Sydney Observatory cloud photo No. 144

In 1895 Henry Chamberlain Russell, Sydney Observatory’s Government Astronomer took photographs of meteorological events around Sydney Observatory. Russell, already a pioneer of Australian meteorology, compiled observations made by recording devices across the continent, but his photographs appear to have been simply used to records the types of clouds associated with storm events. This photograph, numbered ’144′, is one of a series illustrating storm cloud formations.

It is also interesting to note the photographic emulsions Russell used appear to have been more sensitive to blue light making it difficult to record sky and land features at the same time. This in part accounts for the dark area at the base of the photograph.

Powerhouse Museum, 95/239/14
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