Finding Out About Frederick...

2/11/06 8:06 PM

I have just been doing some research on the photographer Frederick H Evans, and I find I am more amazed than ever. For one thing, Evans lived from 1853-1943, and he was British! I think I must have confused him with Walker Evans, the American photographer who made so many memorable photographs during the Depression era. Another amazing fact is that Wells Cathedral was built beginning in 1180. This ties in very nicely with my class on the history of the Middle Ages. Here's a link to some more photos of the English cathedral and it's setting: Wells Cathedral.

A third amazing fact is that "he did not take up photography until 1898 when he retired from being a bookseller." This article from Ted's Photographics goes on to say that " Evans was an early advocate of straight photography and produced some extraordinary architectural studies. His classic ‘Sea of Steps’ followed many years of photographing the interior of Wells Cathedral."

Here's what the Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia has to say about him: "Evans retired from bookselling in 1898 when he began his photographic career. He became internationally famous for his exquisite platinotype images of architectural subjects, principally English cathedrals, manors, and cloisters. Refusing to manipulate his prints in any way, Evans rendered the cool, massive stone buildings with an unsurpassed grandeur in straightforward contact prints from his plates. He exhibited and wrote extensively and was widely, if unsuccessfully, imitated. He ceased making prints in 1915 when platinum was no longer commercially available. ".


Other information, from the World Wide Arts Resources, says that Evans "became a member of the British Linked Ring society of photographers and was made an honorary fellow of the Royal Photographic Society in 1928. Evans was the first British photographer to be published in Alfred Stieglitz's journal, Camera Work. Because he preferred platinum prints, Evans gave up photography after World War I dur to lack of materials."

Here's a link to more information about Frederick H Evans: Click Here.

I have to say, I am thoroughly intrigued and impressed by this photographer. I'll have to keep my eyes open for more information about Frederick Evans, and I will most certainly be looking forward to seeing more of his photos! Hope I've interested you too...