Tag Archives: photography

Early photography in Edinburgh – the story told on film

A little while ago we blogged about the first film in our Early Photography film series. We’ve now published all three short films in the trilogy. Take 15 minutes to discover Edinburgh’s significant part in the history of photography.

Film 1 describes the birth of photography in Edinburgh and the first photographic club in the world alongside the pioneering and world-renowned duo, Hill and Adamson.

Film 2 describes how photography was used as a tool to record social change and with the upsurge in tourism to Scotland, a means to earn a living.

Film 3 gives an account of how photography became available to the masses due to the Victorian craze for studio portraiture and the camera’s now fundamental role in family memento.

All images used to tell the early history of photography are taken from our collections here at Central Library.  And don’t forget you can find many more fantastic pictures from the past on Capital Collections, our online image library.

We hope you enjoy the show!

Early photography in Edinburgh

Edinburgh Libraries have made 3 short films telling the story of Edinburgh’s major role in the development of photography. Here’s the first film in the series, entitled ‘Pioneering Artist Photographers’.

Visit Capital Collections to see many more images from our early photography collections including the online exhibitions:

James Valentine: Photographs of Scottish Scenery

Taken from the library’s metaphorical attic and now Capital Collections newest exhibition is this wonderful album of photographs from the 19th century photographer and publisher, James Valentine.  James Valentine’s album is far removed from the traditional photo album with crumpled pictures of Great Uncle Charles and Granny with her army of spaniels; these pictures capture some of Scotland’s most fantastic scenery, landmarks and historical sites. 

Valentine’s album contains photographs covering all areas of Scotland and all aspects of Scottish life. Photographs of ancient castles, of hills filled with folklore of fairies and magic, photographs of Burns cottage in Alloway and Sir Walter Scott’s mansion Abbotsford, and historical images of Scotland’s biggest cities such as Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen.  Browse the full album online at Capital Collections.

Victorian bridge building

A new exhibition on Capital Collections showcases a fantastic collection of Victorian photographs which document the engineering feats constructed to realise the aim of opening up Scotland’s Highlands to rail travel. The Inverness and Perth railway was built to provide the quickest means possible of getting between Inverness, Central Scotland and further south into England. However, between Inverness and Perth lay mountain ranges and river valleys which would have to be traversed.

Civil engineer Joseph Mitchell and his partner Murdoch Paterson were tasked with the job and they have left a remarkable and enduring legacy. They were responsible for engineering the vast majority of the canal, road and railway infrastructure that took place in the Central and Northern Highlands in the 19th Century. Many of their bridges and viaducts are still in regular use by passenger trains today whilst others are still standing but with changed use. One notable exception is the Ness Viaduct at Inverness. It stood for over one hundred years, but was washed away in a heavy downpour and ensuing flood water in 1989.