A cyanotype of the fern Pteris caudata, from 'Cyanotypes of British and Foreign Ferns', made by Anna Atkins in 1853.
Atkins was a pioneering figure in photographic history, having produced the first book to use photographic illustrations - 'British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions' - in 1843.
This image was made by placing the plant specimen on top of light-sensitised paper and then exposing it to sunlight.
The cyanotype process was invented by Sir John Herschel (1792-1871) in 1842 and derived from his observations on the light sensitivity of iron salts. The brilliant blue colour of the resulting prints gives the process its more common name - the blueprint. The process was used for many years to duplicate engineers' drawings.
Details
- Category:
- Photographs
- Object Number:
- 1995-5024/64
- type:
- photograph
- taxonomy:
-
- visual and verbal communication
- processes and techniques
- image making processes and techniques
- photographic process
- credit:
- National Media Museum, Bradford
- copyright:
- National Science and Media Museum
