Kids Can Capture

Friday was the start of my 8-week C.R.E.S.T Enrichment after school photo workshops. These classes are for kids K-5 in Santa Monica. I always start week 1 with creating Cyanotypes or sun print. A cyanotype is a cyan blue-colored photographic print that is made from the cyanotype process. Basically, you use the sun (uv-light) to create an image on specially treated paper to create a type of blue-print. The print is usually on paper but can be made on any surface that is able to soak up the iron solution used in the process, including cotton, silk and wool.  It was considered one of the very first methods of early photography.

Creating a cyanotype is quite easy and inexpensive. I use it to teach kids about early photographic processes and composition. The kids have so much fun creating different images and they love the instant satisfaction of getting a photo.   You can purchase a sun print kit and download free instructions online at Sunprint.

Here are some of my student's work.

1st Grader

Kindergartener

4th Grader

1st grader

1st Grader