Character Commentary:
Just yesterday I was flipping through a new book I found called Street Life of London. How exciting! As a photographer myself, I am always greatly enthused to see others in this field of work. What an intriguing frame; a photographer being photographed! He is taking a still shot of a young family. Oh, how I wish life could be that simple once more! With the loss of my father, it is hard finding financial stability. However, I can say I am very lucky to have turned a passion of mine into a career, with the help of my sisters. I cannot help but notice that the photographer in the image is a man. I mean, I guess it would probably be more shocking to see a woman such as my self doing the work, but it would certainly be nice to see woman being represented in this field. I would love to chat with the man photographing the family. I will gladly take all of the guidance I can get. Perhaps I can even show him some of my own work and hear his thoughts and tips. When I look at this photo, I am reminded of Mr. Darrell, a fellow photographer. I will admit that we do have some friendly competition every now and then, but I think it is better described as us pushing one another to improve. But aside from the interest in photography that Sidney and I share, our understanding of one anothers’ complexities, passions, and ambitions are where our connection has blossomed. I truly am content that he and my sister are so fond of one another. Nonetheless, I would love to learn, regardless of whom I receive advice.
Editorial:
This 1877 photograph was captured in Clapham Common, England, by John Thomson. It was first published in a book, called Street Life of London, which was released in monthly installments over the course of 1877 (London Picture Archive). The book was a joint effort between Thomson and Adolphe Smith, a photographer and a journalist respectively. These careers are ironically both passions of Gertrude Lorimer (photography and writing), although she could only sustain a livelihood with the former. The work of these men depicts the lower classes of London in an unprecedented way. They photograph those who make a living on the streets, such as trade vendors, cab drivers, entertainers (Vanhaelen). It would not be a far-off assumption to say that the Lorimers could be depicted in this document, as they are a great example of what it means to be a working-class family in England. Street Life of London was influential in the sense that it offered a new perspective on the poor, demonstrating that many of them are hardworking individuals. The book's impact is can be equally accredited to both Thomson and Smith; for each of the 36 photos submitted, there were two to three pages of written description (Morgan). The pair attempted to adjust to the audience’s criticisms after each submission cater to their desires, but after about a year Street Life of London had floundered to a point of obsolescence. Maintaining a successful business in London during this time was no easy task. Just as the Lorimer's and the people photogrpahed in Street Life of London had their own financial struggles at times, even the creators of this collection were not immune to the harsh reality of the working world in England.
Works Cited:
Morgan, Emily K. "True Types of the London Poor": Adolphe Smith and John Thomson's "Street Life in London", The University of Arizona, United States -- Arizona, 2012. ProQuest, https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/true-types-london-poor-ad….
Thomson, John, and Adolphe Smith. “Clapham Common.” Street Life of London, 1877. London Picture Archive, https://www.londonpicturearchive.org.uk/view-item?key=WnsiUCI6eyJrZXl3b…. Accessed October 10 2023.
Vanhaelen, Angela. “Street Life in London and the Organization of Labour.” History of Photography, 3 ed., vol. 26, Taylor and Francis, 2002. McGill, https://www.mcgill.ca/ahcs/files/ahcs/streetlifeinlondon_vanhaelen.pdf. Accessed 10 October 2023.