Ana Atkins was an expert Botanist (someone who specialises in the field of plant science) and an expert plant illustrator; she was born on 16 March 1799 in Tonbridge Kent. She died on 9 June 1871 in Halstead Place, Kent. Ana was not the only scientist in her family, in fact her father (John George Children) was an honoured scientist who had the mineral 'Childrenite' and the Children's python, 'AntaresiaChildreni' named after him. Ana married John Pelly Atkins in 1825 and moved with him to Sevenoaks, Kent (in Halstead) the Atkins family home. This was when Ana began to pursue her interest in Botany.
Both the Atkins and Children were friends with a man named Sir John Herschel; he discovered the Cyanotype process in 1842. Cyanotype is photographic printing process that produces a cyan-blue print, two chemicals are used during the process; Ammonium Iron Citrate and Potassium Ferricyanide. The paper, soaked in the chemicals, (which make up a complex iron salt solution) and exposed to UV light; like the sun, would capture a blue negative image. The name 'Cyanotype' perfectly describes Photography because 'Photo' means 'Light' and 'Graph' means 'To Draw'; Cyanotypes are drawings made by light.
The Cyanotype process is mostly recognised in Ana Atkins' 12 part book: 'British Algae; Cyanotype Impressions'.
What Are The Advantages Of Cyanotypes?
The advantages of Cyanotypes are many. First of all, the Cyanotype process does not cost much or need a bunch of expensive equipment. Also you do not need to arrange a Darkroom or a specific area to make a Cyanotype, as long as you have sunlight. You can coat the Iron salt solution on a large number of surfaces. Even the disadvantage that they are blue can be changed with toning which can produce interesting and beautiful results. Cyanotypes are still used today.
To the left are some images I made in class;
I am not very proud of image number #2, which was my first try at making a cyanotype. It was made out in the open; as Cyanotypes need luminous light. The arrangement of the objects is not creative or interesting - nor are the objects used. Image #1 is one I made after a couple of tries. It turned out the best compared to the rest of the Cyanotypes I made.. The composition of the objects is slightly interesting.
I like many of Ana's Cyanotypes but two of them stand out to me. The first one is of the laid out leaves, the composition appears perfect to the naked eye. The timing of the exposure also interests me. There are sparks of White where light didn't get through but there is also darker shades of blue where full exposure was possible. The second image is the one of flowers that appear like jellyfish. This is abstract and beautiful. I like the way the stems of the flowers overlap at the bottom, no light got through under each stem. I wonder if Ana repeated the process for this particular image to get it just right. Here are some Cyanotype images by Ana Atkins that intrigue me, including the two that I described;