Roslin Slide Collection – Composition – Cultural Heritage Digitisation Service

Over the course of digitising the Roslin Slide Collection, amongst all the slides of tables, charts and the like, it has been the images of people, and their animals, that have grabbed my attention most of all. I have noticed two particular styles of photographic composition that are common throughout; the group shot (still popular today of course!) and the ‘one man and his animal’ shot. These images provide a sort of typology where the composition often remains the same with the people and environment changing.

The small sample of images below gives an idea of the cross-continental range of the collection, although viewing the collection as a whole may be more informative due to the sheer volume of images offering a more solid grounding. As the slides move from place to place, from country to country, we can see how the details change, whether it be the breed of cow, colour of skin or clothing worn.

The extent of Roslin Slide Collection can be viewed here.

'Champion Merino Ram, Palermo Show, [Buenos Aires, Argentina]'. Photograph of a champion Merino ram standing in a paddock with a man at the Palermo Show in [Buenos Aires, Argentina], September 1903. — ‘Champion Merino Ram, Palermo Show, [Buenos Aires, Argentina]’ September 1903.

'Bear with Monkey'. Photograph of an Indian man standing on a path at a farm with a bear sitting next to him on a rope lead with a small monkey on its back in the early 20th century. — ‘Bear with Monkey’, early 20th century.

'Dumba Ram'. Photograph of a small child riding on the back of a Dumba ram in a yard in the early 20th century. — ‘Dumba Ram’, early 20th century.

Muscat Jack, Zanzibar'. Photograph of a Muscat Jack [male donkey] standing with a boy next to some trees in Zanzibar, [Tanzania] in the early 20th century. — Muscat Jack, Zanzibar, early 20th century.

'Afridi Fighting Ram'. Photograph of an Afridi fighting ram standing in a yard with a man holding its face still in the early 20th century. — ‘Afridi Fighting Ram’, early 20th century.

Champion Shire Mare, "Catthorpe Aascos"'. Photograph of the champion Shire mare, "Catthorpe Aascos" standing in a field with a man holding her lead in the early 20th century. — Champion Shire Mare, ‘Catthorpe Aascos’, early 20th century.

Large White [Boar], "Wandsworth Lion"'. Photograph of the Large White [boar], "Wandsworth Lion" in a pen with a man standing behind it in the late 19th or early 20th century. — Large White [Boar], “Wandsworth Lion”, late 19th or early 20th century.

Group of Thugs'. Photograph of a group of thugs sitting on an Oriental carpet in the early 20th century. — ‘Group of Thugs’. Photograph of a group of thugs sitting on an Oriental carpet in the early 20th century.

[African Zulu Tribeswomen]'. Photograph of a group of African Zulu tribeswomen in traditional dress standing and sitting in front of a thatched hut and tree in the early 20th century. — A group of African Zulu tribeswomen,early 20th century.

Rhinocerous'. Photograph of four African men standing behind a dead rhinocerous that has a rifle leaning on it in Africa in the early 20th century. — ‘Rhinocerous’, Africa in the early 20th century.

'Champion Lincoln in 2nd Prize Group, Palermo Show, [Buenos Aires, Argentina]'. Photograph of a champion Lincoln sheep in the 2nd prize group with three other sheep standing with four men in front of a building at the Palermo Show in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1903. — Photograph of a champion Lincoln sheep in the 2nd prize group with three other sheep at the Palermo Show in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1903.

'The Macdonald Family. Est Brounement'. Portrait photograph of the Macdonald family sitting in a garden in the late 19th or early 20th century. — ‘The Macdonald Family. Est Brounement’, late 19th or early 20th century.

'Group of Egyptian Men on a Porch'. Photograph of a group of Egyptian men on the porch of a country house in Egypt in the late 19th or early 20th century. One man sits in an ornate chair while six other men stand behind him. — A group of Egyptian men on the porch of a country house in Egypt in the late 19th or early 20th century.

Bags of Mealies Ready for Export'. Photograph of six men standing next to a stack of bags of mealies ready for export with a train car visible in the background in the early 20th century. — Bags of Mealies Ready for Export, early 20th century.

'Matabele Youngsters'. Photograph of four Matabele [Ndebele] children in traditional dress standing in front of a tree and some huts in the early 20th century. — ‘Matabele Youngsters’ early 20th century.

John
Project Photographer – ‘Science on a Plate’

Roslin Slide Collection – Composition

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