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Anna Atkins, an English botanist, created the first photographic picture book in 1843 using cyanotype photography. She produced detailed scientific images of algae by placing objects on light-sensitive paper and exposing them to sunlight. Atkins made hundreds of cyanotype frames for her self-published book, Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions. She is considered by some as the world’s first female photographer, but others dispute this because she didn’t use a camera. Atkins produced three volumes of British seagrass photographs between 1843 and 1853, and only 17 copies still exist.
English botanist Anna Atkins was the first person to publish a picture book with photographic images, but she didn’t use a camera. In 1843, based on the recent discovery of cyanotype photography, she produced detailed scientific images by placing objects on light-sensitive paper and exposing them to sunlight. Her main interest at the time was algae, especially seaweed, and she made hundreds of cyanotype frames which were contact-printed for her 1843 self-published book Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions.
Seeing nature in a different light:
Some call Atkins the world’s first female photographer, but others dispute this accolade because she didn’t actually use a camera.
Sir John Herschel invented the cyanotype photographic printing process in 1842. Also known as ‘sunprints’, the process involves exposing a mixture of ammonium iron citrate and potassium ferricyanide to ultraviolet light. The exposed card becomes Prussian blue, similar to a blueprint.
Atkins produced three volumes of British seagrass photographs between 1843 and 1853. Only 17 copies still exist.
