In 1873 the Société Jersiaise was formed as a museum and library for all types of records, photos, monuments and buildings. A significant amount of their library is photographic, as a form of recording in a documentary style. Over the last 140 years they have accumulated over 100,000 photos of the island, especially in the late 19th early 20th century when photographers such as Percy Dunham.

there is very little information about Percival Dunham was before 1911 when he came to the island, so his birth marriage and baptism are unknown.  He is known as Jersey’s first photojournalist and took over 1,000 photos during a very brief period (1913-14). He had a photography business at 57 bath street when he arrived in the island and had already taken photos for events such as the Battle Of Flowers. He worked for different local publishers (illustrated weekly and the morning news) and eventually The Evening Post who in the years leading up to the war had not used photographs in their papers. Before Dunham the only photos published in the local papers were portraits or promotional for advertisers. In 1914 he left the island to serve in the 1st world war as a gunner. He survived the war and returned to Jersey, where he had married Miss M Mourant at St Simon’s Church and lived until 1961.

His work has been desplayed in an exhibition at the jersey art centre which contained 40 images. Over 1,000  of his photographs are stored at the Société Jersiaise some of which can be viewed on their website. His photographs show Jersey life leading up to and after the first world war which was a huge even which shaped and effected the island. His style of photojournalism which captured people in a candid style was very new at the time which made his photos different and recognisable.

Technical: This photograph has been taken using natural lighting with a more wide angle lens. It has a short depth of field which creates a slightly blurred background bringing the focus to the two women in the foreground of the image.

Contextual: This photograph was probably taken in 1913-14 when Percival Dunham took most of his photos in jersey. In the image we can see Two women dressed up with big floral hats standing by their bicycles outside the Town Hall.

Visual: It is a black and white image with a high contrast helping to give the image life and character. The depth in the image helps to give it good 3D form with the details in the background helping to give context. The photo has an interesting composition with the subjects taking up 2/3of the frame which helps it look less stage and adds to the candid style.