Gezicht op Levuka before 1899

This photograph of Levuka, Fiji, was made by W. McM. Woodworth, and it is one of many documenting Fiji's landscape and culture. What strikes me about this image is the directness of its composition, the tonal range achieved through the chemical processes of photography, and the layers of labor embedded in its making. In the past, photography involved a complex interplay of chemistry, optics, and manual skill, where each print required careful control to achieve the desired aesthetic effect. The final print is achieved through processes requiring exact timing and precision. Beyond the technical skill, the image raises questions about the colonial gaze and the representation of landscapes for distant audiences, turning the island into an object of consumption. Considering the image in this way enables us to see the wider social and cultural context, challenging traditional notions of art and design.