Man en vrouw op de rug gefotografeerd, kijkend door een technische camera 1887 - 1897

Emilie V. Clarkson made this photograph, of a man and woman looking through a camera, at an unknown date. Photography in the 19th century involved a whole array of crafts. It was so much more than just pointing and shooting. First there was the heavy wooden camera, the production of its lens, then the preparation and processing of the glass plate negative. In this image, you can see the couple huddled around the camera, carefully composing the shot. The dark cloth draped over their heads emphasizes the immersive nature of the process, a deliberate act of looking and capturing light. Consider too the labor that went into this image, the work of manufacturing the materials and equipment, as well as the artistry required to create a successful photograph. Clarkson has captured not just an image, but a moment of collaboration and shared vision. This challenges our traditional notions of photography as purely mechanical, and invites us to appreciate the human element involved in the making of this image.