable vinyl art prints, 2009 – present.
See my prints here

Urban Outfitters
US retailer Urban Outfitters sold my photograph Public Market, Seattle as a fine art canvas in its retail stores and online. The canvas prints sold out in less than six months and received rave reviews on the Website’s ratings page. May, 2009.

Contact me if you’d like to use my photographs on an upcoming project.

And remember to check back often. I’ll keep these listings updated as new projects are announced!

Thanks for reading! ~Keith