Anna Atkins

Anna Atkins (1799–1871) was a British photographer and botanist known for her pioneering use of the cyanotype process. She used photographic impressions to document algae and other botanical specimens, combining scientific observation with photography. In 1843, she began publishing Photographs of British Algae: Cyanotype Impressions, an extensive series of cyanotypes produced over the following decade. Her work is now held by institutions including the British Library and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.