The Cyanotype - Photographic Processes Series - Chapter 4 of 12

Summary

Sir John Herschel, a 19th-century astronomer and scientist, invented the cyanotype process, a non-silver photographic method producing permanent blue and white images. Initially underutilized, it gained popularity in the late 19th century for botanical records by Anna Atkins and later as 'blueprints' in engineering. Its affordability made it a favorite for amateur photographers for test prints and contact sheets, particularly among college students in the 1880-1890s.

Takeaways

• 🌟 Sir John Herschel was a prominent astronomer and scientist in the 19th century, known for his potential contribution to the invention of photography.
• 🔍 Herschel could have invented photography but was more focused on other scientific pursuits; he did, however, help Talbot with fixing his images permanently.
• 🎨 He invented the cyanotype process, which produces a blue and white image, after Daguerre and Talbot had announced their own photographic processes.
• 🌐 Cyanotype is a non-silver photographic process, which was unique at the time as most processes were silver-based.
• 🌿 The process involves using potassium ferrocyanide and ferric ammonium citrate, which create a compound that reacts to light to produce a blue image.
• 🌱 Anna Atkins, a British woman and friend of Herschel, was an early adopter of the cyanotype process, using it to create the first photographically illustrated botanical publications.
• 📚 Cyanotype's rich blue color gave it a distinct aesthetic, setting it apart from everyday images and making it suitable for artistic and scientific documentation.
• 🏗️ By the end of the 19th century, cyanotype found use in engineering as the blueprint, a term still in use today.
• 📈 The process was also utilized by photographers for making cheap test prints or contact sheets from gelatin silver negatives.
• 🎓 Many of the surviving cyanotypes are from college students in the late 19th century, indicating its popularity among amateurs.

Q & A

Who is Sir John Herschel and what was his significance in the 19th century?

Sir John Herschel was a renowned astronomer and scientist in the 19th century, known as a scientific superstar of his time. He was involved in the early development of photography and is credited with inventing the cyanotype process.

Why is Sir John Herschel associated with the invention of photography?

Herschel is associated with the invention of photography because he independently developed the cyanotype process after hearing about the invention of photography. He was also consulted by Talbot on how to fix his images permanently.

What is the cyanotype process and how does it differ from other photographic processes of the time?

The cyanotype process is a non-silver photographic process that produces a permanent blue and white image based on the salts of iron. It differs from other 19th and 20th-century photographic processes, which were predominantly silver-based.

What are the two main chemicals used in the cyanotype process?

The two main chemicals used in the cyanotype process are potassium ferrocyanide and ferric ammonium citrate. When combined, they create a compound that forms a latent image on paper when exposed to light.

How does the cyanotype process work to produce an image?

The cyanotype process involves brushing a mixture of the two chemicals onto paper, allowing it to dry, then placing it in contact with a negative and exposing it to sunlight. The areas exposed to light turn blue, creating a blue and white image.

Why did Anna Atkins use the cyanotype process for her botanical records?

Anna Atkins used the cyanotype process to create a record of botanicals without having to draw them. The process allowed her to produce photographic illustrations, which she then published in several series of books.

What is the significance of Anna Atkins' use of the cyanotype process?

Anna Atkins' use of the cyanotype process is significant because her published books of botanical specimens are considered the first photographically illustrated publications.

When did the cyanotype process start to gain more widespread use?

The cyanotype process did not see much use in the 1840s, but it started to gain more widespread use towards the end of the 19th century, particularly in engineering applications.

How did the cyanotype process evolve into what is known as the blueprint?

The cyanotype process evolved into the blueprint, which is a type of contact print used in engineering and architecture. It became popular for its ability to produce cheap, quick, and easily reproducible copies of designs and plans.

What are some alternative uses of the cyanotype process mentioned in the script?

Alternative uses of the cyanotype process included making cheap photographs from gelatin silver negatives, and its use by photographers for test prints or contact sheets as a proofing material, especially by college students in the 1880-1890s.

Why are most of the cyanotypes found in collections attributed to amateurs?

Most of the cyanotypes found in collections are attributed to amateurs because the process was relatively simple and inexpensive, making it accessible for non-professionals to experiment with and create their own photographic prints.

Outlines

00:00

📷 Sir John Herschel and the Invention of Photography

Sir John Herschel, a prominent 19th-century scientist and astronomer, is recognized for his potential to have invented photography but chose not to. He played a pivotal role in the development of the cyanotype process, which was a non-silver photographic method. Herschel's cyanotype process involved using potassium ferrocyanide and ferric ammonium citrate to create a compound that, when applied to paper and exposed to sunlight through a negative, produced a blue and white image. This process was initially underutilized in the 1840s, except for botanical illustrations by Anna Atkins, who is credited with the first photographically illustrated publications. The cyanotype process later gained popularity in engineering as the 'blueprint' and was also used for cheap photographic prints and as a proofing material by photographers and college students in the late 19th century.

Keywords

💡Sir John Herschel

Sir John Herschel was a prominent 19th-century astronomer and scientist. He is noted for his potential to have invented photography and for his contributions to the field, including the invention of the cyanotype process. His work is central to the video's theme of the early development of photography, showcasing his role as a pioneer in the scientific exploration of image capture.

💡Photography

Photography is the process of capturing images using light-sensitive materials. The video discusses the invention of photography and how it evolved, with Sir John Herschel playing a significant role in its early history. Photography is the main theme of the video, highlighting its impact on art, science, and engineering.

💡Cyanotype

Cyanotype is a photographic printing process that produces blue and white images. It was invented by Sir John Herschel and is highlighted in the video for its unique non-silver process. The cyanotype is a key concept as it represents an alternative to the dominant silver-based processes of the time and is showcased through examples such as Anna Atkins' botanical illustrations.

💡Non-silver process

A non-silver process refers to photographic methods that do not rely on silver compounds to create images. The cyanotype is described as a non-silver process in the video, which is significant because it diverges from the standard methods of the 19th and 20th centuries. This keyword is important for understanding the innovation and diversity in early photographic techniques.

💡Anna Atkins

Anna Atkins was a British photographer known for her use of the cyanotype process to create botanical illustrations. She is mentioned in the video as an early adopter of the cyanotype, making her work some of the first photographically illustrated publications. Atkins exemplifies the practical application and artistic potential of the cyanotype process.

💡Blueprint

A blueprint is a reproduction of a technical drawing in a blue color, which is a term that evolved from the cyanotype process. The video discusses how the cyanotype process became known as the blueprint and its use in engineering applications. The blueprint is a significant application of the cyanotype, demonstrating its practical utility beyond artistic expression.

💡Potassium Ferrocyanide

Potassium ferrocyanide is a chemical compound used in the cyanotype process to create the light-sensitive solution. The video explains that when combined with ferric ammonium citrate, it forms a compound that reacts to light to produce the blue image. This chemical is crucial to understanding the technical aspects of the cyanotype process.

💡Ferric Ammonium Citrate

Ferric ammonium citrate is another chemical used in conjunction with potassium ferrocyanide in the cyanotype process. The video describes how these two chemicals are combined to create the active ingredient that, when exposed to light, produces the characteristic blue color of the cyanotype. This compound is essential to the functionality of the cyanotype process.

💡Botanicals

Botanicals refer to the study and illustration of plants, which is a context in which the cyanotype process was utilized early on. The video mentions Anna Atkins' work with botanicals as a primary use case for the cyanotype, emphasizing its suitability for detailed and scientific illustration.

💡Gelatin Silver Negatives

Gelatin silver negatives are a type of photographic negative that uses a gelatin emulsion containing silver halide crystals. The video notes that the cyanotype process was used to make cheap photographs from gelatin silver negatives, indicating its versatility and utility as a proofing material in photography.

💡Amateurs

Amateurs in the context of the video refers to non-professional photographers who used the cyanotype process, particularly in the late 19th century. The video suggests that many cyanotypes found in collections were created by amateurs, indicating the process's accessibility and popularity outside professional circles.

Highlights

Sir John Herschel was a prominent astronomer and scientist in the 19th century.

Herschel could have invented photography but did not pursue it.

He helped Talbot by inventing the cyanotype process to fix images permanently.

Herschel's cyanotype process came after Daguerre and Talbot's announcements.

Cyanotype is a non-silver photographic process using iron salts.

The process produces a permanent blue and white image.

Key chemicals in cyanotype are potassium ferrocyanide and ferric ammonium citrate.

The cyanotype process involves a latent image that turns color when exposed to light.

The image comes to life with a bright blue color when placed in water.

Anna Atkins used cyanotype for botanical illustrations, creating the first photographically illustrated publications.

Cyanotype was not widely used in the 1840s, except for botanical records.

The cyanotype process was later used in engineering as blueprints.

Blueprints are a continuation of the cyanotype process into the 21st century.

Cyanotype was also used to make cheap photographs from gelatin silver negatives.

Photographers used cyanotype for test prints and contact sheets as proofing material.

Most cyanotype images found are from college students and amateurs in the late 19th century.

Transcripts

Sir John Herschel was the scientific superstar of the 19th century.

Herschel is the man who could have invented photography

if he’d been bothered to.

He’s the one that Talbot goes to

to find out how to fix his images, permanently

and as Herschel is dabbling, he invents the cyanotype as well.

Sir John Herschel was an astronomer and scientist

working around the same time as Talbot in England.

Once he heard about the invention of photography

he decided to figure it out for himself

and he came up with the cyanotype process.

Herschel invented the process after Daguerre already announced his own process.

After Talbot announced his process.

Cyanotype is a very interesting process.

It’s a non-silver process.

Most of the photographic processes used

throughout the 19th and 20th century are silver based

Herschel comes up with a process that produces

a permanent blue and white image, based on the salts of iron

and while there are many variants of the process

essentially it’s two chemicals.

You take potassium ferrocyanide and ferric ammonium citrate

and when you combine these two chemicals

you produce a compound

that if you brush this on paper

and allow it to dry

you put them in contact with your negative

place them in the sun

it will turn color when it’s exposed to light.

And so it’s kind of a latent image process.

There are elements of printing out

because you actually see a printed out image on the paper.

But it really comes to life when you put the paper in just plain old water.

It turns bright blue.

It doesn’t get much use in the 1840’s

with the exception of maybe botanicals.

It was utilized very early on by a British woman

who was the daughter of a friend of Herschel’s

named Anna Atkins.

She was doing a record of botanicals that were placed on this paper

as a way of keeping a record without having to draw.

She then published several series of books

of botanical specimens.

And those are really the first photographically illustrated publications.

It gives you this really rich blue intense color.

It sort of takes it out of the venacular.

It takes it out of everyday life and makes us look at it a little differently.

Cyanotype is invented by Herschel in the very beginning of photography

but really doesn’t see any use until the end of the 19th century.

It started being used in engineering applications.

It became what we know know as the blueprint.

The blueprint really found its way into the 21st century.

The other way of using the cyanotype process

was to make very cheap photographs

from gelatin silver negatives.

It was utilized by many photographers to do test prints

or contact sheets as a proofing material.

The most common cyanotype you’ll find

are the images that are made by college students in the 1880-1890’s.

Most of the cyanotypes we see in collections tend to be done by amateurs.