Life in the past lane
Amateur Photographer|September 24, 2024
What was life like for an amateur photographer in 1884? John Wade takes a trip back in time
John Wade
Life in the past lane

T he year AP was launched, a photographer’s life was a lot easier than it had been a few years before. But it was still complicated at a time when camera owners needed to

be half artist and half chemist. There was no roll film. Exposures were made on rigid glass plates. Photographers were mostly men, even though AP – probably in an effort to drum up readers – pointed out in its first edition, ‘ladies make excellent manipulators.’ Photography, until then, had been a business for professionals, rather than a hobby for amateurs. But by 1884, with photographic processes becoming easier to use, that first issue announced that the number of amateur photographers in the UK now vastly exceeded professionals.

With a few exceptions, cameras at this time were little more than lenses with adjustable apertures mounted on panels at the front, linked by bellows to plate-holding panels at the back. Once a photographer had purchased a camera, he tended to stick with it, with his interests more likely to be in how chemistry and new processes were changing to make it simpler to take better pictures.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 24, 2024-Ausgabe von Amateur Photographer.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

Diese Geschichte stammt aus der September 24, 2024-Ausgabe von Amateur Photographer.

Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.

WEITERE ARTIKEL AUS AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHERAlle anzeigen
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 Minuten  |
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 Minuten  |
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 Minuten  |
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 Minuten  |
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 Minuten  |
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 Minuten  |
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 Minuten  |
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+ Minuten  |
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 Minuten  |
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 Minuten  |
September 10, 2024