River Bank in the Vale of Neath c. 1855

G.B. Gething made this photograph, "River Bank in the Vale of Neath," sometime in the late 19th century. It's an albumen print, a process that involves coating paper with egg white and silver nitrate, then exposing it to light through a negative. The Vale of Neath was a site of intense industrial activity during this period, with coal mining and iron production dominating the landscape. Yet, Gething chooses to focus on a tranquil scene, a moment of stillness within a rapidly changing world. The albumen process itself speaks to this tension. It was a relatively new technology, but one that required a delicate balance of chemistry and craft. The photographer had to carefully control the materials and processes to achieve a desired effect, imbuing the image with a sense of artistic intention. It's easy to see photography as purely mechanical, but here, the artist's hand is evident in the composition, the tonality, and the very choice of subject matter. By embracing both the technology and the craft, Gething offers us a glimpse into a world where industry and nature, art and labor, were still intertwined.