EAP 737 Representing Self and Family Tamil Studio portraiture · 2017-05-09 · EAP 737...
Transcript of EAP 737 Representing Self and Family Tamil Studio portraiture · 2017-05-09 · EAP 737...
EAP 737Representing Self and Family
Tamil Studio portraiture
Between July 2015 and June 2016 the EAP 737 team conducted an in-depth survey of photo studios in 14 towns throughout
the state of Tamil Nadu (South India) seeking out endangered photographic archives.
As a result of this pilot project, a comprehensive survey of 100 photo studios accompanied by over 1 000 digital samples of photographic material (glass-plates negatives, film negatives
and prints) have been produced.These images can be viewed here on the British Library website:
http://eap.bl.uk/database/results.a4d?projID=EAP737•
The ambition ofthe pilot project EAP 737 was to explore the feasibility,scope and extent ofcreating an archive offamily portraiture produced in the commercialphoto studiosofTamilNadu, since theirappearance in the second halfof the 19th century up to theintroduction ofmechanised processing ofnegativesand printsin the 1980s.The projectaimed to locate differentproductionsof black and white manually processed studiophotography (prints,negativesand glassplates)which are rapidly disappearing eitherthrough natural degradation but also often voluntary destruction.
This pilot project was designed around two outcomes.Firstly,and most importantly,a writtensurvey ofthe early commercialphoto studiosin 8 targettowns,aiming atidentifyingphotographicmaterialto be digitised in the contextof a major project.Secondly,apreliminary sample and listing of digitized photographs,negatives and glass plates sourcedfrom three differenttypesof locations:photo studios,private homesand second-handmarkets.
The main activity carried out during this pilot project was implementing the survey of photostudios.The team conducted fieldwork in thescheduled 8target towns(Chennai,Coimbatore,Cuddalore,Karaikudi,Kumbakonam,Madurai,Pondicherry,Tirunelveli),aswellas6 other towns(Chidambaram,Jayamkundan,Meencuruti,Pollachi,Tindivanam,Villupuram).In each locality,the oldest photo studios where sought out and in total,100photo studios were approached over the course of the pilot project.
This survey has confirmed that these unique photographic productions are severely endangeredby chemical,climaticand human factorsand theirdigitization isurgent.The teammembershave noted that in most ofthe cases,either the ownershad destroyed wholecollections for lack of interest or lack of space,or the remaining photographic materialis ina state of severe degradation due to poor conservation conditions.
Unrenovated Studios
Babuji Studio (Pondicherry) Ganesh Studio (Madurai)
Unrenovated Studios
Thangam Studio (Madurai) Mathy Kalaikkoodam (Pollachi)
Unrenovated Studios
Aathavan Studio (Madurai) Rasi Studio (Madurai)
Modern(ised) Studios
Vyram Studio (Pondicherry) Studio Vijay (Coimbatore)
Unrenovated Studios
Kalpana Studio (Tirunelveli)
Modern(ised) Studios
Sivaram Studio (Coimbatore)
IAB Photo PVT.LTD.(Coimbatore)
Studio Photographers
Vamana studio (Madurai) Mathi Kalaikkoodam Studio (Pollachi)
Star studio (Pondicherry)
Studio Photographers
Raju’s Electric Studio (Coimbatore) Kumar Studio (Madurai)
Moon Light studio (Madurai) Ganga studio (Madurai)
Studio Photographer Membership Card
Rasi Studio (Madurai)
Studio Opening Invitation
Moon Light Studio (Madurai)
Vijaya Studio (Pondicherry), Thangam and Rasi Studio (Madurai)
Studio Interiors and backdrops
Studio interiors
R.T. Velu studio (Villupuram)
Ganga studio (Chennai)
Saratha studio (Cuddalore)
Dark room equipment
Wall mount enlargerMoonlight Studio (Madurai)
Black & White enlarger Aathavan Studio (Madurai)
Dark room equipment
Black and white enlargerJothi Studio (Tindivanam)
Colour Enlarger
Saratha Studio (Cuddalore)
Darkroom EquipmentMoon light studio (1964) Madurai
Nathan Studio (Jayankondam)
Camera Archives
Rasi studio (Madurai) Annai Studio (Cuddalore)
Camera Archives
Jothi Studio (Tindivanam)Marar Studio (Tirunelveli)
Field Camera
Sen studio (Chennai) G.K. Vale & Co (Chennai)
Field Camera with Lens
Jothi Studio (Tindivanam)
Wooden stand & Field camera
Moon Light Studio (Madurai)
Jothi Studio (Tindivanam)
Studio Archives
Film & glass plates negatives, I.D. photo envellops, cardboard frames
Studio Archives
Film negatives
Studio ArchivesStorage (outside and inside) of negatives
Studio Archives
Film negatives
Studio Archives
Glass plate negatives
Studio Archives
A glass plate negative
Studio Archives
Glass plate negatives
Colour slides
Vignetted portraits(Negative masked with black paper)
Studio Archives
Studio Archives
Photographic prints
Photographic prints on studio doors
Studio Archives
Over painted black & white photographic print
Studio Archives
Studio survey
Crown Studio - Coimbatore
Vijaya Studio - Pondicherry Annai Studio - Cuddalore
Balaji Studio - Chennai
Digitization Process
Vasan Studio - Karaikkudi
Studio Archives
Original film negative Positive obtained in Adobe Lightroom
Studio Archives
Original glass plate negative Positive obtained in Adobe Lightroom
Studio Archives
Original film negative Positive obtained in Adobe Lightroom
Studio Archives
Original glass plate negative Positive obtained in Adobe Lightroom
Studio Archives
Positive obtained in Adobe Lightroom
Original glass plate negative
Digital images of prints
Digital images of photo prints
Digital images of photo prints
Digital images of photo prints
Digital images of photo prints
Digital images of photo prints