Ruby-throated Hummingbird – Cyanotype Photograph on Washi Paper, Framed in Linden Wood
Product Code: JUV-CYA-10
- Availability: This creation is waiting for you!
Description
- Framed format – artwork comes ready to hang in a linden wood frame
- Limited edition of 5 prints
- Hand-printed cyanotype
- 100% mulberry Washi paper, UNESCO-recognized and made using traditional Japanese techniques
- Signed with pine soot
The artist
Julien Vasseur
Rimouski
My photographic approach is grounded in strict ethical principles: no baiting, and utmost discretion to avoid disturbing wildlife in its natural habitat. This demanding yet honest method makes each encounter rare and deeply meaningful. Photography becomes a sincere testimony to an unfiltered, wild intimacy.
My digital photography work aims to convey the emotions sparked by close interactions with nature. Using high-quality printing techniques on fine art paper, these moments can be brought into our living spaces, encouraging reflection on the beauty of the living world.
In parallel, I explore a more hands-on practice through cyanotype, an old, non-toxic photographic technique that fosters a slower, more poetic process. Because it reacts strongly to the nature of the paper used, I’ve chosen exceptional materials: 100% cotton paper made in Québec and Japanese Washi paper crafted from mulberry—recognized by UNESCO as an intangible cultural heritage. These richly textured fibers interact with UV light in unique and unpredictable ways.
The portrait format, which I often use, emphasizes the subject with only a simple element from its environment—a rock, a spruce branch, or a snowbank. Each image evokes a raw emotion, amplified by the tactile quality of the paper and the monochromatic tones of cyanotype. This body of work invites viewers to reconnect with the living world in a profound, contemplative way.
Creation process
Cyanotype Printing
Cyanotype is an early photographic technique that uses sunlight to reveal a deep blue image. Non-toxic and eco-friendly, this process relies on a light-sensitive solution applied by hand to paper. Once exposed to UV rays, the paper is rinsed with clear water, revealing the image. Each cyanotype is unique, shaped by the paper used and the lighting conditions.
Washi Paper
Washi paper is a traditional Japanese paper made from mulberry fibers. Lightweight, supple, and uniquely translucent, it is valued for its durability, organic texture, and ability to reveal the finest details of artisanal techniques like cyanotype. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, this papermaking method gives each sheet a distinctive character—both delicate and resilient.