Rev D.T.K. Drummond 1843 - 1847

Editor: So, here we have an intriguing daguerreotype from the mid-1840s by Hill and Adamson. It’s a portrait of Rev D.T.K. Drummond. There’s this immediate somber feeling, maybe because of the sepia tones. The pose and the backdrop seem quite staged. What stands out to you when you look at this portrait? Curator: Oh, the romance of early photography! For me, it’s the light. It's almost painterly, softening the Reverend's features, and highlighting the texture of his coat. I see a man caught in a moment of reflection, his gaze intense. Isn’t it wild to consider that capturing this took *minutes* back then? Imagine holding that pose! Do you think the formality diminishes its impact? Editor: I think it's a fascinating clash, actually – this highly deliberate, formal setting, combined with the knowledge that the sitter had to stay perfectly still. It almost feels like you’re seeing a performance of “portraiture.” Is that why you call it romantic? Curator: In a way, yes! Early photography shared that sensibility, grappling with ideas of the sublime and the individual. What’s truly sublime to consider is what he might have been thinking, eternally captured by this image! And technically, those early processes are almost magical, don’t you think? Editor: Definitely. It makes you wonder about the story behind the image. I’ll definitely think more about the sitters in early photographs from now on. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure! It’s these tiny glimpses into the past that make it all so worthwhile.