* Wales Welsh photography







Welsh Photography



Figure 1.--This allbumen cabinet card portarit shows an unidentifed Welsh girl who was a medalist at the 1891 National Eisteddfod-in Wales. We do not what prise she won, we suspect a prise for an instrumental performance. She has riblet curls and wears a striped sailor blouse and skirt. Notice the wide-brimmed hat with wide decorated steamers and flowers. The studio was C. H. Evans of Swansea.

Some of the earliest photographic images taken in Wales were the work of Welsh pioneer of photography John Dillwyn Llewelyn. The developmet of photography was largely the work of French and English experimenters. Llewelyn contributed to their work with the Oxymel process (1856). It was a refinement of the collodion process which used solution of acetic acid, water, and honey to preserve images. This permitted glass negatives to be prepared in advance and exposed in the camera as required. It greatly symplied taking photographs outside the studio. Outside this, the development of the photographic industry in Wales was baically part of the industry in England. Like England, the industry developed much slower than in America. As a result, there is no huge quantity of early phtographic types like Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes. Only with the popularity of the CDV using the albumen process (1860s) do we begin to see large numbers of studio portarits. As in other countries. the cabinet card using the same process appeared shortly after.

History

Some of the earliest photographic images taken in Wales were the work of Welsh pioneer of photography John Dillwyn Llewelyn. The developmet of photography waslargely the work of French and English experimenters. Llewelyn contributed to their work with the Oxymel process (1856). It was a refinement of the collodion process which used solution of acetic acid, water, and honey to preserve images. This permitted glass negatives to be prepared in advance and exposed in the camera as required. It greatly symplied taking photographs outside the studio. Outside this, the development of the photographic industry in Wales was baically part of the industry in England. We know if no further Welsh techhnical contributions to photography.

Early Processes

Like England, the photographic industry developed much slower than in America. This resulted from both stronger patent protection on Britain and the rapidly bexpamding Amnerican economy. As a result, there is no huge quantity of early phtographic types like Daguerreotypes and Ambrotypes.

Albumen Process

Thw primary format used with the albumen proicess were SDVs and cabinet cards. Only with the appearance and popularity of the CDV using the albumen process (1860s) do we begin to see large numbers of studio portarits. As in other countries. The cabinet card using the same process appeared shortly after. The cabinet card here is a good example (figure 1). The carsaarev indistinguishavle from English cards unless the studio and city are located.

Outside the Studio

Photography in the 19th century was primarily studio photography. There was sone photography outside the studio, but this was hampered by the complicated processes being used. It was also expensive. Professional photographers could do it. And affluent anateurts could get invilved. But it was beyond the ability and expendituyre of the vast percentage of the population. Dome progrsscwas mad in the 1ate019thb century. This only changesd with the American Kodak Brownie (1900). This provided a simple box camera that any one could use to take snao=pshots. You just pionted and clicked. British companies soon offered similar camera systemss. And we finally begin to see Welah snapshots.

Postcards

Postcards had become popular in the late-19th century. After the turn of the 20th century we see not only studio portaits, but the new family snap shots being done with postcard backs. Thr studio portraits tend to be on the basic side compared to the run of the mill studio portrait. Some might have dates written on the back. Most did not, but the stamp boxes on the postcards can help date the cards. This option provd popular with consuners, but we note that some of the cards were sent in envelopes and not mailesseparrtely so we do notbhave the post mnark with the helpful date. These cards common through the 1920s. We see some postcaed back photographs in thev 1930s, but they erre becoming less common. We do mot have a lot bof Welsh examples, but this is just a relectiion of the small size and population of Wales. As a result er have a relatively small archive. Many postcards and other unidentified phuotographs can be identified as English witthout any accompanying information. There are no substabtial Welsh indicators. Fashion in England and Wales were basically the same. Thus we need some written infornation on the potcard to know for sure that it is Welsh.







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Created: 2:53 AM 5/7/2019
Last updated: 2:53 AM 5/7/2019