Coastal Cyanotypes: A Hands-On Workshop in Seaweed Foraging and Sun Printing
A Day of Seaweed and Cyanotypes at Seal Rocks
In June of 2025, we gathered on the rugged shores of Seal Rocks for a collaboration I’d been hoping for and dreaming of for a long time! A very special collaboration between the worlds of marine science and art, with an incredible artist and friend of mine from San Diego, Oriana Poindexter. Marine biologist and coastal forager meets photographic seaweed artist?! Could there be a more fun connection of seaweed?
Seaweed Harvesting
The day began on the beach, where the group was met with a low tide that revealed the abundant, diverse seaweed beds of Seal Rocks. Alanna provided a deep dive into the ecology of the Pacific Northwest, explaining how tides and seasonal oceanography shape the life we see in the intertidal zone. Participants learned how to identify various native species and, most importantly, how to sustainably harvest them within Oregons regulatory framework. With scissors and bags in hand, everyone carefully selected the fronds and filaments they would eventually use as their "film" for the afternoon.
The Art of Cyanotyping
Once the harvest was complete, we moved just above the high-tide line to meet Oriana. As both a marine scientist and photographer, Oriana bridged the gap between biology and art by introducing the history of the cyanotype. Developed in the 1840s, this camera-less photographic process is famous for its distinctive Prussian blue palette, a color perfectly suited for the sea.
Under the Oregon sun, participants arranged their freshly collected seaweed onto light-sensitive paper. The process felt like magic. Everyone arranged the organic shapes of large brown kelps and small seaweeds onto their papers. They then exposed the paper to the sun, allowing the UV rays to “burn” or exposure the silhouette into the paper. The last step is to wash or develop the prints in water to watch the color transform and reveal the striking white silhouettes against a deep blue background.
By the end of the afternoon, every participant walked away with three original, frame-worthy prints, tangible memories of the tides, the weather, and the creative spirit of the group. These immersive classes truly change the way people experience the coast, and it’s always so special to watch that transformation.
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Meet Oriana (and check out her work here)
Oriana Poindexter is a photographer and marine scientist. Her work opens dialogues about our relationship with the changing biodiversity of the ocean using traditional and alternative photo processes. She holds an M.A.S. from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography and a B.A. from Princeton University. Her work has been published by Smithsonian Magazine, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, and exhibited at the Oceanside Museum of Art, the Center for Fine Art Photography, and the San Diego Public Library.
Poindexter has led more than 20 seaweed cyanotype workshops to groups of all ages, partnering with organizations and brands including Patagonia, Usal Project, InterContinental Hotels, The Ocean Institute, and UC San Diego’s Alumni Association.
She is currently in Newport, Oregon as the Artist-in-Residence at OSU’s Hatfield Marine Science Center, where she’s collaborating with reserachers to create an exhibit at HMSC, opening in August 2025.
