Preserving history in platinum
Amateur Photographer|September 24, 2024
A deep dive into the meticulous art of platinum printing, and the collaboration between the Royal Geographical Society and Salto Ulbeek. Mike Crawford explores how they brought historical photographs to life with enduring beauty and precision
Mike Crawford
Preserving history in platinum

The Royal Geographical Society was founded in London in 1830, just nine years before the announcement of photography in 1839. Despite the limitations of early processes, the role of photographer would become an important part of 19th-century geographic expeditions. While initially regarded as scientific documents and records, much of the work held in the Society’s photographic collection would later be appreciated for its historic and aesthetic values.

With over 750,000 items; from Daguerreotypes, glass plate negatives, lantern slides and travel albums, up to contemporary digital field work, the archive functions as an academic research facility and commercial image library. For several years, the Society has collaborated with Georges Charlier of Salto Ulbeek Publishers in Belgium, on limited-edition prints using the 19th-century platinum printing process. These include photographs from Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic exploration (1914-18) and the 1921 and 1953 Mount Everest expeditions.

I recently had the opportunity to speak to Georges Charlier about his collaboration with the Royal Geographical Society.

Georges Charlier, publisher, photographer and printer Georges Charlier is a photographer, publisher and photographic printer, based in the town of Ulbeek. He has specialised in platinum printing for over 35 years. As a photographer he has worked internationally, and through his firm Salto, published many fine art books for artists and photographers. ‘I was always fascinated by printing,’ Georges tells me on his start in publishing. ‘I decided to buy a second-hand offset litho Heidelberg press. I put it in one of my studios and in the evenings, taught myself how to print.’

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 24, 2024 من Amateur Photographer.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة September 24, 2024 من Amateur Photographer.

ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.

المزيد من القصص من AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER مشاهدة الكل
140 years of change
Amateur Photographer

140 years of change

AP has become the world’s oldest surviving consumer photo magazine because we have moved with the times, says Nigel Atherton

time-read
2 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Preserving history in platinum
Amateur Photographer

Preserving history in platinum

A deep dive into the meticulous art of platinum printing, and the collaboration between the Royal Geographical Society and Salto Ulbeek. Mike Crawford explores how they brought historical photographs to life with enduring beauty and precision

time-read
7 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Life in the past lane
Amateur Photographer

Life in the past lane

What was life like for an amateur photographer in 1884? John Wade takes a trip back in time

time-read
3 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Choice cuts
Amateur Photographer

Choice cuts

How many trillions of photographs must have been taken in the past 140 years? Amy Davies asked some of our regular contributors for their favourites....a difficult task, to say the least

time-read
4 mins  |
September 24, 2024
How good a camera can you buy for just £140?
Amateur Photographer

How good a camera can you buy for just £140?

Three members of the AP team see what they can find for the money

time-read
5 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Round Five: The Best of the Rest
Amateur Photographer

Round Five: The Best of the Rest

The APOY judges choose their favourite images that didn’t make the top ten of our Landscapes category

time-read
3 mins  |
September 24, 2024
Amateur Photographer of the Year
Amateur Photographer

Amateur Photographer of the Year

Here are the top ten images uploaded to Photocrowd from Round Five, Landscapes, with comments by the AP team and our guest judge

time-read
4 mins  |
September 24, 2024
FILM STARS A lifetime of landmarks
Amateur Photographer

FILM STARS A lifetime of landmarks

Cameras that hit the headlines between then and now. John Wade is your guide

time-read
10+ mins  |
September 24, 2024
140 years of Amateur Photographer
Amateur Photographer

140 years of Amateur Photographer

As AP celebrates its 140th birthday next month, Nigel Atherton looks back at its glorious past

time-read
8 mins  |
September 24, 2024
John Wade considers...World War II: Home Front 1940, by A.J O'Brien
Amateur Photographer

John Wade considers...World War II: Home Front 1940, by A.J O'Brien

Say the word 'Wall's' to those of a certain age and two things spring to mind: sausages and ice cream.

time-read
2 mins  |
September 10, 2024