"Edinburgh Ale" James Ballentine, Dr. George Bell, D.O. Hill 1843 - 1847

This is "Edinburgh Ale" by Hill and Adamson, a photograph dating back to the 1840s. Upon first viewing, one is struck by the sepia tones, a consequence of the early photographic process. The subjects are three gentlemen around a table, glasses of ale in hand, seemingly captured in a moment of camaraderie. The composition follows a rather informal structure; the subjects are asymmetrically placed, creating a dynamic tension. A figure looms in the background, his presence not fully materialized, introducing a spectral quality to the image. This element destabilizes the otherwise conventional portrait, inviting questions about representation and temporality. Consider the interplay between presence and absence, materiality and ethereality, and how these elements intertwine to challenge the photograph's claim to objective truth. The spectral figure, through its visual treatment, suggests that the photograph is not merely a record but an active site of constructing meaning.