‘Ancient Light’
Book Launch
19 June, London

I am pleased to announce the launch of my ‘Ancient Light’ Book on the evening of 19 June 6-9pm at The Photobook Cafe, Shoreditch, London . The event will take place close to the summer solstice , one year after I passed my PhD . All welcome! As well as a book launch, this will also count as my ‘PhD party’.

Full acknowledgments in the book, but special thanks to Ed Thompson and Rob Ball for mentorship on the book making process, and my PhD supervisors Dr Tim O’Riley and Annie Cattrell.

Book Launch Information 

‘What to make of Melanie King’s photographs of the stars, which make up the extensive series ‘Ancient Light’? They have none of the glamour of NASA’s enhanced astronomical photographs and cannot repeat the exactitude of the powerful telescopes which constantly map the universe. Rather, they are photographs rooted in the earth’s surface , emphasising our smallness against the infinity of space. This is what we see, insists Melanie King, aligning herself perhaps with Plath’s vision of the tired and bedraggled stars glimpsed in the night sky over England . And to see them like this, to acknowledge the power of their travelled light, we celebrate the fact that we are part of this, moving , vibrant specks in a history as long as time.’ (Professor Val Williams, 2024)

’Ancient Light’ comprises analogue astronomical photographs of the night sky, often produced in remote locations away from light pollution.

The project arises from King’s practice-based PhD ‘Ancient Light: Rematerialising The Astronomical Image’, completed at the Royal College of Art in 2024. In this book, King highlights the connections between light emitted from deep within the cosmos, photographic materials and the ecology of Earth. The book includes an essay by Professor Val Williams and an introduction by Dr Melanie King.

The launch will include projections from the series ‘Ancient Light’ by Dr Melanie King, and sounds curated by Clementine Blue.

The book has been partially funded by Canterbury Christ Church University
The launch has been supported by Dr Melanie King’s Patreon subscribers.

Publisher: XYZ Books
Designer: Joana Durães

Constellations
Solo Exhibition at Albion House Ramsgate

’Constellations’ is a new solo exhibition at Albion House Ramsgate from 15 June to 31 July 2025. I’ll be showing works from several of my projects, curated within each room of Albion House.

Works On Show
Ancient Light
In Praise Of Raw Data
Wavelengths
& more!

There will be an exhibition opening on Sat 14th June 6-9pm, which will include a synth set from Look Mum No Computer at 7pm.

I will also be leading in-person workshops as part of the exhibition run, to be announced in July.

Online Duotone Cyanotype Workshop
Draw Brighton

Subsidised by a recent A-N Bursary, I will be leading an online workshop of the duotone cyanotype process with Draw Brighton in association with the Mawddach Residency.

In this workshop you will learn how to produce two digital negatives on acetate which will provide the basis for your two-coloured cyanotypes. I will demonstrate the cyanotype duotone process including how to bleach cyanotypes with soda crystals, and tone them with tannin-based substances such as green tea.

Due to the ‘trial’ nature of the workshop, the workshop costs just £3.

Earthbound
Derby Museum of Making

I will be sharing artworks from my Precious Metals project in the Earthbound exhibition at the Derby Museum of Making from 22 June 2025 to January 2026. This exhibition has been curated by Kate Bellis.

EarthBound
Link

‘EarthBound will take us through the hidden layer worlds of bedrock and earth, to pull us up into the light to look at our own human story of life on the surface. The aim of EarthBound is to make us pause for breath a little, and think that our future survival may well depend on us having a deeper understanding and respect for the incredible life, micro-organisms and fungal networks that hold our planet in balance. The smallest things can have the biggest impact for our survival as a species, we have learned this the hard way over the last few years. EarthBound will hopefully make us think a little more about the hidden story written in our rocks and the earth under our feet, the life there now and in the layered history of rock and earth, above and below, how we are all connected to this continuing story. We are all EarthBound.’

Support Me

Did you know that my Patreon page now operates as a searchable resource for my analogue photography experiments since 2020? On my Patreon page, you can find recipes and tutorials for most of the processes I use. I believe that it is important to keep this information free source, but if you’d like to support my practice I would welcome donations. All proceeds go towards the further development of my practice.

- Patreon  (£10 Subscription includes: Monthly postcard and regular tutorials and videos. There are lower tiers available.)

This month I am offering ’Trees at Dusk’ as an A5 postcard on recycled cardboard, for £10+ Patreon subscribers. All Patreon funds go towards the development of my practice, and the funds in June and July will go towards my ‘Ancient Light’ book launch at The Photobook Cafe on 19 June, and my upcoming solo  exhibition at Albion House Ramsgate.