Tag Archives: Steam Driver Alan

Black and white photography, Somerset

MAYOR OF TAUNTON TRIES HIS HAND AT 19th CENTURY PHOTOGRAPHY

mayor and camera and Sam Burton

(Above Mayor & Mayoress of Taunton and Sam with the old camera)

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Taunton based photographer Sam Burton opened his Somerset Arts Week exhibition at Bishops Lydyard Station with a demonstration of how photographs were made in the early days of the medium. Using a mobile darkroom and an antique bellows camera Sam made what are quite likely to be the first wet processed photographs at the location since the practice was common in 19th century. A photographer would have used a horse drawn wagon as a mobile darkroom and produced images on sensitized paper or glass, as technology progressed the practise died out by the start of the 20th century. Mayor (Dave Durdan) and Mayoress came along to open an exhibition of Sam photographs telling the story of a day in the life of West Somerset Railway engine driver Alan (Alan Dorrington) and to take part in the workshop by having their portraits made and processed. The mayor commented (Its just unbelievable to see this process take place.)

MAYOR OF TAUNTON BOTH

(Mayor of Taunton developed as a negative and converted to a positive ) Some 70 people attended the launch at the small museum and a steam locomotive and the Victorian sleeping carriage were open for tours.

Alan 1 POS(Alan the driver had his photo taken ) 

Sam’s exhibition will run until October 5th open daily from 10am-4pm at Bishops Lydeard Station Museum on platform 1, TA4 3RU

A FULL GALLERY OF IMAGES TAKEN ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL BE UPLOADED LATER THIS WEEK.

The exhibition is completely free.- Kindly supported by ‘The Golsoncott Foundation’

Directions: 

Follow signs for A358 and once you get to Bishops Lydeard follow the brown signs for West Somerset Railway at Bishops Lydeard, the station is not in the village itself but is off the main road. The exhibition is in the Gauge Museum on platform 1.

More details on www.zummerzetphotography.co.uk and more of Sam’s work at www.exposure47.com

Black and white photography, Somerset

Mayor of Taunton opening Photographic Exhibition

Its been a busy few weeks and we are nearly there…

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sam post 7-8-14

Films have all be developed now and printing is underway in the darkroom, the launch night is being finalised on Friday 19th September at 19:00 and is to be opened by the Mayor of Taunton with a short speech by Paul Conibeare, the West Somerset Railways general manager. Alan, the Steam Driver and Actor will also give a short speech. A steam locomotive and the ‘sleeping coach’ will be available to look around.

Developed Film

Local press, photographers and local artists have been invited to event, we will also have the mobile darkroom up and running which will also be available for viewing on Saturday 20th. If you are interested in coming on Friday the 19th please get in touch and we will try to squeeze you in!

Exhibition Print first

A reminder that the photographic darkroom box will be in operation on 19th September at the Launch and on September 20th from 10am-4pm

Somerset, Uncategorized

Black & White Photographic Exhibition – September

Alan Photo for Day in the Life of a driver, sam burton
Alan Photo for Day in the Life of a driver, Sam Burton – www.zummerzetphotography.co.uk

Sam Steams Back To The Future

As part of Somerset Art Weeks (SAW) 2014, Sam Burton of ‘zummerzet photography‘ and a member of Exposure47 will be using Black and White film this exhibition will be exhibiting ten darkroom handprints which show a glimpse into the life of England’s Longest Steam Railway. The images show a typical day enjoyed by a steam locomotive driver. Burton, who is passionate about traditional techniques, used a medium format camera and black and white film to be in period with the subject. Alan ‘the driver’ has already achieved fame in advertising campaigns for companies such as Aldi and is the ‘face’ of ‘REAL’ crisps and was very excited at being in Burtons project.

Links to Aldi advert and ‘REAL’ crisps.

In keeping with the period theme of his project Sam Burton will explore Victorian photographic working methods and then evolve the images with the latest technology during the launch of his SAW exhibition that begins September 20th 2014 at the Bishops Lydeard Station Museum.

Background

During the infancy of photography in the mid 1800s it was common practice to use mobile darkrooms; usually a horse drawn carriage blacked out and fitted with a safe light panel for illumination. The photographer would load his camera plate; make the exposure and process on location. Sam will be using 1950s version of the Victorian view camera with the public invited to take part by having a portrait made, Sam will develop negatives in wet chemistry and participants and spectators will be able to watch the process take place. This practical event will open take place on 20th September.

Venue address

Gauge Museum, Platform 1

Bishops Lydeard Railway Station

Bishops Lydeard

Somerset

TA4 3RU

Dates & Times

10am to 4pm

The exhibition will be open for view every day from September 20th to October 5th. I will be at the venue on 20, 21, 24, 25, 27 and 28 September and 2, 3, 4, and 5 of October.

 

 

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Event Kindly Sponsored by ‘The Golsoncott Foundation’

The Golsoncott Foundation