Research output per year
Research output per year
Personal profile
Overview
Tony is a Senior Photographer within the Heritage Imaging Lab at the John Rylands Research Institute and Library and the lead for advanced imaging methods and technologies.
Research interests
His main research interests involve advances in imaging technologies within the Heritage sector. Including multispectral imaging, photometric stereo imaging and 3D visualisation of our Special Collection material.
He is very interested in collaborating with other teams, schools and departments within the University and other institutions.
Other research
His other research interests revolve around early analogue photographic processes and their uses in a contemporary setting. This includes wet plate collodion photography, salt and albumen printing, photogravure and the bromoil process, and also cyanotype, VDB, x-ray film negatives and colour reversal positives.
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Bachelor of Arts, Contemporary Photographic Practice, Northumbria University
1997 → 2000
Award Date: 1 Jun 2000
External positions
Photographer, Freelancer
2007 → 2013
Photographer, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU)
2005 → 2007
Photographer, Tyne & Wear Museums
2003 → 2005
Medical Photographic Assistant, County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
2000 → 2003
Areas of expertise
- TR Photography
- Photography
- 3D Imaging
- 3D Printing
- Multispectral Imaging
- Photometric Stereo Imaging
- History of Photography
- Photogrammetry
- Visual Arts
- Creative and Cultural Industries
- Creative Arts
- Image Processing
- Image-making
- Image analysis
- N Visual arts (General) For photography, see TR
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- John Rylands Research Institute and Library
Keywords
- Photography
- 3D printing
- 3D Imaging
- Photogrammetry
- 3D scanning
- Photometric Stereo Imaging
- Multispectral Imaging
- Image Processing
- Image Analysis
- Imaging
- Visual art
- Creative practitioner
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics where Tony Richards is active. These topic labels come from the works of this person. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Similar Profiles
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3D printing and Cultural Heritage in the North: A Showcase.
Richards, T. & Castle, J., 2025, (Unpublished).Research output: Contribution to conference › Paper
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Imaging Heritage Featherwork: A New Methodology for the Study of Feather Artefacts
Hanß, S., Robinson, J. & Richards, T., 2025, In: Bulletin of the John Rylands Library. 101, 2, p. 35–54Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
The Scientific Analysis of Renaissance Recipes: Proteomics, Medicine, and the Body in the Material Renaissance
Hanß, S., Greeves, S., Zilberstein, G., Simpson, J., Richards, T., Zilberstein, S., Righetti, P. G. & Carr, E., 19 Nov 2025, In: The American Historical Review. 130, p. 1–28 rhaf405.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
‘Fraught with possibilities of world-wide benefit’: Towards a history of photography at the John Rylands Library
Gow, E., Hodgson, J., Robinson, J. & Richards, T., 17 Dec 2025, In: Bulletin of the John Rylands Library. 101, 2, p. 15-33 19 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Open Access -
How To Digitise a Library
Robinson, J. & Richards, T., 1 Apr 2024, In: Source. 114, Spring, p. 8-10 3 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
Projects
- 4 Finished
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Early European Print
Gandy, J. (PI), Richards, T. (Technical team), Simpson, S. (Technical team), Robinson, J. (Technical team), Higgins, T. (Technical team) & Hoare, C. (Technical team)
30/09/23 → 31/07/25
Project: Research
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The Heinrich Simon Papers
Parker, S. (PI), Jefferies, M. (PI), Broomer, E.-M. (PI), Castle, J. (Technical team), Richards, T. (Technical team), Robinson, J. (Technical team), Higgins, T. (Technical team), Hoare, C. (PI) & Karapasia, O. (Technical team)
1/01/19 → 31/12/23
Project: Research
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The Archive of Cardinal John Henry Newman Digitisation Project
Robinson, J. (Technical team) & Richards, T. (Technical team)
1/01/13 → 31/12/16
Project: Research
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CHICC: Centre for Heritage Imaging and Collection Care
Robinson, J. (Technical team) & Richards, T. (Technical team)
1/01/08 → 31/12/16
Project: Research
File
Prizes
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The Hurter and Driffield Medal
Richards, T. (Recipient), 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Highly Commended - Scholarship Award
Richards, T. (Recipient), 2023
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
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Teaching Excellence Awards 2021
Richards, T. (Recipient) & Robinson, J. (Recipient), 2021
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
Activities
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Rylands 125 Open Night
Robinson, J. (Chair), Castle, J. (Co-Chair) & Richards, T. (Co-Chair)
4 Dec 2025Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Participating in a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Teaching and Research
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Memories and Collections
Robinson, J. (Chair), Staniforth, H. (Co-Chair) & Richards, T. (Co-Chair)
26 Nov 2025Activity: Participating in or organising event(s) › Organising a conference, workshop, exhibition, performance, inquiry, course etc › Teaching
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Rylands Collection Encounter - Spirit and Supernatural Photography
Richards, T. (Speaker) & Robinson, J. (Speaker)
30 Oct 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation › Teaching and Research
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Rylands Lunchtime Seminar: The Armorial of Bianca Maria Sforza
Richards, T. (Speaker) & Pope, B. (Speaker)
22 Aug 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Oral presentation › Teaching and Research
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Contemporary wet plate collodion photography
Richards, T. (Speaker)
2 Apr 2024Activity: Talk or presentation › Invited talk › Teaching and Research
Datasets
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Histories of Heritage Imaging
Richards, T. (Creator), University of Manchester Figshare, 7 Jul 2022
DOI: 10.48420/20073470.v1, https://figshare.manchester.ac.uk/articles/poster/Histories_of_Heritage_Imaging/20073470/1
Dataset
Press/Media
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The John Rylands Research Institute and Library join the Selene Circle
Robinson, J., Castle, J. & Richards, T.
15/02/25
1 item of Media coverage
Press/Media: Other
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X-Ray Tomography of Gaster Amulet 34
Robinson, J., Richards, T., Sofer, G., Furness, M. & Garner, H.
28/09/23
1 Media contribution
Press/Media: Blogs and social media
Equipment
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Rylands Heritage Imaging Lab
Robinson, J. (Core Facility Lead), Richards, T. (Senior Technical Specialist), Castle, J. (Senior Technical Specialist), Simpson, S. (Technical Specialist), Greaves, A. (Technical Specialist), Risbec, L. (Technical Specialist) & Staniforth, H. (Technical Specialist)
Digital Special Collections & ServicesFacility/equipment: Facility