Blogs

The V&A Museum's Photography Centre is partially closed as a new exhibition is installed. Galleries 100 and 101 are closed while a new survey exhibition looking at American photography from its origins to today is installed - part of the on-going series of themed exhibitions under the banner of Photography 1840s-Now. The new exhibition replaces Energy: Sparks from the Collection. The galleries are due to re-open on 15 June 2025. The remainer of the Centre's galleries - the library and contemporary spaces - remain open. 

Francesca Issatt, has been appointed to the role of Curator of Photography and Photographic Technology at the National Science and Media Museum. The role is a one year maternity cover for Ruth Quinn who was appointed in 2022, and the position was previously held by Colin Harding. It was advertised earlier this year. 

Francesca recently completed her PhD titled Women and Architectural Photography in Britain, 1920-1939 with Birkbeck College, University of London and the Victoria and Albert Museum. She holds an MA in Photographic History from De Montfort University (2013-14) where she gained a distinction. Previously Francesca has held archival digitisation roles at the Universities of Cambridge, Oxford and Leeds (2014-2020), and with the Herbert Art Gallery and Museum which also included curatorial training. She was curatorial intern for three months in 2020 at the V&A Museum prior to starting her PhD ithe same year.  She completed a BA in Photography at Solent University in 2012. 

Her research interests include architectural photography, women photographers, photographic societies, and tourist photographs.

Apologies for the last minute post, but a colleague is hosting a talk on Saturday 24 May on Cambridgeshire's longest running Photographic Studio and the Photographers who worked there- including women photographers Lettice Ramsey and Helen Muspratt. The talk will be held at Huntingdon Library on Princes Street, Huntingdon PE29 3PA, from 1:30PM-3:00pm. Huntingdon train station is just a 10 minute walk from the library, parking is available on Malthouse Close (Princes Street Car Park and RCP PARKING St Benedicts Shopping Centre).

Please see the website for more details: Local and Community History Month Talk: Post Office Terrace, Photography Studio — Library.Live

Auction house Lawrences of Crewkerne has an interesting group of fourteen portraits, described as daguerreotypes (*), on offer on the 11 June 2025. All portraits, they show members of the Clayfield-Ireland Family of Brislington, Bristol. They include James Ireland Clayfield-Ireland aged 54, his wife Letitia and twelve of their children. Some of the photographs bear labels of Mr. Callaway, Proprietor of 'The Old Established Photographic Institution' 33, Broad Quay, Bristol where he was in business from 1859-1864. All are contained in the original leather and velvet box. The lot is estimated at £300-500. 

The Clayfield-Irelands were the main landowners in the village of Brislington (now a suburb of Bristol) from the 1770s - 1920s and lived at Brislington Hall which was demolished in 1933. 

The photographers Cartwright and Callaway are both listed in the Heathcote's A Faithfull Likeness.

Why are there so few women in the history of photography? Scholarly contributions have highlighted the obstacles that hindered women’s success in photography, as well as the ideological foundations of photographic history that have kept them invisible within dominant narratives. Despite this, the role of women in photography remains under-researched, particularly on those practitioners active between the invention of the medium around 1839 and the outbreak of World War II in 1939. This international conference aims to give visibility to women in photography during the first century of its history by uncovering their identities and stories through the lens of women’s history and gender studies, revitalising forgotten or overlooked female figures, and revising dominant historical accounts which centre prominent male photographers and photographic businesses.

The conference draws on the methodological approach of decolonial feminist studies, which acknowledges that individuals and social groups who have been (and continue to be) marginalised face the greatest difficulties and obstacles in bearing witness to their own exclusion. Recent contributions that merge gender history, labor history, and feminist critical theory provide an additional methodological framework. This dialogue has led to the rediscovery of previously overlooked forms of women’s labor, both within and beyond the domestic sphere. Following feminist economic perspectives, we understand domestic labor as a central component of productive labor. As a result, the very concept of work has been broadened, shifting the focus to the diverse forms, modalities, and qualities of women’s labor.

The conference will include three sections, each based upon Fotografiste’s main objectives:

• Reframing photographic history by building a more inclusive, trans-disciplinary and transnational narrative, capable of doing justice to the often hidden roles of women as labourers, practitioners, and entrepreneurs across different photography sectors;
• Enhancing accessibility to archives by creating new archival records and updating existing ones to include information on women’s roles in photography;
• Engaging with local communities by fostering involvement in participatory events aimed at the valorisation of photo historical heritage and at tackling issues of gender inequality.

We invite papers and visual presentations from emerging and established scholars, archivists, and artists. Participatory practice-led research is welcome.

We are looking for contributions that:

• Move beyond medium specificity, offering an alternative to dominant narratives shaped by traditional art history;
• Look at photographs not solely as authorial images, but also as parts of integrated networks of different media, businesses, practices, technologies, materialities, and fields of knowledge;
• Examine previously overlooked women's roles in photography by using diverse sources and underexplored archival materials that have rarely been considered by historians of photography;
• Identify the roles and functions women played within photographic culture, industry, and businesses, and explore how these roles have transformed over time;
• Produce a trans-disciplinary, transnational, and materially oriented historical narrative on photography, linked to the history of women’s emancipation, and deeply informed by cultural, social, and economic history;
• Make under-analysed collections accessible and valorize them by highlighting archival relationships that can uncover new data and narratives about women in photography;
• Question archival standards and advocate for descriptions of photographic materials that are informed by women's history and gender studies;
• Address the impact of dominant historical narratives within the ecosystems of archives;
• Engage with digital humanities to analyse historical sources and propose innovative methodologies of data processing to reveal possible connections and cross paths of women's careers;
• Present case studies that use photography to promote a more inclusive engagement with heritage by enhancing collective awareness about the role of women in society;
• Analyse case studies involving local communities in the co-creation of cultural production in photography;
• Present projects that emphasize citizens' rights to access photographic heritage and their active participation in its preservation and valorisation.

Please submit an abstract of 300 to 400 words and a short bio of 200 to 300 words via email to fotografiste.conference@gmail.com by 15 June 2025. Accepted applicants will be notified by 30 June 2025. Each speaker will have 20 minutes to present their paper. Travel and accommodation expenses will be covered. Following the conference, selected papers will be considered for publication. The event will be held in English. For any queries, please contact fotografiste.conference@gmail.com.

Women in Photography: Practitioners, Labourers, Entrepreneurs in a Global Perspective (1839-1939)

Final conference of PRIN 2022 PNRR NextGenerationEU funded project Fotografiste: Women in Photography from Italian Archives, 1839-1939, conducted by IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca and Brera Academy of Fine Arts Milan

Milan, Brera Academy of Fine Arts

November 20-21, 2025

Advisory Board:
Linda Bertelli, IMT School for Advanced Studies Lucca
Costanza Caraffa, Kunsthistorisches Institut in Florenz
Patrizia Di Bello, Birkbeck College, University of London
Malavika Karlekar, Centre for Women's Development Studies, New Delhi
Nicoletta Leonardi, Brera Academy of Fine Arts, Milan
Kylie Thomas, University College Cork
Akram Zaatari, artist/filmmaker

For more information about the project, to learn about the research team members, and for bibliographic references, please visit our website: www.fotografiste.com

The Eye of Photography carries a report from François Kirkland noting the passing of Michael Rand who has just died aged 96 years.  Rand was the Art Director and Managing Editor of the Sunday Times Magazine 30 years from 1962. 

See more here

Registration is now open for a one-day, in-person research workshop concerning the landmark British photo-magazine, Picture Post (1938-57). Picture Post was launched in the era of the Spanish Civil War and the Popular Front. Conceived for Hulton Press by Stefan Lorant (a Hungarian editor exiled from Nazi Germany), Picture Post had a transnational staff and a global outlook. It was the leading British example of an international phenomenon – the birth of photojournalism and the photo-essay. The equivalent of Life in the US and Paris-Match in France, the magazine achieved circulation figures of 1.7 million.

To mark the opening of a major exhibition at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Cardiff, we are hosting a research workshop bringing together an international cohort of researchers, curators, archivists and librarians to discuss the development and impact of Picture Post.

The workshop is co-hosted by the Tom Hopkinson Centre for Media History (School of Journalism, Media & Culture, Cardiff University) and Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales. It is organised by Dr Tom Allbeson (Reader in Media & Photographic History, Cardiff University) and Dr Bronwen Colquhoun (Senior Curator of Photography, Amgueddfa Cymru - Museum Wales). 

Picture Post (1938-57): Genesis, History & Legacy of a Photo-Magazine
Cardiff, School of Journalism, Media and Culture, Cardiff University,
Two Central Square, Cardiff, CF10 1FS, UK
13 June 2025, 0900- 1730
Free, In person
See the full programme and register here

Fondazione Alinari per la Fotografia in partnership with the Marubi National Museum of Photography, with the support of Istituto Italiano di Cultura di Tirana and the Ministry of Economy, Culture and Innovation of Albania is pleased to announce the Call for Papers "The Impact of Italian Photographers in the Mediterranean Countries during the 19th Century", for the upcoming conference focused on the influence of Italian photographers in Mediterranean countries during the 19th century.

The event will be held at the Marubi National Museum of Photography in Shkodër, Albania, on 17-18 October 2025.

This conference will explore the significant impact of Italian photographers who not only traveled across the Mediterranean but also established photographic studios and professional practices that endured in the region. Their work played a crucial role in shaping local photographic traditions, artistic sensibilities, and documentary practices.

Abstract Submission Deadline: 15 June 2025

Download the call for papers and discover more here

Marking the culmination of a £6.8 million transformation, the National Science and Media Museum’s Sound and Vision galleries – spanning two floors – showcase world class collections of photography, film, television, animation, video game and sound technologies. Following on from the museum’s 18-month closure and partial reopening in January 2025, the Sound and Vision galleries will welcome their first visitors on 10 July. 

Thanks to a transformational gift from The National Lottery Heritage Fund – made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, the new galleries feature over 500 exhibits, a new art commission and a range of multi-media content. Designed by award-winning AOC architecture, the galleries mark the completion of the Sound and Vision project and they explore globally significant stories of technological innovation and social change.

The displays have been created in collaboration with key audiences and community groups, ensuring that they resonate with a range of visitors. 

In the first section, ‘Innovation’, visitors encounter some of the earliest examples of photographic, film and sound technologies and Europe’s first IMAX projector, first installed in the museum in 1983, providing a gateway into the evolution of visual technologies.  From William Henry Fox Talbot’s earliest photographic negatives to Louis Le Prince’s single lens cine camera – a world first which captured moving film footage in Leeds – visitors can explore the origins of media technologies.  Other highlights include the camera used by Herbert Ponting to document Scott’s Antarctic Expedition in 1910 and John Logie Baird’s groundbreaking ‘television apparatus’ from 1926. These pioneers found new ways to explore and share our world through the media technologies they developed, just as creators and inventors continue to do so today. 

The ‘Identities’ section explores the countless ways that media technologies help us express who we are. Tracing the development of photography from early portrait studios to the first popular cameras and the ongoing development of digital imagery, photographic technologies have given millions of people the opportunity to capture their lives. This gallery also tells the story of home-made gadgets and communities that bring people together through tech.  In Gig Zone, visitors can explore the ways in which media technologies have enhanced our shared experience of live music, showcasing a mixing desk used by The Prodigy and the iconic Marshall amplifier stack. 

As well as telling our own stories, sound and vision technologies enable us to create rich, imagined worlds. The ‘Storytelling’ section of the galleries takes visitors on a journey through visual effects workshops, the sound worlds of Doctor Who via the Radiophonic Workshop, and the meticulous, technical work of some of the world’s leading animation studios. Iconic horror film props are brought to life in an evocative display featuring Dracula’s fangs as worn by Christopher Lee and a model of the eponymous Alien head and torso from the 1979 film. 

Stories can be entertaining, but media technologies have also been used to trick and manipulate and the displays challenge visitors to think about what they can and can’t trust as they navigate them. At the intersection of entertainment and manipulation, the museum’s prized Cottingley Fairies cameras and photographs take centre stage in a special interactive installation. 

Today’s museum visitors are used to sound and vision technologies being ever-present and the ‘Everywhere’ section asks how we got here and how media technologies have changed society. At the heart of the gallery is a newly commissioned artwork supported by Art Fund, ‘Circus’ by Nayan Kulkarni. In this playful experience, visitors move around a room of ‘digital mirrors’ - momentarily becoming part of the museum’s displays, highlighting our role in modern media technologies as both subject and creator. ‘Circus’ sees a double height space opened up between the galleries on levels 3 and 5 and by linking the two floors vertically through this central installation, Kulkarni’s work invites visitors to experience the gallery as one connected, dynamic space. 

Visual media have been used across the world to share stories with and for communities – be it through travelling magic lantern displays in the 18th century right up to the present day with community shadow puppet shows. Radio has been a popular tool for the dissemination of national messages as well as amongst grassroots communities and this section of the galleries explores the rich tradition of commentary by the people for the people, with an authentic – and interactive – recreation of Bradford Community Broadcasting’s radio studio.  

The Sound and Vision galleries have been shaped by the voices of people from Bradford and beyond. Through extensive collaboration, local communities have helped to influence not only which stories are told in the new galleries, but how. The museum’s Youth Forum and Access Panel played a key role in shaping the space, offering fresh perspectives and encouraging the museum to think differently about how to present star objects and stories from their collections to make them accessible and engaging to all.  

Partners such as Allstar and BCB Radio have brought vital local perspectives to the galleries, reflecting the creativity and diversity of Bradford’s cultural scene whilst creating narratives that are relatable to people both from the district and those visiting. Individual contributors such as Paul Seal, a disabled gamer who developed a gaming setup that enabled him to continue to play through adapted technology, also shared personal insights that bring depth and authenticity to the galleries, highlighting how innovation in media technology can empower individuals. Collaboration with the Marshall Factory, a renowned name in sound technology, further added industry insight and national perspective to the galleries. Together, these contributions have helped make the galleries more inclusive, and representative of both local communities and wider society. 

Marking a new era and launching during a momentous year for Bradford, these object rich and interactive gallery spaces confirm the museum’s position as a national museum rooted in its community. As well as spotlighting hundreds of previously unseen exhibits, visitors who know the venue well will sense echoes of the museum’s past, with a Dalek greeting them on Level 5, a delightful new exhibit on loan from Aardman animation studios and charming film footage of the magic flying carpet, captured by the legendary Bradford Movie Makers. 

The Sound and Vision Project is generously supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund thanks to money raised by National Lottery players (Lead Supporter), Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture (Major Supporter), City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council (Associate Funder), DCMS/Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund (Associate Funder), Art Fund, David Family Foundation, Sovereign Health Care, Spectacle Makers Charity and Shenward LLP.

Jo Quinton-Tulloch, Director of the National Science and Media Museum commented: “We are thrilled to be launching our new permanent Sound and Vision galleries this summer. They have been a true labour of love and collaboration, and they showcase our incredible collections in new and innovative ways. Our collections and the rich narratives they tell touch upon all our lives, from the first photographic negative and film footage to the advent of radio and television, and the power of sound technologies to bring us together. Our Sound and Vision galleries showcase how everyday objects have the power to be extraordinary.  

We have worked closely with a huge range of people to develop the galleries, ensuring these spaces work for everyone and that our visitors feel represented in the stories we tell. Consultation with our local communities has been central in the development of Sound and Vision and it feels especially significant to launch the galleries during Bradford’s year as UK City of Culture. We hope the galleries will be a key focal point in our city’s momentous year and for a long time to come.  And we are incredibly grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the support of National Lottery players for making Sound and Vision possible. We can’t wait to welcome visitors to explore our new galleries soon.” 

Helen Featherstone, Director, England, North at The National Lottery Heritage Fund added: “We're incredibly excited that the Sound and Vision galleries at the National Science and Media Museum are going to open soon! Showcasing iconic objects that tell the story behind the photographic, film and sound technologies, that have played such a big role in our lives. In 1995, the museum was one of the first transformational projects in Yorkshire that received National Lottery funding from the Heritage Fund, and after 30 years we're proud to have supported the museum with another transformational grant for these fantastic new galleries." 

The V&A is pleased to announce a new doctoral placement opportunity for the 2025–2026 academic year. As part of our commitment to supporting early-career researchers, the V&A offers a range of doctoral placements designed in collaboration with museum staff. These placements give PhD students the opportunity to contribute to live research projects while gaining practical experience with collections, cataloguing, and exhibition planning.

This placement will support the research and cataloguing of works by 19th-century British photographer Roger Fenton in preparation for a forthcoming touring exhibition and publication. The V&A holds a significant number of Fenton’s photographs, including more than 650 prints in the RPS collection, along with additional works acquired by the South Kensington Museum.

The placement researcher will conduct a comprehensive survey of Fenton’s photographs, contribute to improving catalogue records, and identify previously overlooked aspects of his career. Their work will provide essential research to inform curatorial interpretation and exhibition development.

Possible outcomes; 

• Survey of Roger Fenton’s works in the V&A collection and the RPS
  archives
• Enhanced catalogue entries and updates to Explore the Collection
  (ETC) records
• Scoping report identifying previously overlooked aspects of
  Fenton’s career
• Research support for curators, assisting in the development of an
  object list and key themes for an exhibition and publication

Surveying and Cataloguing Roger Fenton’s Photography Collection
V&A Museum, PhD placement, unpaid
Interviews: 19 June
Closes: 30 May 2025
Possible start dates: w/c 29 September 2025 – 29 October 2025
Details: https://vam.current-vacancies.com/Jobs/Advert/3840794?cid=3279

British photography is one of the features of Dominic Winter’s auction on Wednesday 21 May. In a private collection of 65 lots are familiar names such as George Davison, Francis Frith, Lady Hawarden, John Dillwyn Llewelyn, Hugh Owen, Robert Macpherson, James Robertson and John Thomson, alongside less familiar names working in various processes from the 1840s onwards. One still familiar view to many, shows the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, from Observatory Hill, with the Thames seen behind. This mammoth plate albumen print (lot 165: £200-300) is firmly attributed to Roger Fenton, and believed to be one of about 50 London views taken by him.

Among the other notable items are Henry Albert Frith’s ‘The Last of the Native Race of Tasmania’, 1864 (lot 20: £700-1,000), Frank Hurley’s ‘Endurance Steaming through Loose Pack Ice, Weddell Sea’, December 1914, signed and inscribed by expedition biologist Dr Robert Selbie Clark (lot 75: £2,000-3,000), Sebastiao Salgado’s ‘Mali’, 1985 in a portrait format (lot 104: £2,500-3,500), plus good material on China and Seychelles, good daguerreotypes and ambrotypes, albums and loose images.

Perhaps the most interesting photograph in the sale is a Japanese view taken by amateur photographer and British consul, Abel Gower (lot 22: £500-800). Taken from the mainland it shows a view from the hillside over rooftops and across the harbour to Dejima, the artificial island used as a Dutch trading post, which was at that time the only Japanese territory open to Westerners. The 15 x 20 cm photograph is dated on the mount ‘June 1859’, and taken just before the port of Nagasaki was opened to foreign trade on 4 July 1859.

Due to Japan’s isolationism during the Edo period, any photographs of the country pre-1860 are exceedingly scarce. This is one of the earliest known surviving photographs of Japan, and quite possibly the oldest surviving salt print. Until now only one other photograph by Abel Gower was known and, amazingly, that is the same image as this one, albeit a large-format albumen print. Taken from the same glass negative, is it possible that this salt print pre-dates the albumen print? Most of the information about Abel Gower, and an image of the albumen print, can be found in Terry Bennett’s pioneering work on the subject, Photography in Japan 1853-1912.

This photograph was only recently discovered at the back of an album of Japanese Sketches by and relating to Sir Rutherford Alcock, the first diplomatic representative to live in Japan (lot 257: £2,000-3,000). The album and photograph, along with various family photograph cased images and manuscript ephemera, (also in the sale), all having come down through the Alcock/Lowder families by direct descent.

The second half of the 480-lot sale comprises postcards, posters, autographs, documents and related paper ephemera.

Digital catalogues in various formats are available on the website www.dominicwinter.co.uk.

Public viewing daily on Monday/Tuesday 19/20 May, 9.30-5.30, and day of sale from 9am; all other times by appointment.

For further information and enquiries please contact Chris Albury chris@dominicwinter.co.uk | 01285 860006

Dominic Winter Auctioneers, Mallard House, Broadway Lane, South Cerney, Cirencester, Gloucestershire GL7 5UQ

The Photographic Materials Group is looking for four additional committee members to join our existing team with the purpose of expanding the group's scope and contribution to the field of photographic conservation. Specifically, we are looking for applications for the roles of Social Media Coordinator, Events Assistant, Administrative Assistant, and Treasurer to help us run annual events, advocate for the field, and grow our online presence.

If you have any questions you would like to discuss before applying, do not hesitate to reach out to the group’s Chair, Marta Garcia Celma: martagcelma@gmail.com. 

To apply, please send your expression of interest (max 300 words) and specify the role you would like to apply for to phmgicon@gmail.com. The deadline for applications is open until Sunday 25 May 2025.

Visit the Icon PhMG group updates page to find out more.

Kingston Museum has launched a website devoted to the life and achievements of Eadweard Muybridge, along with the opportunity to search the collections of Muybridge's material that it holds. In 1904, Muybridge bequeathed an extensive collection of his life’s work to Kingston Museum making it the largest and most significant Muybridge collection in the world. The website was project managed by Kingston Museum curator Seoyoung Kim. 

See: https://muybridgeinkingston.co.uk/

A collection of extraordinary 19th-century portraits that radically shifts our understanding of the presence and identities of the Black subject in Victorian Britain. These striking studio portraits, curated and brought together following ten years of research championed by Autograph, constitute the most comprehensive collection of 19th-century photography depicting the Black subject in the Victorian era, including some of the earliest known images of Black people photographed in Britain.

We are delighted to advertise a job opportunity at the museum. There is a vacancy for the post of Curatorial Assistant, a position funded by our award from Research England's Higher Education Museums, Galleries, and Collections Fund. The role will help extend our services to external researchers, as well as assist with general duties in the museum. You can find the advert and application for the post of Curatorial Assistant at Grade D here.The deadline for applications is 27th May.

This is a rare opportunity to join the team at the UK's leading cinema museum, based at the University of Exeter. We look forward to hearing from you!

See: https://www.bdcmuseum.org.uk/news/job-opportunity-at-the-bill-douglas-cinema-museum/

The programme has been published and registration open for the Photographic History Research Centere's annual conference, which is themed Photography, Value, History. 

What is the history of photography’s value a history of? Is it a labour and economic history? An institutional history of museum cataloguing systems and art market pressure? A history of the values promoted by photography as a cultural and social activity? A history of photographic conventions, trends and fashions? Recent publications like issue 8 of Photographica in 2024 and the PHRC conference of 2023 “Photography in its Environment”, showed the increasing volume of work dealing in one way or another with photography and value.  

In this PHRC 2025 conference speakers shall use the ambiguity of the term “value” as a starting point to reflect on the intertwined political, social, economic, scientific and historical factors that have shaped the value(s) of photography. They will use of diverse methodological perspectives to critically analyse what has made photography valuable to a variety of stakeholders. 

Papers will focus on topics related, but not limited to themes like: 

• Photographic values and ethics 
• The markets of photography  
• Labour and/or economic histories of photography 
• The value of photography as heritage 
• Value systems in photography collections 
• Photography’s influence on social values 

As in recent previous years, the conference is offered in person and online, allowing speakers and delegates to participate remotely or on site.

Details here: https://photographichistory.wordpress.com/annual-conference-2025/

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.

The Kraszna-Krausz Foundation is seeking donations of Focal Press books or the two magazines published by Focal, the publishing imprint specialising in photographic and film processes and techniques. Books with illustrative covers and dust wrappers would be welcome in particular. In addition, any catalogues or other Focal Press printed materials from the period 1938 to 1978 would also be of interest. Focal Press was founded in 1938 by Andor Kraszna-Krausz, who established the charitable foundation which bears his name upon his death in 1989. More information about the Foundation and its activities can be found here.

For further details about how to donate, please email: info@kraszna-krausz.org.uk

Andor Kraszna-Krausz (1904-1989)
Andor Kraszna-Krausz (KK) was born in Hungary. After studying photography and cinematography in Munich he moved to Berlin where he secured a job with the publisher Wilhelm Knapp. He edited the technical journal Die Filmtechnik and, from 1931, the Filmbücher für alle series of books. KK moved to Britain in 1937 and established Focal Press the following year. His significant contribution to photographic publishing was recognised towards the end of his life. His archive was left to the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television in Bradford.

Focal Press
Andor Kraszna-Krausz established Focal Press in 1938 producing practical guides to cameras and techniques for photography and moving image. Initially aimed at amateurs, Focal Press expanded its scope to cater to professionals and to include areas of focus such as audio recording, television and video. Focal Press commissioned knowledgeable authors and experienced editors and utilised KK’s own extensive publishing experience. By the time KK retired in 1978 over 1200 titles had been produced selling over fifty million books, in multiple languages. Focal Press continues today as part of Taylor & Francis/Routledge.

The Kraszna-Krausz Foundation and Book Prize
In 1985 Andor Kraszna-Krausz set up the Kraszna-Krausz Foundation with the intention of providing an annual award for the best books on photography and the moving image, and grants to support research projects. The first Awards were held the same year.
Endowed after his death, the Kraszna-Krausz Book Awards continue to celebrate excellence in photography and moving image publishing.  Awards are made annually with a £10,000 prize divided between the two categories.

With thanks. 

I am currently writing the Eastham brothers’ life story for inclusion in the PCCGB’s book to commemorate their 50^th Anniversary. Over the years I have assembled a collection of their cartes de visite, and those of their brother Enos  (1826 – 1886).

I need help trying to ascertain whether they actually purchased a daguerreotype licence in late 1845 or early 1846 presumably from Beard’s licensee for Lancashire, John Johnson.

On 25 August 1845 Messrs. Holt and Eastham, ostensibly “from Paris”, announced that they were taking “DAGUERREOTYPE LIKENESSES …. in 5 seconds, at very reasonable charges, from 9 till four each day”. As the first photographers to visit Preston, their first fortnight was “extensively patronised”.

However, Robert Holt and Silas Eastham’s partnership was short lived, being dissolved on 9 September. Likely threatened with legal action by Johnson, Silas’ subsequent advertisements dropped the Royal coat of arms and any reference to Daguerreotypes, thenceforth simply headed “PHOTO-EFFIGY”.

Historically the earliest photographs of Preston have been attributed to Silas, however I believe that John deserves more credit. The fact that advertisements after October 1845 simply refer to “Mr. Eastham” does not help!

The only reference I have come across to their having been a licence is in Table 1 (p385) of a paper “Beard Patentee: Daguerreotype Property and Authorship" by Steve Edwards published in the Oxford Art Journal, 2013. It was not mentioned in Robert Fisher’s piece in the Daguerreian Annual, 1992.

I would be grateful to anyone who can point me in the direction of, or provide me with, any relevant papers or publications so as to enable me to investigate this further. Thank you!

The Directory of Travelling Photographers. Part 1: 1841-1881 and the new Part 2: 1882-1921 are now both available online via the Romany and Traveller Family History Society (RTFHS) website. The website has just been updated with part 2. Additional records have been found for the earlier period, and for post -921. It is hoped to incorporate these into one consolidated volume later in the year in both chronological and alphabetical formats. 

The Directory is the result of research by Chy Hersey, a RTFHS member, who found that travelling photographers were little known or acknowledged. Several hundred individuals have been uncovered to date, coming from a variety of backgrounds. Some of these had Romany, showfolk or similar associations, but many did not. Some even became nationally recognised or claimed to have important and even royal patronage.

In due course even more travelling photographers will be included when the two volumes are consolidated and an A-Z listing is compiled. If you know of a travelling photographer who should be included – and especially any photographs of or by travelling photographers – please let the RTFHS know. Email:  editor@rtfhs.org.uk

As before, the primary aims are to create greater awareness of the role of travelling photographers within the wider community, and to assist with correlation of photographs to photographers. The extent of finds means that the Directory cannot provide full biographical details but it is hoped to provide some exemplar stories in due course. Both parts have short introductions with notes on search methods and related resources, followed by listings in chronological order.   Brief details are given, usually of first reference, together with source of information.  Entries can also be searched for surnames, locations, etc. The lists include some related details which place the lives of travelling photographers in context, such as their family links, area and methods of travel, perils and misfortunes.

See: https://rtfhs.org.uk/new-the-directory-of-travelling-photographers-part-2-1882-1921/