Anna Atkins:
Anna Atkins is recognised today as the first female photographer upon the production of her first and the first book to use photographic illustrations - British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions. Born and raised in Tunbridge, Kent, Anna was raised entirely by her father who was a respected scientist as well as a Fellow and Secretary of the Royal Society after the death of her mother when she was an infant. Upon the year 1843, Atkins had mastered the photographic process involved in creating cyanotypes through studying from Sir John Herschel. Between the years 1843-1853 she worked consistantly documenting her large collection of seaweed. These cyanotypes and photograms were released as a 12-part series. In 1853, Anna and her childhood friend, Anne Dixon, began to collaborate. They created photograms of delicate items including ferns, flowers, feathers and lace which have become iconic images today in rayography and cyanotype photography. While artistic expression was not her original goal in recording the specimans of British algae, many of the plates can be celebrated as much for their imaginative composition and aesthetic appeal as for their scientific intent. This as they allowed scientists studying such things, to have a perfect image of them, almost constantly. www.leegallery.com- I referenced this writing from this website, click the clink to read more... |
My CyanotypesLast week our class left the classroom to create our own cyanotypes. Along with items that Mr N had given us, we collected items from the concourse and playing fields. We then arranged our items in an artistic and/or interesting way so that we were ready to place the objects onto the photographic paper that is soaked with a light sensitive liquid so it can be exposed to light and thus create an image when they are developed. The paper was kept in sealed matt black plastic envelopes so that it would not be exposed to light and become unusable. When we were given the paper, we immediately got to work attempting to accurately re create the composition of the objects that we had prepared. My cyanotypes are on the right. To create the cyanotype on the far bottom, I, instead of placing objects onto the paper, placed the paper into the object. In this case, The object looked like some kind of blue cylindrical filter. I think the outcome was successful. The pattern is aesthetically pleasing combined with the blank shape cutting in and the blue colour.
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Evaluation:
This image was made from me rolling my paper into a tube and placing it into a cylindrical filter like object and allowing it to unfold inside of it, suspending the paper in a semi role inside. Whilst I left it to expose, I continued to turn the object in order to allow the light to expose all of the paper. To improve this image, I could have exposed it for a few minutes further so that I could have darken the blue slightly and make the white look a bit more white. Also, I could have rolled the paper into the object faster to avoid premature exposure of the the paper, of which is visible especially on the left of the image but is clear to be the case everywhere. but still, I like this image, mainly, as it reminds me as one of Man Rays photograms which is below...
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This image, I made from off cuts of wood I found, along with an old cassette tape and a segment of used film. Although the shapes are not perfectly in line, I think the idea for the composition was a valuable one. This is because it open up whole new ideas for me where I could compose whole images made of patterns of the same objects repeated. I would like to experiment with this. However, it is apparent that the wind had blown the film as it is slightly blurred. It was obvious as the film is thin and light and could have easily been blow. Although it took for the film to blow way and me to have to chase it around the place to resume it to its original place and place a small weight on it for me to have leant this. Although, I still like this image, even if it isn't quite as liner as I wished it would be.
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