Photographer Studies - Anna Atkins

Following in his fathers footsteps, trying to match his legacy, John Herschel was a brilliant scientist and inventor responsible for various scientific and technological advancements. His most famous creation was the Cyanotype process and the tools that were needed for it to operate, while it may seem simple now bringing mixed results, in 1842 it was revolutionary finally giving people a way to print photographs. This was utilized by Anna Atkins in 1843, when she published the first book with photographic images in history.

Anna Atkins, 1861

Anna was born in 1799, to a Scientist called John George. Being the daughter of a respected researcher gave her an advantage, women were never acknowledged in this career path but her bloodline gave her some credit that others didn't.

Anna took botany and illustrating as a hobby in her 30s but soon it became her career. Her work was praised and used for high-level displays and research such as the British Museum.

Being connected to the Royal Society, she discovered cyanotypes shortly after their creation and was impressed by the technology. She immediately began using the new invention to display her findings.

Cyanotypes were seen as a novelty, or a form of entertainment for families and friends to use. Anna used the technology in a creative and innovative way using it to showcase her research, most of her photographic work being plants and herbs she was studying at that time. Once enough were compiled Anna self-published 'British Algae' which has many volumes detailing her knowledge.

While it may just seem like Anna was a botanist, her work was unique. Her composition was detailed and creative, her ideas were fresh - she wasn't just taking photographs for research.

It could be argued that she was one of the first photographers before the phrase was even created.

I personally think her work is still great, its impressive how she did this with no prior knowledge of photography and a lack of creative work before. The close-ups make the images look bizarre and otherworldly combined with the blue colour palette.