Samuel Bourne

Samuel Bourne was a British photographer he worked in the late 1800s and into the early 1900s. He is most famous for his time spent in India photographing many landscapes and temples (1863-1870). Pictured to the left is a Brahmanical Temple in Gwailor, India. His images were extremely interesting to me because I took multiple classes at the UW about the Indian subcontinent. I find the area fascinating and these old photographs create a dramatic landscape for these images to form on. The contrast is just about right and you are able to see every detail in the intricate carving on the walls, floors and ceiling. These images leave a some-what eery feeling, you can tell there is life in this temple, some-sort-of magic within the walls.

This picture here on the right is in Calcutta, India. To me it sort of looks like a bulldozer came through the forest, or almost like some sort of battle was fought here. I don't think either of these are the case, but the way the trees are laid out and the muddy banks of puddles sit on the ground, makes me wonder....What happened here!?!

This picture here on the left is the Gateway to the Hooseinabad Bazaar in Lucknow. Again, the intricacies and the symmetry is captivating. The ornate architecture is such a beautiful subject matter and he sheds just the right amount of light on it. The sky is completely white, which even though part of the landscape is lost, I like it this way because the gateway pops against the white background. The beautiful shape the archway forms is outlined across the skyline. The angle he took the picture at gives the arch depth, you can see multiple layers beyond just the facade, if he were standing directing in front of the arch, the picture would not have this sense of rich depth.

This picture on the right is of the Neilgherries lower falls in India. The picture is quite ominous. It gives a sense of greatness and power. This picture feels like Bourne is discovering this place for the first time, it has that magical island sort of feel to it.

Bourne formed a photography studio business in Calcutta, India that still exists today called, Bourne & Shepherd, named after him and his business partner Charles Shepherd. Bourne focused on landscapes and architecture and Shepherd on portraits. Bourne used a 10x12 inch plate camera, he used the Collodion (wet) process. He did all of this out in the field. This would have been extremely difficult and it is amazing that these images turned out so beautifully.