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Photo Oxford Festival is returning in autumn 2025 with the theme of 'truth'. At a preview event Katy Barron, festival director, previewed three exhibitions from Jillian Edelstein, Yan Wang Preston and Edmund Clark. She also noted that the Bodleian Library would be hosting a retrospective exhibition of the Oxford-based photography Paddy Summerfield (1947-2024), curated by Alex Schneideman and Paddy's family. 

The festival receives no public money and is still seeking support for its programmes and community engagement activities.

Sign up for more information at the Photo Oxford website. 

Photo Oxford
25 October-16 November 2025
https://www.photooxford.org/

Image: (Right) Paul Bullivant, chair of trustees, and festival director, Katy Barron introduce Photo Oxford 2025. (Left) Edmund Clark introduces his Cosmopolemos project that will be shown in Oxford next year.

Michel Auer, one for the most significant collectors and dealers of cameras and photography and a historian and supporter of photography, has died aged 91 years. Auer will be best known by some for his books on cameras and, latterly, for his Foundation based in Hermance, Switzerland which exhibited photographs and cameras from his collection as well as having a public presence through exhibitions and public events.

Michel was born in Zurich in 1933. After school he completed an apprenticeship as an advertising photographer in Zurich. After returning from Swiss military service he created an advertising photography studio in Geneva in 1955. In 1958, he obtained a federal master's degree in photography.

In 1960, he created the Big laboratory in Geneva, specializing in large-size photo enlargements in black and white and colour which he ran until 1975. He gave up advertising photography in 1961 and devoted himself to collecting cameras and writing books on the subject where his own photography presented the cameras as beautiful objects in their own right. In the 1970s the market for photography was still evolving and Auer was able to acquire important cameras through auctions and especially through markets where rarities were unrecognised. He was also able to secure cameras directly from their manufacturers and he acquired all the spare parts and incomplete Compass cameras from Le Coultre in Switzerland.

 In 1976, he created a stand at the Pucres de Clignancourt, Paris, flea market with Michèle Ory specializing in cameras and photographs. He married Michèle in 1980 and the two formed a strong partnership united in their photography interests and activities.

Michel created three, possibly more, significant collections of cameras which formed the basis of other museums. In 1973 Auer sold his first collection to the Provinciaal Museum voor Fotografie in Antwerp museum, now known as FoMU. The collection focused on the development of cameras and the technical history of photography and included landmark cameras alongside rarities and key display pieces. Since then the FoMu collection has been supplemented by other collections, not least that of Agfa-Gevaert.

The second sale was in the early 1990s to the JCII Camera Museum in Tokyo, Japan. The museum had a significant collection of Japanese products acquired as part of its own activities but was weak in Western cameras. Auer’s collection added significant cameras from the history of photography as well as expanded its breadth with cameras from the UK, US and Europe.

His third collection was his final personal collection and includes significant cameras as well as rarities. This now sits with his Foundation.

Michel’s first books were essentially catalogues of his collection(s) and most likely acted as a catalogue to raise awareness to support a sale.  The first were produced at a time when there were very few other books on the history of the camera for collectors. His first Collection Michel Auer appeared in 1972 and eventually ended up as three volumes. It formed a go-to catalogue for collectors and auction houses assisting with identification and dating at a time when there was limited reference material.

His 1975  Illustrated History of the Camera was the first coffee-table book of cameras, beautifully illustrated with Auer’s own photographs of cameras, and it set out a useful camera history describing many rarities from his collection. Michel also collaborated with another collector Eaton S Lothrop to produce a book on disguised cameras that was well illustrated and had a depth of research from Lothrop.  With Michèle he produced an important history of amateur cine cameras. Not all his books appeared in English but they all remained key references, although often not as well-known as they should have been, pre-internet.  

Later, as Auer focused on photography he and Ory produced in 1997 a CD-Rom based resource of biographical information of photographers based on the printed Encyclopaedia which had received a special commendation at the 1986 Kraszna-Krausz Awards. The which resource is now available online.

In 1984 the Auers opened a photography centre at the Grütli in Geneva and started holding exhibitions of photography. It later moved to the BAC contemporary art building and finally in March 2009 along with Michèle, Michel created a Foundation which allowed him to exhibit his collection of photographs as well as objects related to photography. It held regular exhibitions of photography, talks and had its own publication programme. A partnership with the city of Montpelier which might have provided a long-term home for the collection and foundation came to nothing.  The Auers’ collection now consists of a large collection of cameras, some 21,000 books and 50,000 images. As Etienne Dumont noted in his appreciation of Auer the future of the collection remains uncertain.  

Michel Auer was married to Françoise Guerin, whom he divorced in 1968, and then to Michèle Auer-Ory in 1980 until his death. He had three children with his first wife, Martine, Laurence and Georges Nicéphore.  

Michel died on 22 October 2024.

Principal publications

Collection Michel Auer (Editions Camera Obscura, 1972)
Catalogue Michel Auer, (Editions Camera Obscura, 1977)
The above were released together with a third volume as Le livre guide to des appareils photo anciens / The collectors guide to antique cameras (Editions Camera Obscura, 1990)
Histoire illustrée des appareils photographiques / The Illustrated History of the Camera (UK edition, Fountain Press,1975)
Kameras gestern und heute (1975)
L'Œil invisible: Les appareils photographiques d'espionnage also Die Geheimkameras (with Eaton S Lothrop, Editions EPA, 1978)
Histoire de la caméra ciné amateur (1979, with Michèle Ory (Les Editions de l'Amateur, Paris / Editions Big S.A, Geneva, 1979)
Encyclopédie internationale des photographes de 1839 à nos / Photographers Encyclopaedia International 1839 to the present (with Michèle Ory, Editions Camera Obscura, 1985)
150 ans d’appareils photographiques à travers la collection Michel Auer / 150 Years of Cameras through the Michel Auer Collection (Editions Camera Obscura, 1989)
Collection M+M Auer une histoire de la photographie (Editions M+M, 2003)
802 photobooks from the M+M Auer collection ((Editions M+M, 2007)
Weegee the Famous. Collection Michèle et Michel Auer (with Michèle Ory, Editions M+M, 2008)

See: http://www.auerphoto.com/ and https://www.bilan.ch/story/ed-michelauer-868874801675

Image: Michel Auer, self-portrait, 1985. Under a Creative Commons licence

The Queen’s second son, fifteen-year-old Alfred, Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was the first royal to tour to the colonies on this side of the globe, he steamed out from England on board HMS Euryalus, in 1860, bound for the Cape Colony in South Africa. This Royal Tour has a special significance for the State Library of New South Wales. Rare photographs of the tour were collected by a young navy Lieutenant, Arthur Onslow, who, while returning from Australia, passed through Cape Town after the Prince’s tour and his photographs are now held in the Library as part of the Macarthur family collections. In the image above we can see the young Prince (third from the right) with Governor Sir George Grey (fourth from the right) in outback South Africa. For more see https://wordpress.com/post/geoffbarker.wordpress.com/893

Bonhams auction of Books, Manuscripts and Historical Photographs includes several lots of photography interest including Peter Henry Emerson's Pictures of East Anglian Life (1888), estimated at £3000-4000, a presentation copy to the amateur photographer, historian and founder of the photographic record W.J. Harrison; a copy of Fred Judge's Camera Pictures of London at Night (1924), estimated at £600-800;and of special note is a lot of six albums from the Farquhar family. The albums include some 180 carte-de-visites of the 1860s (photographers including Camille Silvy), several portraits of houses associated with the family or that of the Nugents in the 60s, and 2 images of Crystal Palace by P.H. Delamotte. The later albums include a charming record in photography and watercolour of the childhood of two brothers, Harold and Rupert, usually attired in fancy dress (or in very early childhood in dresses).

The British Film Institute is seeking an Archives Assistant to join the BFI’s Special Collections team on a fixed term basis, undertaking general collections duties including retrieval, accessioning, basic cataloguing, preservation and digitisation, and to support colleagues in the provision of a vibrant research service. The Archives Assistant will also be responsible for responding to enquiries, and assisting researchers and visitors to the Archive. 

Key responsibilities include: 

• Support colleagues in care of the collection, carrying out basic preservation, appraisal and rehousing work. Training will be provided in key preservation skills
• Support colleagues in the acquisition and processing of new offers to the collection 
• Co-ordinate the movement and location of materials in store and between sites 
• Carry out general archive-based duties to support access to the archives, including provenance research, listings, and potentially basic cataloguing and written interpretation, if required 

We are looking for candidates who have: 

• Commitment to working in an archive, library or museum environment, with experience in either archival services or a customer-facing role  
• Computer literate with good knowledge of Microsoft Office 
• Attention to detail and the patience to carry out repetitive work to a consistently high standard 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work well both individually and as part of a team 

A full list of responsibilities and minimum requirements can be found in the job description. 

A groundbreaking new tour tracing the footsteps of legendary 19th-century photographer John Thomson is set to launch this season. This unique journey offers photography enthusiasts, history buffs, and cultural explorers the chance to experience the people, landscapes, and traditions of China as Thomson did during his pioneering travels in the 1860s.

The John Thomson in China – A Photographic History tour takes travelers from the bustling streets of Guangzhou (Canton) to the imperial grandeur of Beijing (Peking), stopping along China’s historic coast to capture both timeless and modern scenes. Known for his remarkable documentation of the Far East, Thomson was one of the first Western photographers to record the diverse cultures of Singapore, Vietnam, Cambodia, and China. His work laid the foundations of travel photography and social reportage, revolutionising the way people understood life across the world.

A Journey Through History and Photography

Led by Deborah Ireland, an esteemed photographic historian and authority on Thomson’s work, the tour offers an immersive, educational experience. Ireland, who has lectured extensively on Thomson and written on the travels of the famous explorer Isabella Bird, will provide in-depth commentary and insights throughout the journey. Participants will visit many of the same sites Thomson documented, with opportunities to compare his 19th-century photographs to the scenes as they exist today.

The tour will engage with local historical societies to give travelers a richer understanding of China’s society, architecture, and everyday life during the late Qing Dynasty — the time Thomson conducted his work. In Beijing and Shanghai, guests will have the opportunity to explore traditional districts, some of which Thomson photographed, and discover the blend of history and modernity that characterises these vibrant cities.

What to Expect on the Tour: 

Guided tours through Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing, revisiting iconic locations Thomson photographed in the 1860s.

• Discussions on the impact of Thomson’s work on modern photography, travel, and journalism.
• Immersive experiences with local historians, ensuring a deep connection to China’s cultural and heritage.

Jon Baines, company founder and tour creator, commented: “John Thomson could be considered the godfather of travel photography. His work opened a window to a part of the world that was then largely unknown to Western audiences. He didn’t just capture the landscapes and architecture; he documented the spirit of the people — from emperors to everyday citizens. This tour is an extraordinary opportunity to walk in his footsteps, understand his vision, and see how much has changed — or remained the same — since the 19th century." He added, “Thomson taught photography at the Royal Geographical Society, of which he became a Life Fellow, and his work has stood the test of time.”

This tour is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for anyone interested in the convergence of history, culture, and photography. It promises not just an exploration of China’s visual history, but a deep dive into the evolving narrative of how photography has shaped our understanding of different cultures over time.

Tour Dates: 11 – 26 October 2025
For more information, please visit: www.jonbainestours.com/china 

About John Thomson
John Thomson (1837–1921) was a Scottish photographer, geographer, and traveler who was among the first to photograph the Far East. His work documenting the diverse cultures of Asia and the streets of London made him a trailblazer in both travel photography and social reportage, helping to lay the foundations of modern photojournalism.

About Deborah Ireland
Deborah Ireland is an accomplished photographic historian who has lectured widely on the work of John Thomson and the travels of Isabella Bird. She is known for her deep knowledge of 19th-century photography and her ability to bring history to life for modern audiences.

Leon Jacobson, a long-time collector and dealer in nineteenth-century cameras and photographs has died at the age of 101. He was among a number of dealers who turned an interest into a business, become one of a pioneering group of dealers in photographs and photographic equipment in the early 1970s. 

The son of Russian non-practicing Jewish immigrants, Leon was born in New York City in 1923. He attended Union College studying engineering. After World War II interrupted his degree course, he returned from the army and, thanks to the GI bill, was able to complete his degree at Princeton University where the army had earlier sent him on courses. Leon became an electrical engineer, working most of his career with General Electric in Syracuse, New York, He worked on radio-controlled missile guidance systems including for some of the early space launches by NASA and developed new methods for making printed circuits. He also taught a course in creativity for engineers which lead to important innovations. As a teenager he used to hang out at a local photographer’s premises in his home town of Gloversville, New York, sometimes helping out.

His first proper camera was a Foth Derby and he became a keen amateur photographer. In the late 1960s, he developed an interest in early cameras and photographs. When his son Ken came to London to study biophysics – initially lacking a scholarship from either UK or US governments – Leon handed him a copy of Sotheby’s seminal New York 1970 Strober photography catalogue with the admonition to look for old cameras and see if you can find anything ‘by some guy named Talbot.’

As a result of this collaboration and his own efforts, his wife Hilde and he became one of the first to publish a regular catalogue (a simple mimeograph) selling early cameras and photographs alongside people like Tom & Elinor Burrnside and George Rinhart. As Syracuse is not too far from Rochester, home of George Eastman House and photography museum, many of the young interns (later to become well-known names in the field like Grant Romer and Keith Davis) would often arrive for coffee and cookies at the Jacobsons’ house and also discover one of the few places where their meagre interns' salaries still allowed them to come home with an good early photograph as a souvenir.

Leon became quite adept at restoring old cameras needing conservation and gave a talk on this subject at the 1972 annual symposium held by the Photographic Historical Society of New York. In 1974, with the assistance of an electron microscopist at General Electric, he published a paper solving the problem of what caused ‘measles’ on daguerreotype plates that had been 'cleaned.'

In 1972 He published several arrticles in Eaton Lothrop's The Photographic Collectors' Newsletter which ran from 1968-1975 - the first publication of its type that predated any collecting or historical societies.   IHe was elected to the board of the Photographic Historical Society of America in 1975.

With thanks to Ken Jacobson

The organisers have announced that Photo|Frome will return in April 2025 with the theme ‘inEquality’. Through photography from internationally acclaimed, national and regional artists, we reflect on stories of global and local justice and equality. The festival runs from 5 April – 27 April 2025. with free exhibitions (indoor and outdoor), talks, workshops, portfolio reviews, pop-up portrait studio (Faces of Frome), curator tours and more.

One of Photo|Frome’s principal installations features stills photography by Joss Barratt around the films of acclaimed director Ken Loach, known for his focus on marginalized communities. This includes ‘Carla’s Song’, which it is pairing with Susan Meiselas' renowned documentary on Nicaragua. By combining fiction and reality it explores the same issues but from totally different angles, giving new perspectives. The work of Tish Murtha, Paul Seawright, Nick Hedges and Fast Forward, Women in Photography is also featured alongside other Ken Loach films.

Other exhibitions take different creative approaches to the theme. This includes Joanne Coates whose work explores rurality, hidden histories, and income-based inequalities, Sujata Setia’s ‘A Thousand Cuts’, Sarah Palmer’s ‘Wish You Were Here’, and Evgeniya Strygina’s ‘Home from Home’.

Photo|Frome will again offer an international Open Photobook Award and the MPB Student Awards. In 2025, it will also have a new Open Call on the inEquality theme. Details of all three will be separately announced.

The photographer Paul Lowe has died, aged 61 years. Professor Paul Lowe was an award-winning photographer and a Professor of Conflict, Peace, and the Image at London College of Communication. He was also an author, critic and educator. His work was widely published and his work is represented by Panos Pictures. Paul has covered breaking news across the world – including the fall of the Berlin Wall, Nelson Mandela’s release, famine in Africa, the conflict in the former Yugoslavia and the destruction of Grozny.

He was a consultant to the World Press Photo foundation in Amsterdam, advising online education of professional photojournalists in the majority world. Paul's book Bosnians, documenting 10 years of the war and post-war situation in Bosnia, was published in April 2005 by Saqi books. 

See a tribute from Max Houghton here: https://www.1854.photography/2024/10/tribute-paul-lowe/
and https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2024/oct/24/photographer-paul-lowes-life-in-pictures

Grace Lau's Chinese portrait studio has been on a memorable journey through Hastings, Southampton, London, Eastbourne, finishing this year at St Leonards on Sea. This exhibition shows a selection of the portraits captured on route. The portrait studio was made of ‘mock’ traditional Chinese furniture, with a decorative backdrop and accessories. Grace Lau acted as Creative Director, alongside photographer Richard Chung. People were asked to pose in a similar manner to Victorian studio portraits. However, in contrast to the historical setting, those having their portraits taken were encouraged to keep their modern-day accessories, such as mobile phones, shopping bags, and clothing.

“Through this project I am making an oblique comment on Imperialist visions of the ‘exotic’ Chinese and, by reversing roles, I have become the Imperialist photographer documenting my exotic subjects in the south of England.” (Grace Lau 2006)

"21st Century Types demonstrated, in a powerful visual way, the diversity of British in the 21st century. These rich many layered opulent portraits made by a Chinese born feminist photographer are a monument to place, race, people and the passing of time, and a direct political comment of the uses of photography as propaganda. Grace’s positioning of herself as an outsider photographer, drawn to photograph the procession of ‘types’ that pass in front of her camera, was essentially performative - acting the part of the stern Chinese studio portraitist who would not allow her subjects to smile, she creates a theatre of photography in which the émigrè’s drama is played out." (Prof. Val Williams 2019)

This project was funded by Art Council England and supported by John Hansard Gallery.

Portraits in a Chinese Studio. An exhibition of portraits by Grace Lau
Solaris Print, 76 Norman Rd, St Leonards-on-Sea, TN38 0EJ
9 November -21 December, 2024
See: https://www.solarisprint.co.uk/

Quickshaws Tours is offering an twelve night tour in Sri Lanka to discover the places photographed by and associated with Julia Margaret Cameron, who died and was buried in the country in 1879. The tour will take in the first Cameron plantatio described in her letters, their coffee estates including Dimbulla, places she photographed, and her burial place at St Mary's Church, Bogawantalawa. In addition the tour will take in other historic places, sights and landscapes as well as the food and culture of the country.  

The tour has been produced by, and will have the services of, Cameron scholar Aneela de Soysa. Discover where she lived and made her last photographs, and explore her life in British Ceylon on a tour of Sri Lanka. The tour is for art historians and photographers interested in the work of Cameron to experience the sights and sounds of Sri Lanka then and now and includes seven World Heritage Sites.

Discover Julia Margaret Cameron in Ceylon 1875-1879
Tour led by Aneela de Soysa
9-21 February 2025
For full details of the itinerary and cost see: https://www.aneeladesoysa.com/

UPDATED: The organisers have jus tannounced a shorter 8-night tour that covers the principal Cameron sites, and omits some of the other Sri Lanka sites. 

See Aneela de Soysa speak about Cameron here

Image: Julia Margaret Cameron, Two Young Women, Ceylon, 1875-79, Albumen Print, AIC

Photography entered the museum shortly after its invention in the 19th century, serving as a reproduction tool, a scientific process, a printmaking method, and an expressive medium. However, precisely because of these multiple functions, photography’s accommodation posed challenges then, as it does now with the mutable nature of contemporary “post-photographic,” born-digital images.  

This conference seeks to examine the past, current, and future positioning of photography and its rich histories within museums. It aims to bring together curators, museum workers, archivists, artists, scholars, and researchers across disciplines, such as art history, visual culture, photography, museum, curating and archival studies, to explore international shifts in museum practices and their implications for global photographic cultures.  

Key questions and issues include, but are not limited to:  

• In an era of “massification” of images, how can museums collect analogue and born-digital photography strategically to create relevant and sustainable photographic collections for the future?
• In what ways institutional practices—in terms of collecting, accessioning, documentation, preservation, and accessibility—need to be adapted or what new methods are required to accommodate different types of photographic images, including “networked images” and “computational photography,” in museum collections?
• How can photography’s vernacular cultures be collected and displayed in the physical and virtual museum?
• How can normative exhibition practices be adapted to engage diverse transnational publics, online and on site?
• How can photography be used as an accessible vehicle within the museum to consider broader social and political issues and processes?
• How can museum practices facilitate a two-way interaction with audiences, enabling them to acquire agency in influencing what the museum does as a social site?
• In what ways can photography within the museum context contribute to the decolonisation process for its audiences?
• What does an inclusive transnational history of photography look like?
• How may commissioning expand an institution’s discursive space?  

Speakers: 

Shahidul Alam, Photojournalist, Human Rights Activist, Founder of Drik, Pathshala and Chobi Mela (and Visiting Professor, Northern Centre of Photography, FESCI (Bangladesh)
Martin Barnes, Senior Curator, Photography, V&A South Kensington (UK)  
Michela Bresciani, Curator, Ecomuseo Urbano Metropolitano Milano Nord - EUMM (Italy) 
Briony Carlin, Lecturer in Contemporary Art Curation, Newcastle University (UK) 
Angela Cheung, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, SOAS (UK) 
Giuseppe Chiavaroli, PhD Researcher, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Italy) 
Agnese Ghezzi, Postdoctoral Researcher, LYNX - Center for the Interdisciplinary Analysis of Images, Contexts, Cultural Heritage, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca (Italy) 
Fabrizio Gitto, PhD Researcher, University of Italian Switzerland and Research Fellow, LYNX - Center for the Interdisciplinary Analysis of Images, Contexts, Cultural Heritage, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca (Italy) 
Sze Ying Goh, Curator, National Gallery Singapore (Singapore) 
Alexandra Gow, PhD Researcher, University for the Creative Arts/National Galleries Scotland (UK) 
Lucia Halder, Head of the Photography Collection, Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum (Germany) 
John Kippin, Artist and Professor Emeritus in Photography, Northern Centre of Photography, FESCI (UK) 
Jayne Knight, PhD Researcher, University of Brighton/National Science and Media Museum (UK) 
Sandra Križić Roban, Senior Scientific Advisor in Tenure, Institute of Art History, Zagreb (Croatia) 
Carol McKay, Independent curator and writer (Associate Head of School (Arts), University of Sunderland to October 2024) (UK), paper with Amanda Ritson, Curator and Project Manager, NEPN at University of Sunderland (UK) 
Daniel Palmer, Professor of Contemporary Art and Cultural Theory and Associate Dean of Research and Innovation, RMIT University (Australia) 
Christina Riggs, Professor (History of Visual Culture), Durham University (UK) 
Colin Robins, Photographer and Lecturer in Photography, Plymouth University (UK)
Katrina Sluis, Associate Professor and Head of Photography and Media Arts, The Australian National University (Australia) 
Baiba Tetere, Lecturer in Social Sciences, Riga Stradins University (Latvia) 
Oliver Udy, Photographer and Head of Photography, Falmouth University (UK) 
Liz Wells, Independent Writer and Curator, Professor Emeritus in Photographic Culture, University of Plymouth (UK) 

The conference is part of the Museum Dialogues, a 12-month research networking programme which aspires to transcend the disciplinary boundaries of art history, visual culture, photography, new media, museum and curating studies and bridge theory and practice. It seeks to unite scholars, archivists, curators, museum workers, and artists from across the globe with a view to developing a comprehensive understanding and exchange of innovative solutions, inquiries, and practical challenges relating to the exhibition, collection and interpretation of photography. 

Supported by UKRI/Arts and Humanities Research Network and University of Sunderland.  

Conference and Project Team 
Principal Investigator: Professor Alexandra Moschovi, Professor of Photography and Curating, Northern Centre of Photography, University of Sunderland
Co-Investigator:  Dr Iro Katsaridou, Assistant Professor, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 
International partner: Matteo Balduzzi, Curator, Museo di Fotografia Contemporanea, Cinisello Balsamo, Milan, Italy.  
 
Steering group member: Emeritus Professor Arabella Plouviez, University of Sunderland

UoS Coordinator: Amanda Ritson, Programme Manager of NEPN (North East Photography Network), Northern Centre of Photography, University of Sunderland

Technical Support: Michael Daglish, Senior Technician (Photography), University of Sunderland

Photography and the Museum 
Re-evaluating the Past, Capturing the Present, Anticipating the Future 
Friday 22, Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 November 2024 
University of Sunderland and Online 
Registration is now open here.

The Prix Pictet photography prize which hatnesses the power of photographyto draw global attention to issues of sustainability, has announced a five-year partnership with the V&A Museum, London. The Museum, which has hosted recent awards ceremonies, will host the awards ceremony and shortlist exhibition for the next five cycles of the Prix Pictet. The first exhibition in this series will take place from 26 September-19 October 2025 in the Museum’s Photography Centre. Additionally, one of the galleries in the Centre will be renamed ‘The Pictet Gallery’ in January 2025, in recognition of the Pictet Group's support for photography.

The Prix Pictet has staged over 150 shortlist exhibitions in many major cities of the world with visitor numbers of over one million. The ten Prix Pictet winners to date are Benoit Aquin, Nadav Kander, Mitch Epstein, Luc Delahaye, Michael Schmidt, Valérie Belin, Richard Mosse, Joana Choumali, Sally Mann and most recently Gauri Gill.

Duncan Forbes, Head of Photography at the V&A, said, "The Photography Centre at V&A is the largest space in the UK dedicated to a permanent photography collection, and we’re delighted that with the support of Prix Pictet the Museum will continue to celebrate photography’s many histories and explore its extensive impact on our lives.”

Separately, the Prize has announced that V&A Trustee Zewditu Gebreyohanes will join judging panel for Storm. Gebreyohanes was appointed a trustee of the V&A in 2022. She is a Senior Researcher at the right-leaning think tank The Legatum Institute. Prior to this she was Director of the pressure group Restore Trust which attempted to influence the direction of the National Trust. Between 2021 and 2022 she worked at the right-wing think tank Policy Exchange, where she was Head of the History Matters Project: a policy unit focussing on the preservation of British history and heritage.

See: https://prix.pictet.com/ and  https://prix.pictet.com/in-focus/zewditu-gebreyohanes-to-join-the-prix-pictet-judging-panel-for-s

The PhotoLondon resource - PhotoLondon.org.uk - which has been active for many years and hosted by the Museum of London is currently offline. The Museum has recently upgraded its website and may have impacted PhotoLondon. This has been raised with the Museum and is currently under investigation. Sadly, because of the way the site is constructed the underlying data is not visible through archive.org.   

Hopefully, the site will be online before too long.

It is well known that after Adamson Octavius Hill’s only other photographic partner was Alexander McGlashon. They exhibited in Edinburgh in December 1861 and in the London International exhibition which ran from 1st May to 1st September 1862; they also published an album in 1862 of fifteen photographs titled: “Towards the Further Development of Fine Art Photography”. A selection of their work can be found at the following link:- https://www.nationalgalleries.org/search-all/McGlashan

While the Rock House garden in Edinburgh was the location for some of these images it was not the only location.

Of the Rock House images particularly notable is that of Hill’s daughter Charlotte, “Burd Alane”. She is not identified as the subject of this portrait by the National Gallery or indeed by the Met in New York which also holds a copy, but the title of the photograph clearly points to it being her and comparison with John Adamson's 1855 portrait of her is conclusive.

However the image which won the plaudits is entitled “Horae Subsecivae” and is of the author John Brown and his cousin John Taylor Brown. This and several other images are in an indoor setting which may be inside the Rock House but it is noticeable that a curtain and table feature in various McGlashon CDVs suggesting that these images may have been taken in McGlashon’s studio at 130 Princes Street.

A further group of photographs includes one titled “Our First Grandchild: May-Day at Millfield” conveniently identifying the location as Millfield House in Polmont, the home of railway engineer, volunteer soldier and subsequently Edinburgh Member of Parliament, John Miller. As Miller’s first grandchild Marjory Cunningham was born on 11th August 1859 from the appearance of the child in the photo we can readily date this photograph to 1st May 1861.

Was this the end of Hill’s involvement with photography? Perhaps not. Certainly his association with McGlashon continued and there is a CDV of Hill with his wife Amelia Paton in which both are very smartly dressed, including in Hill’s case a top hat and cane, leading to the suspicion that this was taken at the time of their wedding on 18th November 1862.

However the story does not end there as very intriguingly I have discovered an 1864 newspaper report (The Scotsman, 25 January 1864) that during his recent visit to Edinburgh the portrait of Dean Stanley of Westminster by McGlashon & Walker (McGlashon’s then partner) “was arranged by Mr D. O. Hill, R.S.A.” Whether this meant that Hill was actively involved in the sitting or just that he introduced Stanley to McGlashon cannot now be ascertained but it does point to Hill’s continuing appreciation of McGlashon's photographic skill and may even represent Hill’s final photographic involvement.

BBC Radio 4's programme Toast will be looking at the story behind Kodak's business failure. Kodak made photography mainstream so why did it falter in a digital age? The BBC Business journalist, Sean Farrington, discovers how Kodak rose to become a massive global enterprise best known for its cameras and film. Alongside him is the serial entrepreneur, Sam White, ready to offer her opinions on the business's fortunes.

Kodak is still trading profitably but is now a much smaller business than it once was. Sean and Sam hear from expert guests including:

• Kamal Munir - Professor of Strategy & Policy at Cambridge Judge Business School which is part of the University of Cambridge
• Don Strickland - Kodak's former Vice President of Digital Imaging
• Paul O'Sullivan - who runs a film processing business in London
• Andrew Long - who worked in Kodak's consumer products division in the UK.

The programme will be broadcast and available to listen live on BBC Radio 4 on 7 November at 1232 and will then be available on BBC Sounds.

See: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0024sy5

Recent sightings of the Northern Lights in southern Britain have flooded our timelines in recent weeks as people try to capture its wonderful colours on their smartphones. Now The Polar Museum is inviting visitors to see stunning early attempts to capture the natural phenomenon in a new free exhibition, showcasing the work of Danish-born school teacher and self-taught scientist, Sophus Peter Tromholt (1851–1896).

In 1875 Tromholt moved from Denmark to Norway. There he taught at a school, lectured in astronomy, wrote many articles and several schoolbooks, and even composed two pieces of music. However, the northern lights were always his main interest. He wanted to capture them using photography and determine their height in the atmosphere. In 1885 he published his results in the book, Under the Rays of the Aurora Borealis.

During 1882-83 in the first International Polar Year, Tromholt spent a year living with the Sámi of Kautokeino in northern Norway. He didn’t succeed in taking photographs of the northern lights as photographic plates were not sensitive enough at that time. Instead, he chose to photograph the Sámi people living there, and became famous for his respectful portraits of named Sámi individuals – pioneering at that time. It was in Tromholt’s prints of Sámi people and landscapes at the University of Bergen Library, guest curator and artist Dr Christine Finn encountered Tromholt's sketches of the heavens over Kautokeino, originally made to accompany his newspaper articles and provide illustrations for his book.

Guest curator and artist, Dr Christine Finn, said: “These pictures were created from original glass negatives archived in Bergen. The wooden surface against which Tromholt photographed the drawings is visible, knots and all. Also left for context are the numbers which represent duration or time, almost certainly in his own hand. These traces are part of the ‘archaeology’ of the Aurora as it progresses from Tromholt's eye to brush and pen marks, glass plate negative, then digital file, and now, a print on fine art photographic paper. We do not know if he began with sketch books, or even coloured the works. It is to be hoped more evidence will emerge over time.” 

These awe-inspiring, large scale prints will go on display at the Polar Museum, including Tromholt's self-portrait in his open-air photography studio. He is posed amongst scientific equipment and fresh wooden construction, dressed in Sámi clothing and gazing at the camera, possibly being gazed at himself by some of those who called him the ‘Star Man’.

The Sámi people live in modern-day Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia. Historically they supported themselves through fishing, reindeer farming and hunting. Today, some Sámi people live outside the traditional Sámi homeland known as Sápmi. The Polar Museum holds many examples of Sámi objects, art and clothing, some of which can be seen in the upcoming exhibition.

The leading British stage and screen actor, Michael Maloney (currently on UK tour as Hercule Poirot in Lucy’ Bailey and Ken Ludwig’s adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express) has recorded an extract from Sophus Tromholt's descriptions of auroras from Under the Rays of the Aurora Borealis. Visitors will be able to access this via headphones in the gallery. 

Prof. Richard Powell, Director of the Scott Polar Research Institute said: “The Aurora Borealis, and their representation, have a fascinating history. We are delighted to host this innovative and timely exhibition here at the Institute.”

Dr David Waterhouse, Curator of the Polar Museum said: “This exhibition combines the history of science and photography with Dr Finn’s artistic processes in order to bring this fascinating story to life some 140 years later. As the recent increase in solar activity makes the northern lights visible throughout the UK, many of us can relate to the frustrations of Aurora photography. Tromholt was a pioneer in the subject – moving to the Arctic Circle in order to study and capture their image. What better timing for an exhibition focused on the Aurora?”

Under the Rays of the Aurora Borealis
15 November 2024-22 February 2025
Curated by Dr Christine Finn
The Polar Museum, Cambridge
Free to visit, Tuesday-Saturday from 10am-4pm.
https://www.spri.cam.ac.uk/museum/

Image credit: Sophus Tromholt, Picture Collection, University of Bergen Library, Norway

The Kraszna-Krausz Foundation is delighted to be collaborating with the V&A South Kensington to present the Photography Book Award Symposium 2024. Drawing together political and personal histories, artists Hristina Tasheva, Alice Proujansky and Lewis Bush will present their award-winning and nominated publications, followed by a conversation chaired by Dr Duncan Forbes, Head of Photography at the Victoria & Albert Museum.

Kraszna-Krausz Photography Book Award Symposium 2024
Tuesday, 19 November 2024
17.00 – 19.45
The Lydia and Manfred Gorvy Lecture Theatre, V&A South Kensington, Cromwell Road, London, SW7 2RL
Free event, booking required
Click here to book

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery will take to the skies and see the world from above the clouds through the remarkable work of Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer. A trailblazer in his field, Buckham (1879-1956), a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, soared above the realms of what was thought to be possible in twentieth century photography and aviation. He moved aerial photography from straight documentary bringing to it an artistic and pictorial aesthetic. From 18 October 2025– 9 April 2026, meet the man behind some of the most iconic aerial photographs, marvel at the death-defying lengths he took to capture the perfect image and explore how his innovative techniques paved the way for modern technologies such as Photoshop and AI.

Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland said 'We're really excited to announce our 2025 public programme, which is packed full of fantastic exhibitions. Breathtaking installations at the Royal Scottish Academy, soaring above the clouds at the Portrait gallery, and modern and contemporary highlights from your national collection at the Moderns. Whether you want to be inspired, find a moment of calm or share a joyful experience with friends - there's so much to discover at the National Galleries of Scotland.'

Image: Alfred G. Buckham, Aerial View over Edinburgh, c.1920. Scottish National Portrait Gallery collection.

This October the National Galleries of Scotland is partying like it’s 1984 with Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection, at the Portrait gallery from 26 October 2024 – 16 March 2025. Step back in time to the 1980s when the National Galleries of Scotland officially began its world-class photography collection. Explore over 100 art works from Scotland’s national photography collection, of some 55,000 photographs, dating from the 1840s to the present day in this free-to-visit exhibition. Marvel at historic photographs, visit some famous faces and discover an exciting range of what makes a photograph in this eclectic celebration of the nation’s photography collection.

Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection marks this magnificent milestone, reflecting on all that has been accomplished in the last four decades and looking to the future. In the 1980s recognition of photography as an artform was growing rapidly as museums and galleries around the world were looking to establish and grow their collections. National Galleries of Scotland were no different. Having begun collecting photography in the late 19th century, it was in 1984 that the National Galleries of Scotland

collection was formally established. A world-renowned photography collection it is regarded as one of the best in the UK, its breadth and quality matches those of London institutions such as the V&A and National Portrait Gallery, London. Due to its original remit to collect the very best of Scottish and international photography, the collection has developed over the last 40 years to have global reach.

Now over 55,000 artworks strong the ever-growing collection is showcased in this lively exhibition which explores the major themes, subjects and processes from throughout the history of photography. Including works by major photographers such as Julia Margaret Cameron, Robert Mapplethorpe and Annie Leibovitz. Highlighting the enticing and universal nature of photography, the exhibition will include six themes; portraiture, landscape, documentary photography, archives, inclusion and experimentation.

Find portraits of famous Scots such as, Andy Murray, The Proclaimers, Jackie Kay and David Tennant as well as fun and vibrant portraits such as Viviane Sassen’s In Bloom. A newly acquired work consisting of photographs, film and performance by Glasgow-based artists Beagles & Ramsay will be on display for the first time. The Sanguis Gratia Artis (Black Pudding Self-Portrait), is a performance piece alongside photographs where the artists make black pudding out of their own blood to explore the boundaries of the self-portrait.

Celebrating the connectivity and nostalgia that photographs bring to people worldwide, the exhibition looks at how this incredible artform can be traced through generations of Scottish photographers and schools of photography. Embracing the eclectic nature of photography, vibrant displays will create interesting contrasts and connections between historic and contemporary images. Discover how the ideas and subject matters that started with David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson in the 1840s continues to be photographed centuries apart with different and modern cameras. Take pride in the influential alumni of Scottish photography schools whose connections extend around the world, making Scotland a significant home to photography. Explore the idea of what makes a photograph, reflecting on changing technology and taking a look at artists who are pushing the boundaries of what we might have traditionally thought of as a photograph.

Get a deeper understanding of how photographers have explored the themes of landscape and environment change including a new acquisition by American, Sant Khalsa combining photography and sculpture. Displayed alongside early Scottish photographs by John Muir Wood, showcasing the beautiful shapes created by trees. This offers a fascinating look at how these two artists explore the same subject matter in completely different ways.

Discover works by revered international photographers, with exceptional photographs from the ARTIST ROOMS collection, jointly owned by the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate. The exhibition draws a selection of works by globally renowned artists, such as Robert Mapplethorpe and Diane Arbus. This will also be the first time the National Galleries of Scotland has shown work from the ARTIST ROOMS collection by Don McCullin, one of the world’s greatest photojournalists.

Scotland is known as a centre for documentary photography and the exhibition will celebrate this with a medley of the best documentary photographers who have made work in Scotland. Weaving in some old favourites and new acquisitions this will highlight photographers such as Alfred Eisenstaedt, Eve Arnold, David Hurn, Joseph Mackenzie and Bert Hardy. A wall of Hill & Adamson’s fisherwomen will mark an important moment in the development of documentary photography not just in Scotland but in the history of the medium.

In the years immediately following its establishment, National Galleries of Scotland received a number of significant bequests which quickly grew the collection. The exhibition will explore some of these major archives, such as The Riddell collection which joined the collection in 1985, ARTIST ROOMS, established in 2008 and jointly owned by the National Galleries of Scotland and Tate, and the MacKinnon Collection that was jointly acquired with the National Library of Scotland in 2018. Throughout the decades, the collection continues to grow and each year new additions are made, with an increasing focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.

Looking to the next 40 years, the exhibition also focuses on acquisitions from the last decade which address issues such as equality, inclusion and diversity. National Galleries of Scotland actively seek opportunities to broaden representation across the collection and the exhibition highlights this as a priority area for collecting in the future. Representation of female photographers has been a recent priority, with work by artists including Chrystel Lebas, Wendy McMurdo, Chloe Dewe Mathews and Arpita Shah entering the collection.

Anne Lyden, Director-General at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: ‘Photography is a cornerstone of the National Galleries of Scotland, accounting for almost half of the entire collection. It is with great delight that we celebrate the medium with this impressive and engaging exhibition drawn entirely from the vast holdings of the nation’s collection. Over the course of the last forty years many photographers, collectors, donors, curators, and enthusiasts have contributed to this important world-class collection which belongs to the people of Scotland. We are excited to celebrate this anniversary with our visitors through such a dynamic display.’

Louise Pearson, Photography Curator at the National Galleries of Scotland, said: ‘The 40th anniversary is the perfect moment to draw from the full breadth of Scotland’s photography collection. This vibrant and fun exhibition includes photographs of famous Scots and works by photographers who have become household names. It opens many possibilities in making connections across our country’s photography collection, sharing highlights as well as celebrating lesser-known works. We want visitors to join us in celebrating the collection and take pride in Scotland’s contribution to photography worldwide.’

This exhibition is funded by The Morton Charitable Trust and the players of the People’s Postcode Lottery

Supporting the exhibition are a series of live, online and hybrid events and workships including: an opening talk Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection (hybrid, free). Join a panel of invited speakers to mark the opening of our Celebrating 40 Years of Scotland’s Photography Collection exhibition. The conversation will look at the national photography collection in the context of the 1980s.

Read more: https://www.nationalgalleries.org/exhibition/celebrating-40-years-scotlands-photography-collection
See a STV piece on the exhibition: https://news.stv.tv/east-central/exhibition-celebrating-40-years-of-scotlands-national-photography-collection

Image: (Top:) CC:  David Octavius Hill & Robert Adamson / Jeanie Wilson [Newhaven 15]; (lower:) Oscar Marzaroli, The Castlemilk Lads, 1963. Purchased 1985 © Estate of Oscar Marzaroli.