H.J. King - Cameras and Carburettors
[Best viewed on large screen.]
This short film is based on the fine exhibition at the Inveresk Museum in Launceston, “H.J. King: Cameras and Carburettors”. It runs until late August 2023. www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/Whats-on/Museum-at-Inveresk/HJ-King-...
I was kindly given permission to photograph each of the exhibits (including video recording the film excerpts that I edited and posted yesterday). They even bent their no tripods policy for me to make this possible. For obvious reasons the museum lighting of the exhibits is dark (these photographs are precious and bright light would destroy them quickly). So once again I was able to trust the low light capabilities of the Nikon D850 to deliver, though manual focus was necessary under these conditions. So every single photograph here is captured by my camera.
Born in 1892, Herbert John King (known as H.J.) was a devoted amateur photographer, though he did in the 1920s pioneer an aerial photography business producing maps. He was industrious and innovative and was one of the early proponents of infrared photography. His greatest service in photography was not some stylistic innovation, but rather as a faithful recorder of a passing world. His historical photographs are for that reason very important.
King’s other passions are also made known in this short film. Motorcycles, and the natural world of wilderness and Tasmanian flora and fauna. The second half of his life (King died at 80 in 1973), was one of distinguished community service, as a founding member and President of the Launceston Field Naturalists’ Club, and a distinguished member of the Tasmanian Royal Society.
He was also a lifelong member of the Christadelphians, and as such was a pacifist and environmentalist.
Enjoy the presentation and the period music.
adb.anu.edu.au/biography/king-herbert-john-10742
www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/P/...
* A note about the lighting. You notice the sepia tones. Some of King's earliest photos are in sepia or have this soft brown tint. This is the result of a chemical process that took place in the darkroom. Its purpose was to prevent fading and prolong a photograph’s life and archival value. But almost all of his post 1920 photos are straight black and white. The reason I opted to go with the museum lighting temperature is that this is exactly the experience you have of looking at these photographs in the exhibition. Frankly I also think it adds a level of warmth (quite literally in fact with the lighting) to the photographs.
H.J. King - Cameras and Carburettors
[Best viewed on large screen.]
This short film is based on the fine exhibition at the Inveresk Museum in Launceston, “H.J. King: Cameras and Carburettors”. It runs until late August 2023. www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/Whats-on/Museum-at-Inveresk/HJ-King-...
I was kindly given permission to photograph each of the exhibits (including video recording the film excerpts that I edited and posted yesterday). They even bent their no tripods policy for me to make this possible. For obvious reasons the museum lighting of the exhibits is dark (these photographs are precious and bright light would destroy them quickly). So once again I was able to trust the low light capabilities of the Nikon D850 to deliver, though manual focus was necessary under these conditions. So every single photograph here is captured by my camera.
Born in 1892, Herbert John King (known as H.J.) was a devoted amateur photographer, though he did in the 1920s pioneer an aerial photography business producing maps. He was industrious and innovative and was one of the early proponents of infrared photography. His greatest service in photography was not some stylistic innovation, but rather as a faithful recorder of a passing world. His historical photographs are for that reason very important.
King’s other passions are also made known in this short film. Motorcycles, and the natural world of wilderness and Tasmanian flora and fauna. The second half of his life (King died at 80 in 1973), was one of distinguished community service, as a founding member and President of the Launceston Field Naturalists’ Club, and a distinguished member of the Tasmanian Royal Society.
He was also a lifelong member of the Christadelphians, and as such was a pacifist and environmentalist.
Enjoy the presentation and the period music.
adb.anu.edu.au/biography/king-herbert-john-10742
www.utas.edu.au/library/companion_to_tasmanian_history/P/...
* A note about the lighting. You notice the sepia tones. Some of King's earliest photos are in sepia or have this soft brown tint. This is the result of a chemical process that took place in the darkroom. Its purpose was to prevent fading and prolong a photograph’s life and archival value. But almost all of his post 1920 photos are straight black and white. The reason I opted to go with the museum lighting temperature is that this is exactly the experience you have of looking at these photographs in the exhibition. Frankly I also think it adds a level of warmth (quite literally in fact with the lighting) to the photographs.