Waves at Freshwater Bay, Isle of WightAt the moment there are severe gale warnings posted for northern Britain. Last night the Isle of Wight and the south coast got a beating with much flooding. These waves bursting up over the sea defences at Freshwater Bay had a small group of photographers trying their luck to catch a big one without getting soaked. Fortunately I remained dry.
Just up the road is the Dimbola Lodge, former home of Julia Margaret Cameron and now a museum exhibiting her work and telling her history. I've long admired Cameron's photographs and was glad of the opportunity to visit the westerly edge of this windswept island and take a look around. As a present to myself I bought two prints.
One is a striking image of a woman titled "Proserpine" and I think refers to Proserpina whose name comes from proserpere meaning "to emerge." (Wikipedia) The woman was a professional model unlike most of Camerions subjects who tended to be relatives, friends or servants. The other print is of Sir John Herschel. Herschel played a part in the history of photography including coining the word photography as well as discovering how to 'fix' photographs. He was also a photographic mentor to Julia Margaret Cameron.
One is a striking image of a woman titled "Proserpine" and I think refers to Proserpina whose name comes from proserpere meaning "to emerge." (Wikipedia) The woman was a professional model unlike most of Camerions subjects who tended to be relatives, friends or servants. The other print is of Sir John Herschel. Herschel played a part in the history of photography including coining the word photography as well as discovering how to 'fix' photographs. He was also a photographic mentor to Julia Margaret Cameron.
I'll keep those two prints, treasures, tucked away to remind me of the day I turned sixty and of my long interest in photography.
