Edinburgh Photographic Societies
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Museum of Edinburgh Talk PAGE INDEX
The History of Edinburgh Old Town & Royal Mile in Pictures |
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Lots of photos to see. |
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Talbot, Daguerre, Hill & Adamson, Engravings. |
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Edinburgh Calotype Club |
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Dumbiedykes, |
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Shops, Shops and Cars, |
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Festivals and Processions, |
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Castle to Palace |
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Royal Mile. |
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Edinburgh Photographic Societies |
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Edinburgh Calotype Club - Photographic Society of Scotland - Edinburgh Photographic Society |
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EDINBURGH CALOTYPE CLUB |
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Edinburgh Calotype Club Early-1840s |
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Founding of the Club A group of legal men from Edinburgh visited Sir David Brewster in St Andrews in the early-1840s. They then formed the Edinburgh Calotype Club, the first photographic society in the world. Members met in each other's houses to discuss their calotype photography and compile albums of their work. Calotype Club Albums It is believed that the Edinburgh Calotype Club compiled three albums of their work. Two have survived. It is only about twelve years ago that the second of these turned up at auction after having been undiscovered for many years, so perhaps the third album will turn up one day! - The Edinburgh Room at Edinburgh Central Library acquired their Edinburgh Calotype Club album in 1952. It contains 126 calotypes, mounted about three to a page on large pages.
- The Edinburgh Calotype Club Album now in the
collection of the National Library of Scotland is similar but contains
206 photos. It was found in a private
collection of books in England then auctioned by Dominic Winter in
December 2001. Here are a few photos from the Edinburgh Calotype Club Albums. These photos are quite small, perhaps about 4 ins x 3 ins. Hugh Lyon Playfair with Cello
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to the Trustees of the National Library of Scotland George Heriot's Hospital
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to the Trustees of the National Library of Scotland Dean Orphanage
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to the Trustees of the National Library of Scotland Holy Trinity Church - Dean Bridge
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to the Trustees of the National Library of Scotland Head of West Bow near the top of the 'Royal Mile' and Edinburgh Castle
© Reproduced with acknowledgement to the Trustees of the National Library of Scotland
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PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY OF SCOTLAND |
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Photographic Society of Scotland 1856 - 1873 |
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Founding of PSS Photography came to the attention of many of the public in Britain when it was included in the Great Exhibition of 1851. Over the next few years photographic societies were established in several of Britain's major cities including London, Manchester, Liverpool and Edinburgh. It was The Photographic Society of Scotland that was established in Edinburgh. The society was founded in 1856. Sir David Brewster was President throughout the life of the society. ______________________________________________________________ Sir David Brewster PSS President
© Reproduced by courtesy of Edinburgh City Libraries and Information Services Sir David Brewster (1781-1868) was President of PSS throughout the life of the Society.
______________________________________________________________ Members PSS Members included both professional and amateur photographers. The society held major photographic exhibitions for about ten years from 1856. These attracted entries from the most prominent photographers in Britain. Here is a stereo view of PSS Members on a photographic outing in 1856:
© Reproduced by courtesy of Edinburgh City Libraries and Information Services ______________________________________________________________ Horatio Ross PSS Vice-President Horatio Ross, a keen amateur photographer since 1847. Here is a self-portrait of him preparing a photographic plate:
© Reproduced with permission of Christies Images Limited, London Horatio Ross was elected Vice President of PSS in 1856.
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EDINBURGH PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY |
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Edinburgh Photographic Society 1861 - |
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Founding of EPS Some of the amateur photographers broke away from the Photographic Society of Scotland in the late-1850s, following a dispute over the PSS's rejection of one of the prints for the PSS 2nd Exhibition in 1857. They began to meet privately, then went on to form Edinburgh Photographic Society in 1861. This is the picture that was at the centre of the dispute, a composite composition, printed from32 different negatives, by OG Rejlander, titled "Two Ways of Life".
© The Royal Photographic Society, Bath, England. web site http://www.rps.org. Rejlander considered his photography to be Fine Art, and his 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 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.” Activities of EPS Edinburgh Photographic Society began to hold Annual Photographic Exhibitions. These are still continuing today. These are the years that various EPS activities began:
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End of Page 2
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Museum of Edinburgh Talk PAGE INDEX |
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0. |
Lots of photos to see. |
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1. |
Talbot, Daguerre, Hill & Adamson, Engravings. |
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2. |
Edinburgh Calotype Club |
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3. |
Dumbiedykes, |
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4. |
Shops, Shops and Cars, |
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5. |
Festivals and Processions, |
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6. |
Castle to Palace |
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7. |
Royal Mile. |
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Peter Stubbs, Edinburgh |
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