'Two Ways of Life'

and RPS Competition to create
a modern equivalent photograph

1857

'Two Ways of Life'

Composition pictures (where several different negatives were used to make a print) were somewhat controversial in the 1850s, some photographers believing them to be 'cheating'.

But this photo, produced from 32 negatives by OG Rejlander and submitted to the Photographic Society of Scotland's 1857 Exhibition, was more controversial than most.

-  O G Rejlander considered his photography to be Fine Art.

-  The photo had been highly praised when exhibited in Manchester.

-  However, the PSS Hanging Committee declined it because of its semi-nude female figures.

-  The Daily Express was vexed with the decision and wrote:

“O G Rejlander's ‘Two Ways of Life’ was exhibited in the Art Treasures Exhibition in Manchester.  The Prince Consort has three copies of it.

 Sir David Brewster, the President has one copy.  It will scarcely be credited that the amateur ‘hanging committee’ of PSS rejected it because there were half-draped female figures in it.

Call at Mr Wood’s, 88 Princes Street, where the rejected photograph may be seen.”

A compromise may have been reached.  I have read a report that the picture was displayed with one half hidden behind a draped cloth, though I'm not sure where it was on display in this way.

Professional photographers tried for more representation on the 'Hanging Committee, but were not successful, so they began to hold their own informal meetings.

In 1861, they, together with a number of amateur photographers, formed Edinburgh Photographic Society, and from then on, the earlier society, The Photographic Society of Scotland, began to go into decline

2009

RPS Competition

The Royal Photographic Society held a competition in 2009, inviting entrants to create a modern equivalent of Rejlander's 'Two Ways of Life'.

The second photograph on this page was the winning entry.  It was submitted by Dan Ponting who graduated from Bath Spa University in 2008. 

Dan used himself as the model throughout his picture.  He used Photoshop to put the different elements of the picture together, and titled it 'Self(ish) Characters'.