Ethnographic Photography in Scotland

1

Early History of
Photography

Page 1

Further Notes

2

Types of Camera and  Photo

Page 2

Further Notes

3

Photographic
Societies

Page 3

Further Notes

4

Professional
Photographers

Page 4

Further Notes

5

Collections of Photos and Books

Page 5

Further Notes

Other talks:    Postcards in Scotland

Other talks:    History of Photography

Edinburgh University, School of Literature, Language and Cultures, Celtic and Scottish Studies

2nd Year Lecture:  February 22, 2010  -  Ethnographic Photography

Ethnographic Photography in Scotland

Early History

of Photography

From 1839

Engravings

• Before photography, there was painting, sketching, etching and engraving.  Engravings were used in newspapers such as the 'Illustrated London News' and in books;  first wood engravings, then metal engravings.

• Here is an engraving from the book, 'Modern Athens', published in 1829 - ten years before the discovery of photography was announced.

• This was published black and white, but the book has been 'broken up' the individual engravings removed and hand tinted.

  1829

  Edinburgh Old Town and North Bridge  -  from Princes Street

  

  ©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

  

  ©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Ian Smith

• Here are two rather romantic views of Edinburgh from the same book.

  • In the view of Stockbridge, the figures and horse crossing the bridge have been carefully positioned.

  A bridge over the Water of Leith at Stockbridge

  

  ©  Reproduced with acknowledgement to Ian Smith

• In the view of Edinburgh Castle, interest has been added by including two soldiers and two Newhaven fishwives in the foreground.

•  

  Edinburgh Castle  -  view from below Ramsay Garden, the Mound

  

  ©  Copyright: For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

  1890

  Even fifty years after the discovery of photography was announced, engravings were being used in books such as 'Old and New Edinburgh', published in 1890.

  

  ©  Reproduced by courtesy of Jenny Parkerson

  •  

    • An artistic sky has been added to the view of Newhaven Harbour below.

  Newhaven  from the Pier

  

  ©  For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

•  

  • There is a lot of action throughout the view of Granton Harbour below.  All the components have been included and positioned in a way that might not have been so easily achieved with photography.

•  

  Granton Harbour

  

  ©  For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

  

  ©  For permission to reproduce, please contact peter.stubbs@edinphoto.org.uk

   

_________________________________

Photography

Talbot and Daguerre

1839

Talbot

• William Henry Fox Talbot:

•  was born in 1800 in Dorset.

•  was a member of Astronomical Society and Royal Society in London.

•  became a Member of Parliament.

•  studied classics and mathematics at Cambridge.

•  was a biblical scholar, botanist and helped to decipher cuneiform script.

•  knew Herschel and Brewster.

•  developed an interest in photography while sketching with camera lucida.

•  started experimenting with photography in 1834. 

• 'Hair down, Collar up'

     ©

  'Hair up, Collar down'

     ©

  Both photographs above were taken by Ivan Szabo.  They are reproduced
  from the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television collection,
  by courtesy of the Science and Society Picture Library.   Click here for link to web site.

  Daguerre

• Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre:

•  was born in 1787 in France

•  was a painter who designed diorama scenes for the theatre

•  partnered Nicéphore Niépce, and experimented with photography

•  continued experimenting with photography after Niépce's death in 1833.

•   

  

  ©  Reproduced by courtesy of Edinburgh Photographic Society

Photography Announced

See also 'Further Notes'

• 1839 is generally regarded as the beginning of photography.

• Daguerre announced his discovery in early 1839.

• Talbot responded almost immediately, announcing his discovery.

• In fact, the two methods were entirely different

• Daguerre had discovered a way of creating a single image on metal.

• Talbot had discovered a way of creating multiple images on paper.

The Latticed Window (Talbot)

A print from the oldest photographic negative in existence

©  Reproduced from the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television collection,
by courtesy of the Science and Society Picture Library.

Edinburgh

• Both Daguerre and Talbot had connections with Edinburgh.

• Daguerre painted stage scenes.  Here is one of Holyrood Palace:

• Did he ever come to Edinburgh?

Holyrood Abbey, Edinburgh (Daguerre)

An oil painting

©  Reproduced by courtesy of The Board of Trustees of the National Museums & Galleries
on Merseyside (Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool) 

• Talbot visited Edinburgh in the early 1840s to take photographs for 'Sun Pictures of Scotland', a book published in 1845.

• Talbot lived in Edinburgh for 10 years from 1855.  He was one of six prominent photographers elected as Honorary Members of Edinburgh Photographic Society in 1862.  Did he attend any of the society's meetings?

_________________________________

Reaction in Edinburgh

See also 'Further Notes'

• Edinburgh was well placed to react to the discovery of photography.

• There were experiments with reports back to the Royal Scottish Society of Arts.

• There was a visit to Daguerre's studio in Paris, with a report back to the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Edinburgh Exhibitions

1st Exhibition

• On 15 October 1839, James Howie placed an announcement in The Scotsman:

2nd Exhibition

• In December,  an Exhibition of Arts, Manufacturers and Practical Science  was held at  Assembly Halls, George Street, from 24 Dec 1839 until 7 Jan 1840.

Talbot's work was included in this exhibition.  Daguerre also exhibited in Edinburgh.  I assume this would have been at the same exhibition.

This Exhibition attracted over 50,000 visitors.

_________________________________

Reaction in St Andrews

See also 'Further Notes'

• Leading photographers in St Andrews included:

• Sir David Brewster (1781-1868)

• Dr John Adamson (1810-1870)

• Robert Adamson (1821-1848)

• Thomas Rodger Sen. (1809-1876)

• Thomas Rodger Jun. (1832-1883)

• Ivan Szabo (1822-1858)

• Below, Thomas Rodger Sen seems to be enjoying the new discovery of photography.  These are the earliest photos of this type that I have seen.

• Here, he is dressed as a Newhaven Fishwife.

1.

Thomas Rodger Sen.

dressed in Newhaven Fishwives' costume.

©   Reproduced by courtesy of St Andrews University Library                                A LB49-11

• Here, he is seated beside a well known violinist, but has chosen to play the bellows rather than the violin!

2.

Thomas Rodger Sen.  "Playing the Bellows"

seated beside Hungarian violinist, Edouard Remeny.

©   Reproduced by courtesy of St Andrews University Library                                                      ALB49-12