Blogs

This new book uses archival material donated to the British Trust for Ornithology in 2011 and seeks to document and contextualise the life and work of Emma Louisa Turner (1867-1940). ELT, as she was known, was inspired to move on from pictorial photography to taking up serious bird photography by a chance meeting with Richard Kearton.in 1900. She became of the leading natural history writers of her day, illustrating her prose with her photographs, which like that of the Kearton brothers was rooted in her field craft and an intimate knowledge of her subjects. Much of her work was undertaken in Norfolk. She quickly became an accomplished photographer, too, joining the Royal Photographic Society in 1901. She regularly exhibited, and received recognition for her bird photography, in its annual exhibition. 

Parry and Greenwood's biography describes ELT's family background but rightly focuses on her writings, photography and the influence that she had on the public through her books and lectures and her activity for specialist audiences and ornithology more widely. In particular, she was involved in the setting up of the British Trust for Ornithology. After hger death, the BTO and Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) were recipients of her photographic plates and slides, although these are now missing and being looked for. 

Well researched and written this book draws long overdue attention to this important figure of natural history photography. Highly recommended.  

Emma Turner. A life looking at birds
James Parry and Jeremy Greenwood. Foreword by Patrick Barkham
Norfolk and Norwich Naturalists' Society. 2020
ISBN 938-1-9162537-1-1
88 pages, illustrated, softcovers
Available from: the Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists’ Society website at http://norfolknaturalists.org.uk/wp/shop/ at £8 plus postage. 

The Pictorialist Movement in photography took place in a parallel time frame to the Arts and Crafts Movement. However, though both were shunned by the academic arts establishment, the A&C movement never embraced photography, perhaps in small ways, but never fully. My take on this is that the A&C Movement was fully engulfed in Medievalism, which was antithetical to photography.

There were separate movements in Pictorial Photoraphy like the Photo-Secession or the Linked Ring, but, I cannot recall any partnering among these and the Arts and Crafts Movement.

Any comments?

Alan Griffiths the founder of the photo-history resource Luminous Lint writes: While we all go through the turmoil of COVID-19 we each have to do what we can. It is important for all students to have access to high quality materials on photohistory as universities, schools and libraries around the world close down so I've opened up Luminous-Lint.

You can login to www.luminous-lint.com for free with the email address spring@lumlint.com and the password "spring" all in lowercase. You can login here.

This will be available until 18 April 2020 and then I will take another look at the situation.
 
I would ask the following of you:
 
1. If you see any errors or have something to add let me know. I'm always at alan@luminous-lint.com
 
2. Subscribe if you can afford it as it allows me to provide services to those who can't.
 
Other than that - have an interesting time exploring and I wish you, your family and friends all the best,

The British photography world continues to react to the government's latest announcements and advice concerning the coronavirus. Venues are closing and events are being cancelled or postponed. Some of the actions taken by the main photography venues along with upcoming events are noted below. Please comment with details of others.  

Events

• Photo London, London, May 2020, postponed until the early autumn
• Classic Photograph Fair, May 2020, postponed until the autumn
• Photographica 2020, London, May 2020, cancelled
• The Photography Show, Birmingham, NEC, March, postponed to the autumn
• Photokina, Cologne, May, cancelled, returns May 2022
• Sony World Photography exhibition, London, April, cancelled
• Birkbeck History and Theory of Photography Research Centre lectures, London, postponed
• Photoworks programmes, Brighton, postponed; Photoworks Festival 2020 later in the year still running

Symposia, exhibitions (see also venues below) and lectures

• Photography beyond the Image symposium, London, April 2020, postponed until the autumn
• Ways of Seeing: Women and Photography in Scotland symposium, Glasgow, April; 2020, postponed until 29 October
• Kraszna-Kraus lecture, 30 March, London, postponed until the autumn
• Another Eye exhibition, Four Corners Gallery, London, closed
• Conference: Another Eye: Women Refugee Photographers in Britain 1930s-60s, London, postponed

Venues

• National Science+Media Museum, Bradford, closed until further notice
• National Portrait Gallery, London, closed until further notice
• British Library, London, all sites closed, events cancelled. Aim to maintain online services
• Victoria and Albert Museum, London, closed 
• The Photographers' Gallery, London, closed until at least 31 March
• Tate galleries, London, closed until at least 1 May
• Barbican Gallery and Centre, London, closed 
• Martin Parr Foundation, Bristol, closed until further notice
• Royal Photographic Society, Bristol, gallery closed; all events cancelled until at least the end of April
• Imperial War Museum, London, closed until further notice
• Scottish National Portrait Gallery / National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburgh, closed
• Autograph, London, closed until further notice
• Fox Talbot Museum, Lacock, closed from 20 March
• Stills Gallery, Edinburgh closed until further notice
• Side Gallery, Newcastle, closed until further notice
• Impressions Gallery, Bradford, closed for the foreseeable future
• Ffotogallery, Cardiff, closed until further notice
• National Museum Cardiff, Cardiff, closed and all events cancelled
• Street Level Photoworks, Glasgow, closed from 18 March until further notice 
• Hamiltons Gallery, London, closed until further notice

Photographs are found in museums, libraries and archives all over the world and their care can present special challenges. This course is aimed at those responsible for their care. You will learn how to identify the common photographic processes, recognise potential conservation problems and solutions and prioritise care accordingly. The environmental, storage and wider preservation requirements of photographs will be covered, including how these might relate to digitisation projects. Examples of the common processes will be shown and discussed as part of the course. Samples of storage materials and enclosures will be given to participants. Handouts will be included.

The course is led by Susie Clark ACR ICON, an accredited and experienced photographic conservator. Susie has given many courses in a variety of regional and national institutions in many countries and is used to providing practical help and advice.

Courses are £147 each and take place at British Library.

Book online

Enquiries +44 (0)1243 818300

A while back I wrote a short biography of the British photographer Horace Roye most famous for his picture Tomorrow’s Crucifixion (1938) — a surreal image of a naked girl on a cross wearing a gas mask with clouds of smoke in the background. He was murdered in 2002 in Morocco aged 97.  Let me know what you think of the article.

https://pamela-green.com/horace-roye-a-short-biography/

As you all know, it has become more and more difficult to justify spending money on websites, especially for improving them, maintaining them and curating them from one server to another. The Photographic History Research Centre at De Montfort University is committed to bringing you research resources free of charge, as we have done since 2004.

In order to do this we need to find out how you use them so your feedback is needed! Have you looked up Talbot letters, searched a photographic exhibition, or used one of the other web research resources hosted at the PHRC?

Please take 3 minutes and answer just 6 questions in a survey. Your responses are anonymous.

If you would like to write at length about how you use your favourite website, please send an email to phrc@dmu.ac.uk.

Thank you for your time.

Kelley Wilder

Director, Photographic History Research Centre

A ‘collaborative space for the public to explore, engage and have conversations with museum staff’, the new Ideas Hub will house a series of objects representing all areas of the Museum’s collections. Once visitors have interacted with these exhibits, they will be encouraged to offer feedback on their preferred ways of learning about such items’ stories – both in terms of medium and tone.

“Ideas Hub will see us using our temporary gallery in a very different way to usual, alongside objects we’ll have staff from teams across the museum on gallery throughout the week, a collaboratively programmed workshops space and more opportunities than ever to feedback and start a conversation with the museum,” explained Alice Parsons, the Museum’s interpretation manager, “I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to hear from and talk with our visitors about our collections, our exhibitions and our place in the city of Bradford. I hope people will join us in this exciting process and have their say,” 

The Hub will be open between 26 March-10 June and is designed to shape the institution’s programming and interpretation in the coming months and years.

https://www.scienceandmediamuseum.org.uk/whats-on/ideas-hub-join-conversation

An exhibition on Scotland’s coasts featuring photographs and illustrations from Historic Environment Scotland's (HES) archives will go on display at the Shetland Museum and Archives until 17 May as part of the Year of Coasts and Waters.

The exhibition explores the Viking era, fishing and oil industries, 19th century seaside holiday makers, coastal castles, industrial heritage and lighthouses. The archives span pre-historic times to the modern day and gives visitors an insight into how important the coast has been to life in Scotland.

The exhibition features architect's drawings, Edwardian holiday snaps and unique images taken by HES's survey photographers.

The exhibition will open on Saturday 29 February at the Shetland Museum and Archives, running until Sunday 17 May and is free to enter.

Scotland's Coasts will tour the following sites throughout 2020 and 2021:

• Fort George: 25 May – 25 August 2020
• Arbroath Abbey: 31 August – 30 November 2020
• Aberdour Castle: 5 December 2020 – 28 February 2021
• Stanley Mills: 13 June – 30 August 2021

More information on HES’ Year of Coasts and Waters activity

In time for International Women's Day today - 8 March - Historic England has recognised the contribution of women photographers represented in the Historic England photography archive. Photographs include the earliest from 1864 by Miss E Scott (shown here) to the more recent architectural work of Margaret Harker.

See more: https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/womens-history/women-photographers-in-historic-england-archive/  

The current issue of Source magazine (no. 100 / Winter 2019/20) reports on the most recent photography acquisitions and existing photography collections of the Arts Councils of Ireland, England and Northern Ireland. The Scottish Arts Council stopped collecting in 1996.

A tables summarises the top twenty photographers with the most held prints which is headed by John Benton-Harris (80), Chris Killip (62) and Keith Arnatt (57). 

The full article can be be read in Source magazine. See: www.source.ie    

Details of ACE acquisitions for 2018-19 can be seen here: https://www.artscouncilcollection.org.uk/new-work/new-acquisitions and the full collection can be browsed here: https://www.artscouncilcollection.org.uk/collection

The Arts Council Northern Ireland collection can be viewed here: http://www.artscouncil-ni.org/artwork/imu/

The Arts Council of Ireland collection can be seen here: http://artscouncil.emuseum.com/

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