Anna Atkins trained as a botanist in the 19th century. Having been introduced to the newly discovered photographic process of cyanotype, Anna decided to experiment and successfully produced a series of detailed and accurate images of botanical specimens. Anna is credited to having produced the first book to be illustrated by photography and the earliest sustained application of photography to science.

I admire Anna’s ingenuity in experimenting with a newly discovered process to produce images that are not only valuable botanical records but beautiful works of art. In creating a cyanotype portrait of Anna I hope to pay homage to her creativity and the inspiration she is to myself and artists and photographers worldwide to continue on the experimental cyanotype journey.

Title: Nostalgia

Medium: Cyanotype with silk ribbon