In the mid-1990s, Jay Blakesberg began what he refers to as his “Blue Period” photos, which retain their original appearance as captured by the camera, without postproduction work to create the blue tones.

During a nine-year period, Blakesberg utilized film that was color-balanced for indoor incandescent warm lighting (it had “blue” in it to neutralize the warm tones of the lighting), but he deliberately employed it in daylight-balanced environments (cool light), resulting in the intentional "blue" look. By deliberately choosing the "wrong film" with the “wrong light”, Blakesberg was able to create work that was unconventional and unique.