Cornwall by Photochrom

Our favourite photolithographic process is back! Yes, the photochrom, today bringing us views of Cornwall, England. Cornwall is the subject this time around because English photochroms are fairly new on the LoC's Flickr photostream, it's a wonderful place to visit, and I have ancestry there. In fact my great-great grandfather was just leaving about the time these were being made.

ca. 1890s-1900. 

Library of Congress

St. Ives. Source

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The entrance to the harbour at Boscastle. Source

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Calstock, Morwell Rock. Source

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Kynance Cove. Source

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Truro. Source

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Launceston. Source

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Padstow Quay. Source

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Bedruthan Steps. Source

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Boscastle village. Source

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Penally Point and Mechard Island. Source

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The village street in Boscastle. Source

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Wadebridge. Source

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Port Isaac. Source

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Vale of Lanherne, Carmanton Drive. Source

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St. Michael's Mount. Source

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Tintagel. Source

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Tresco Abbey in the Scilly Isles. Source

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Another view of Tintagel. Source

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A view of Penzance. Source

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Newquay. Source

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The breakwater at Bude. Source

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Logan Rock, Penzance. Source

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Compass Point, Bude. Source

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Lizard Point. Source

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The lock at Bude. Source

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One more view of Boscastle (it is picturesque). Source

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Land's End. Source

More photochroms:





Norway




Scotland




Ireland




Tunisia




Wales




California

Action on the Western Front

The misery of World War One is a recurring theme in this blog, with the implicit question "how could they make anyone go through this hell?". Today we have a new installment, from a new source. The majority of World War One photographs here have been official British photographs (from the National Library of Scotland), made within specific guidelines to be published in the press. While there are nonetheless some striking action shots, and the overall misery can't be denied, their depictions of the war are heavily influenced by the vision the government wanted to project--a), that these men are heroes, and b) overall it's not that bad. Most action scenes are posed and/or performed for the camera in back-line trenches.  Well-fed and smiling faces are emphasized, as are peaceful scenes. Most photographs of wounded soldiers emphasize the care they are given. Dead bodies are always identified as Germans; the British dead are pictured only in graves. We've looked also at some Australian WWI photographs, American ones, and even French autochromes, all fitting into this trend. 

Recently, though, I found a set of Canadian WWI photographs, from Library and Archives Canada (who are on Flickr, but not the Commons). Though the named photographers-- William Ivor Castle, Henry Edward Knobels, and William Rider-Rider-- were official photographers, there seem to be quite a few different kinds of views. Notably there are more action shots, taken under fire, more similar to later photojournalist war photography. (even if, as should be noted, shots were sometimes altered-- shrapnel bursts from one photograph's sky might have been added to that of a another). Overall there seems to be a more frank depictions of the honesty of war than in the British official photographs, which I feel is worth a long look.

Library and Archives Canada

Troops dig themselves in while shrapnel bursts overhead, Vimy Ridge, 1917. Source

Library and Archives Canada

A tank in a muddy, shelled landscape, Passchendaele, 1917. Source

Library and Archives Canada

The battlefield near Courcelette, October 1916. Source

Library and Archives Canada

Troops advancing under a German barrage east of Arras, 1918, photographed by Rider-Rider. Source

Library and Archives Canada

A machine gun emplacement at the crest of newly-captured (and dearly fought for) Vimy Ridge, 1917. Source

Library and Archives Canada

Canadians advancing at Arras; one man appears to be running over to check on the body off the path. Source

Library and Archives Canada

I'm not entirely sure what this caption is saying, so I'll quote it fully: "A Canadian cyclist shouting down a dug-out in German for men to come out." Arras, 1918.  Source

Library and Archives Canada

Armoured cars going into action at Amiens, 1918. Source

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Soldiers bring wounded to a field dressing station at the Battle of Vimy Ridge, April 1917. Source

Library and Archives Canada

"Fox holes" in a trench on the front. Source

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Soldiers advance through the barbed wire and heavy fire of No Man's Land during the battle of Vimy Ridge, April 1917. Photographed by Henry Edward Knobel. Source

Library and Archives Canada

Canadians enter the burning square in Cambrai, 1918. Photographed by William Rider-Rider. Source

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Strecher bearers en route to an aid post, Passchendaele, 1917. Source

Library and Archives Canada

A soldier with mustard gas burns. Source

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A shell bursting near a solider in a trench, 1916. Photographed by Henry Edward Knobel. Source

Library and Archives Canada

The first Canadian platoon to enter Valenciennes from the west, 1918. Photographed by Rider-Rider. Source

Library and Archives Canada

The mud and barbed wire of Passchendaele, 1917. Photographed by William Rider-Rider. Source

Library and Archives Canada

A bombed road at the Somme, 1916. Source

Library and Archives Canada

Horse ambulance collecting wounded at an advanced dressing station, the Somme, 1916. Source

Library and Archives Canada

First aid is given to a wounded soldier, 1918, photographed by William Rider-Rider. Source

Library and Archives Canada

 A severe case of trenchfoot, 1917. Source

Library and Archives Canada

Advanced reserves digging themselves in under shell fire, Vimy Ridge, 1917. Source

Library and Archives Canada

Machine gun personnel hold the line in shell holes during the Battle of Passchendaele, November 1917, photographed by William Rider-Rider. Source

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No Man's Land in front of Canadian lines, 1916, photographed by W. I. Castle. Source

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Stretcher bearers and German prisoners bring in wounded at Vimy Ridge, 1917. Source

Library and Archives Canada

The admission area of No. 2 Canadian General Hospital, 1916, photographed by Edward Kidd. Source

Library and Archives Canada

Seveteen-year-old Private Lawrence, wounded fifteen minutes before the Armistice. Photographed by Rider-Rider. Source

Library and Archives Canada

The battlefield of Passchendaele, 1917. Photographed by Rider-Rider. Source