Last week we met the students on the MA Photographic History course and what a lovely bunch they are! We gave them a tour of the archive and special collections as well as a mini-session on the fine art of slide handling as well as plugging our volunteer opportunities of course! The photography archives are continuing to grow due to the generosity of academics, Kelley Wilder and Stephen Brown who have donated these lovely glass slides of images created by the Rev. Edmund Mann during his travels.
The two boxes contain 137 wet plate gelatin negatives featuring images from Europe and the UK.
Measuring 6.5″ x 8.5″ each plate holds a slice of history with views of various cathedrals, street scenes, landscapes and people. Handwritten notes on the lids of the boxes give details of locations and subjects.
The figures which appear ghostly as negative images come alive once converted into positives and give an insight into the lifestyles and living conditions of the time.
The detail in each photograph is second to none, captured by an early plate camera, and the use of long exposures is evident in the images, given away by occasional subtle blurring in the subjects.
Rev. Mann’s skill as a photographer is evident in the images and their production but what is also interesting is his great ability to capture stunning images of people going about their daily lives.
Jonjo Elliott.