This yellowing ex-library book is perhaps one of the ultimate book on the early years of photography immediately after its conception, up until the formation of the Linked Ring in the 1890s which marked the End of the golden era of the English Photographic Society’s. However, the bulk of the book is devoted to the 1850s to 1860s. "The Golden age of English Photography 1939-1901 is perhaps a little better, or reader friendly with a different vibe less around the concept of the Amateur.
As a prewarning, it’s almost an Academic book, being researched from the archives of George Eastman House, with copious references to Society correspondence and meeting notes. It just about manages to contain itself as a consumer read.
What should have been obvious but came as a surprise is that Amateurs were the elites, the only members. It took a long time for professional photographers to emerge never mind become accepted. The original amateurs were men and women of education and leisure at a time when science degrees were not even offered. Photography was not even known to the masses until around 1851. Amateurs led and controlled photography.
Photography was experimentation, the art and science combined in ways we can only dream. The gentleman’s periodical “Notes and Queries” regularly posted tips to obtain a working image. Readers would excitedly attempt to follow every month with relentless failure. It was a science impossible to master without sharing knowledge, that knowledge not only licenced, but restricted socially.
Within a few year’s Dining clubs were formed to share information. Little evidence exists from them except meal plans. Later they formed formal clubs with print swaps which became the standard. As expected, that endeavour turned out just the nightmare you’d expect but it appeared to be a tradition that just about hobbled along successfully for 10 years. Prints were often made into albums that were handed out for distribution at the end of each year.
While many felt photography started full of possibilities and excitement, as amateurs improved each step of the process, they repeatedly fell into despair that the art was getting worse. From Glass plates replacing paper, shiny albumen dominating matt papers, more members left until only those that turned professional remained. Things got even worse when professionals dominated, and a new class of photographers emerged in the Societies. As the upper middle class could now practice photography the unspoken artistic standards disappeared. Societies were obsessed with technical ability. At this point, most of the founders had concluded photography was to replace illustration and provide imagery for the masses but was no longer an art form.
It was not until around Julia Margret Cameron appeared, challenging all the society's conventions that the first rumblings of a breakaway group emerged. She wasn’t an instant success and the Linked Ring did little to help save English Photography. She was part of the 3rd wave of Amateurs who reignited the fight to establish Photography as an art form.
If your still awake, I've started to reach an understanding with myself. Photography is a bit of a wishy-washy art, it earned its place. However, there is another theory that art has ended.
https://hyperallergic.com/191329/an-illustrated-guide-to-arthur-dantos-the-end-of-art/
So it’s a concern that’s irrelevant. Worrying about creating work that is fresh and moves art forward is a 21st-century trap. I need to let go of high art ideas and just return to making beautiful prints.
