The Natural History Museum, in collaboration with photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand and designer Alain Mikli, has produced a new exhibition, created specifically for blind or partially sighted people.

The exhibition enables appreciation of highly detailed photographs for those with little or no sight, using pioneering tactile images.

The display uses 30 tactile pictures, taken from the 150-strong current exhibition of French photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s aerial photography, entitled Earth from the Air: A Photographic Portrait of our Planet.

The specially interpreted pictures use an all-natural product called cellulose acetate. The original photographs were scanned and interpreted in relief using high-precision etching techniques.

Displayed in a space that has been designed for easy access for partially sighted and blind visitors, the tactile images have been described by the museum’s diversity co-ordinator as a very important development for one of the most popular exhibitions at the museum.

Yann Arthus-Bertrand said: “I am amazed by what has emerged from this collaborative project.” Designer Alain Mikli is also delighted with the results: “What’s exciting is that we have created a whole new visually descriptive language that enriches the experience of something as challenging as aerial photography for blind and partially sighted people. It’s clear the technique we have used has exciting possibilities to be used in other areas of visual interpretation for blind people.” Details: www.earthfromtheair.com