Saturday 28 May 2011

Sepia Saturday 76: The trouble with animals and children

There’s a good reason photographers were often reluctant to photograph animals or children in the 19th Century, one which is ably demonstrated by blurred pet in the photo for Alan Burnett’s Sepia Saturday prompt this week.  Of course, some practitioners carved a niche for themselves by specialising in children.  The thing is, they’re difficult to control, particularly in an unfamiliar environment, won’t keep keep still for more than a few seconds at a time, and are pretty unpredictable.

Image © and collection of Brett Payne

In order to avoid such errant motion on the part of babies or pets, portrait photographs were sometimes taken while they were dozing.  In this nicely balanced portrait, however, Derby photographer James Brennen has successfully managed to capture a dashing young man in a smart outfit with his very well behaved dog, the latter alert and facing directly into the camera lens. This was pretty unusual for the day – I think it was taken in the mid- to late 1870s – as gelatin dry plates with their greater speeds had yet to become commonly available.  The slightly washed out appearance of the print and the paucity of well defined shadows suggest to me that Brennen may have used reflective lighting panels, or more likely took the portrait outdoors.  The additional light would have permitted a shorter exposure time, making such a portrait possible, but would not have been easy, and it demonstrates some considerable skill on the part of the photographer.

Image © and collection of Brett Payne

By the time this unidentified young lad visited some unknown studio for his postcard portrait half a century later, perhaps in the 1920s or 1930s, artificial lighting was being used for visual effect, rather than to freeze motion.  However, the photographer still found it convenient to have stuffed dog on wheels to grab the attention of his young subjects.  The promise of a play with the toy afterwards no doubt encouraged the boy to stand where and how he was told, and give a most rewarding smile when prompted.

17 comments:

  1. Both photographs are very interesting, but the second one is my favourite. That little chap with the winning smile - the photographer clicked at just the right second!

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  2. Those are nice complementary poses for the man and dog in the first photo.

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  3. The dog in the first photo looks alot like the dog in my entry for Sepia Saturday....

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  4. I can see why Rosie commented about the dog. Both pictures are fine for me, but I'd rather have the real dog at home.

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  5. It Might Explain The Popularity Of Taxidermy in the 19th Century???!!! :)

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  6. The clothes on the man are very interesting. His trousers have a distinctive double stripe down them, is that fashion or part of a uniform?

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  7. I love both photos - the little boy - precious. Is that dog in the first photo similar to the Obama's dog?
    Nancy
    Ladies of the grove

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  8. Rosie is right about the dog. The guy's pants look like they were part of his Confederate uniform. The little guy is priceless! A stuffed dog would be much less expensive to have around the house. I think I'll sho the photo to my dogs. Lovely post!

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  9. Having had two black dogs, a black cat, and even a black rabbit, I can attest to the lighting challenges for that first dog. Perhaps the photographer used a toy dog like the second photo to hold its focused attention. Both beautiful.

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  10. Nell - yes, I thought that the photographer in the later portrait must have been good at his job too, to get the lad at his ease and capture the moment.

    Postcardy - my thoughts too. So many of those early carte de visite portrait poses are formulaic and, as a consequence, rather uninteresting, but this one has a little of the je ne sais quoi, I think.

    Rosie - Yes, I saw yours and remarked on the similarity myself, although I can assure you it was purely coincidental.

    Bob - a well behaved dog in the studio is worth ten at home!

    Tony - I once knew an eccentric old couple who had the skins of their deceased pet dogs draped over the back of their couches ... well, I did say they were eccentric, and perhaps they belonged firmly in the 19th Century.

    Howard & MoodSwings - The photograoh is English, so is pretty unlikely to be a Confederate uniform, and actually I don't think it's a uniform at all, with that jacket and tie ... but I could be wrong. I rather think it's one of those short-lived fashions.

    Nancy - I had to do a quick Google images search for Obama's dog, and I'm no expert, but I suppose you could be right.

    Thank you all.

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  11. The subject of posing animals for photos made me think of Harry Whittier Frees who did the kitten, puppy and rabbit books. He assured people that the animals were treated kindly and were not deceased.

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  12. Great photos Brett. I wish I hadn't been so very busy this week as I've got tons of photos of people with their dogs. Well, I have four or five, which in the Victorian photo sector is equivalent to tons, right? Heh heh

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  13. Christine - I hadn't heard of Harry Whittier Frees, but as soon as I did a google image search I realised that of course I've seen his postcards before. Thanks for reminding and enlightening me.

    whowerethey - Yes, I guess that's heaps, and I hope we'll see them some time in the future.

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  14. a perfect themer!! i love them both. and the insight into the process makes me appreciate them only more.
    to think that i complain, in this digital age, of the conditions i sometimes have to deal with...
    thanx 4 sharing!!
    :)~
    HUGZ

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  15. I have never turned to one of your blog posts and not learnt something new and fascinating by reading it. This continues a fine tradition and makes your blog one of my favourite destinations.

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  16. First time visiting your blog also, love both photos, the dog toy in the second one looks just like one in the antique store by my house( Im a toy collector), if its still there when I go in, Ill snap a photo :)

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  17. savethephotos - I am intrigued, and look forward to seeing a photo in due course, if it is convenient. My email address is up there in the profile.

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