Two negatives are placed on a piece of cotton cloth: size approx. A2.

Cyanotypes – how blue can you get?

Ray Harris gives an overview of the cyanotype process and his interpretation of blues and shares his cyanotype process. Writer and photography / Ray Harris Anna Atkins was born on 16 March 1799 and produced the first book to include ‘photographs’ which were in fact, cyanotypes. This post goes into more detail on making cyanotypes at home. The process, in its simplest form, is to mix two chemicals to produce … Read more

Academic wall planner 2023-2024

Back to School? Academic 2023-2024 wall planner in Anna Atkins style

Anna Atkins tribute planners featuring 60 beautiful cyanotypes in honour of Anna Atkins. This year we ran an Anna Atkins tribute event and 90+ artists sent in cyanotypes. 60 were selected. If you are looking for the calendar, it’s here or the journal here.   Anna Atkins tribute planners 2024 wall planner The Anna Atkins tribute planner 2024 is a yearly wall planner for you to hang on your wall … Read more

birthdays of inventors of alternative photographic processes

Today we are 23 years old! Help make a list of Inventors of alternative photographic processes

AlternativePhotography.com is now 23 years old. Help us make a list of birthdays for inventors of alternative photographic processes, women and men throughout history who contributed to making alt. photo. proc. to what they are today. Please note the information on this list is not verified with sources unless it states so (Wikipedia does not count as a source) and the name of the contributor is stated after each listing. … Read more

Anna Atkins tribute calendar front 2024

Anna Atkins tribute calendar – available now!

After our very successful event with 90+ artists sending in cyanotypes to honour Anna Atkins (if you are looking for the journal it’s here) –> Order your copy of the Anna Atkins tribute calendar here Good news #1: We have selected the winners of our Anna Atkins tribute event. The jury had a really tough time selecting ONLY 12 cyanotypes since there were 90+ entries and many many were very … Read more

Anna Atkins created labels with the specimen's scientific name at the bottom of the page.

How to print an Anna Atkins cyanotype

Apart from being a brilliant scientist and botanist, Anna Atkins was also an artist. She created numerous prints from plants, lace and feather arrangements. This is how you can print your own cyanotypes in Anna Atkins’ style. We have done research, but not managed to find out a lot on paper or oils used, so if you possess ANY knowledge at all in terms of which paper or oil was … Read more

Illustration from Fiona Robins book Bluest of Blues

Interview with Fiona Robinson author and illustrator of an Anna Atkins children’s book

I came across a beautifully illustrated book called The Bluest of Blues: Anna Atkins and the first book of photographs and naturally became intrigued. I wanted to know more and set up an interview with the creator Fiona Robinson. Photography and illustrations / Fiona Robinson Interviewer / Malin Fabbri Why a book on Anna Atkins? Fiona Robinson: I’m an author and illustrator of children’s picture books. Before creating The Bluest … Read more

Photograph of Anna Atkins from 1861, licensed by Creative Commons.

Anna Atkins

In 1843 Anna Atkins published the first book of photography made using the cyanotype process called British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions. If you are a cyanotyper, you may also be interested in our tribute event to this true pioneer. Anna Children (maiden name of Anna Atkins) is born 16th of March 1799 in Tonbridge, Kent, UK, the daughter of John George Children (1777-1852) and Hester Anne Holwell (1777-1799). The house of … Read more