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Fresnel Lens DP348540
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Fresnel Lens DP348540
The Lighthouse, Lighthouse Road, Flamborough Head, Flamborough, East Riding of Yorkshire, East Riding of Yorkshire. Detail of shaped glass on the lighthouse's first-order Fresnel lens, showing multiple reflections of the curved glass on the opposing side.
The Fresnel lens was invented by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel and originally developed for lighthouses. Compared to earlier lenses, the Fresnel lens is much thinner, thus passing more light and allowing lighthouses to be visible over much longer distances
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 28636318
© Historic England Archive
Colour Glass Light Lighthouse Reflection Optics Prismatic Refraction
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This print captures the intricate beauty of the Fresnel Lens DP348540, located at The Lighthouse on Lighthouse Road in Flamborough Head, East Riding of Yorkshire. The lens is a first-order Fresnel lens, designed by French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel specifically for lighthouses. In this detailed close-up shot, we can marvel at the shaped glass that forms part of the lens. The glass exhibits a mesmerizing display of multiple reflections on its opposing side, creating an enchanting visual spectacle. Each reflection showcases the curved nature of the glass and highlights its prismatic qualities. The invention of the Fresnel lens revolutionized lighthouses by allowing them to emit brighter and more focused beams over vast distances. Compared to earlier lenses, this design significantly reduced their thickness while maximizing light transmission through refraction and reflection. James O. Davies has skillfully captured not only the technical brilliance but also the artistic allure inherent in this piece of optical engineering history. This photograph serves as a testament to human ingenuity and our ability to harness natural phenomena for practical purposes. As we gaze upon this image, we are reminded that even in our modern world filled with advanced technology, there is still room for appreciation and wonderment at inventions from centuries past.
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