The First Fashion Photographer was a Housewife

Summary

This video explores the life and work of Lady Clementina Haywarden, a pioneering figure in early photography. Born in 1822, she defied Victorian societal norms by becoming an influential photographer, known for her innovative use of natural light and costumes. Haywarden's photographs of her daughters, often staged in romantic, imaginative scenes, foreshadow modern fashion photography. Despite photography being seen as merely documentary during her time, her work blended art and fantasy. Sadly, her career was cut short at age 42, likely due to exposure to dangerous photographic chemicals. The video also highlights her legacy and lasting influence.

Takeaways

• 📸 Lady Clementina Haywarden is considered one of the first fashion photographers.
• 👩‍🎨 Haywarden was born on June 1, 1822, in Cumbernauld, Scotland, to Admiral Charles Elphinstone Fleming and Spanish mother Catalina Polina Alessandro.
• 🏞️ She began her photography journey in Ireland, experimenting with landscape images and stereoscopic photography.
• 👓 Victorians were obsessed with stereoscopic images, which created a 3D effect using two slightly offset photographs.
• 👩‍👧 Despite having 10 children, Haywarden pursued her passion for photography and created her most famous works in London, focusing on portraits of her daughters.
• 📷 She primarily used a large-format 10x10 camera and created albumen prints using the complex wet collodion process.
• 🎭 Her photography was unique, blending fantasy with reality, using costumes, props, and mirrors to recreate romantic and imaginative scenes.
• 🌞 Haywarden skillfully used natural light from her home studio's windows, creating striking contrasts between shadows and highlights.
• 📚 Over time, many of her photographs became damaged while stored in family albums, but they were eventually donated to a museum by her granddaughter.
• 🖼️ Haywarden produced nearly 800 images before her sudden death at age 42, likely due to exposure to photographic chemicals.

Q & A

Who was Lady Clementina Haywarden?

Lady Clementina Haywarden was a pioneering Victorian photographer, considered one of the first fashion photographers. She was known for her experimental photography, particularly focusing on portraits of her daughters.

What was unique about Lady Clementina Haywarden's work in photography?

Her work was unique because, unlike most photography at the time, which was used mainly to document real life, Haywarden brought fantasy into her images. She created dramatic, staged scenes featuring her daughters in costumes, and she was skilled in using natural light and mirrors in her compositions.

What was the significance of stereoscopic photography, and how did Haywarden experiment with it?

Stereoscopic photography was a popular technique in the Victorian era that created 3D effects by capturing two slightly offset images. Haywarden experimented with this technique, producing stereoscopic photographs that added depth to her landscapes and portraits.

How did Haywarden's family life influence her photography?

Although Haywarden had 10 children, her busy family life did not stop her from pursuing photography. In fact, her daughters became central subjects in her work, and she created many of her most famous portraits using them as models.

What photographic process did Haywarden use, and what made it challenging?

Haywarden used the wet collodion process, which was challenging because the photographic plates had to be coated, sensitized, exposed, and developed all while still wet. This required precise timing and handling of dangerous chemicals.

What type of camera and prints did Haywarden typically use?

Haywarden mostly used a large-format 10x10 camera and made albumin prints from wet collodion negatives. Albumin prints were known for their yellow and brown tones, which were characteristic of the period.

How did Lady Clementina Haywarden use natural light in her photography?

She was highly skilled in using the natural light that came through the windows of her home studio. She used the light to create high contrasts between shadows and highlights, which gave her photos a dramatic and artistic quality.

Why are many of Haywarden's photographs damaged?

Many of Haywarden's photographs have ripped corners because they were stored in family albums for a long time. Only recently were they donated to a museum by her granddaughter, Lady Clementina Tottenham.

What is the possible reason behind Haywarden's early death?

Haywarden's early death at the age of 42 is most likely linked to her exposure to the chemicals used in photography, which were hazardous and contributed to her declining health.

What impact has Haywarden's work had on modern photography?

Haywarden's use of costumes, props, and natural light, as well as her ability to create imaginative, staged compositions, has influenced modern photography. Her work is still seen as relevant and could easily be featured in contemporary fashion magazines.