Photographers Document Imminent Demise

I find the following article and photographs interesting. The intention of the Society for Photographing Relics of Old London was to document alleyways and buildings before their destruction. It occurs to me that much of our photography qualifies as documentary as well, even when that isn’t our intention and we’re unaware that we’re even doing it. And oftentimes what we’re documenting is intangible—moods and emotions, the way the light looked at a given time and place—rather than wood, wrought iron, and cobblestone.

“The Photographers of 1870s London Who Documented Their Disappearing City”
Hyperallergic Media Inc.


...In 1875, a group called the Society for Photographing Relics of Old London formed in response to the imminent demise of the 17th-century Oxford Arms.... Photographers documented the inn and other soot-stained alleyways, Gothic façades, and rambling wooden structures in glass plate negatives, printed in carbon to make them last.


Sample image: “Old houses, Aldgate,” Henry and Thomas James Dixon (1883)

Very intriguing. Thanks for sharing.

You're welcome.

cool, good find. I love looking at photos like this.

it goes to remind us that we must photograph the world around us today because in 100 years it will look different and those people will be interested in what our lifes looked like today.

in away it's a shame that we shoot digital. that makes it harder to keep photos for a long period of time.

I'm glad it interested you. For some reason it prompted me to think about what part documentation plays in photography, especially my own.

I saw the above thread (excellent catch by the way, thanks for posting it) and was really annoyed that I had missed the exhibition as future architecture in London is a big part of my work along with protecting existing views (LVMF). With a little digging found the following link to 119 images of old London

http://www.racollectio​n.org.uk …/person.html&pe​rson=17010

Hope you enjoy

BearSummer

Thank you for adding that. I've looked at many of those additional images and have enjoyed the photographers' descriptions as well.

Comments accompanying the Oxford Market photograph: "...In the course of its existence it furnished a steak which alone should long preserve its memory—that on which Burke was regaled by Barry, living then in 36, Castle Street, from the corner of which street our photograph is taken. 'Sir, said Barry, you know I live alone, but if you will come with me to eat a steak, I shall have it tender and hot from the most classic market in London—that of Oxford.'"

Tasty stuff.