Newhaven Group 1843 - 1847

This photograph, “Newhaven Group,” was made between 1843 and 1848 by David Hill and Robert Adamson using a calotype process. In this early photographic technique, paper was coated with silver iodide, exposed in a large format camera, and then developed. Look closely, and you'll notice the texture of the paper, which influences the image's soft, almost hazy quality. The process wasn't like the sharp, instant photography we know today. It required long exposure times, meaning the subjects had to stay very still, contributing to the solemn feel. Hill and Adamson, a painter and a chemist, respectively, combined their skills, turning the emerging technology of photography into something more. They moved beyond simple documentation of their sitters to consider composition, tone and lighting. In doing so, they were among the first to explore the potential of photography as an art form. This photograph serves as a reminder that every image, no matter how seemingly straightforward, is the result of choices made by the artists, and the inherent qualities of their materials. It challenges us to look beyond the subject matter and appreciate the artistry involved in its creation.