The Société Jersiaise was founded in January 1873 by a small number of prominent Islanders who were interested in the study of the history, language and antiquities of Jersey. Membership grew quickly and the aims of the new society soon widened to include multiple new aspects such as; the publication of historical documents, the founding of a Museum and the study of the Island’s natural history.
The museum became permanent in 1893 when it moved to 9 Pier Road, which was a large early nineteenth century merchant’s house. The Museum and collections are now looked after by Jersey Heritage but are continued to be added to annually.
The current aim of the Société is to produce and discover research on the Island’s history, culture, language and environment, as well as to share that knowledge with the community. They achieve this through their active sections, research collections, community outreach and collaboration with local and international heritage partners.
We searched through the Jersey Archives Catalogue to find an appropriate poem/ letter from the Second World War to feature in our film. Originally, we weren’t going to use any archival material because we wanted to base our film off factual history, however we decided that we wanted to make a cinematic film. We thought including information about the war form a letter would be a more creative and cinematic way of showing how Elizabeth castle was involved in the war.
We chose a letter written from Elina Hellyer, née Teele, to Patricia from her aunt of ‘Rockwood’, Mont Cochon. The letter contains news of the liberation of Jersey, the family and life under the German Occupation. We accessed the letter on the Jersey Heritage website.
The Société Jersiaise Photographic Archives in Jersey have a fascinating origin and development. They were established to preserve and showcase the rich history of photography in Jersey. The archives have a wide scope, encompassing various aspects of Jersey’s cultural, social, and historical context.
The early photographic activity in Jersey dates back to the mid-19th century when photography was gaining popularity worldwide. Local photographers captured the island’s landscapes, people, and events, providing a valuable visual record of Jersey’s history.
Over time, the photographic archives grew, collecting and preserving a vast collection of photographs, negatives, and other visual materials. These archives serve as a valuable resource for researchers, historians, and the general public, offering insights into the island’s past.The Société Jersiaise Photographic Archives continue to expand, digitize, and make their collection accessible to a wider audience. They play a crucial role in documenting and celebrating Jersey’s heritage through photographs.
1:
Henry Mullins played a vital role in the early development of photography in Jersey. As a skilled and passionate photographer, he captured the essence of the island’s landscapes, people, and events. His photographs provide an insight of the social, cultural, and historical context of Jersey during his time.
Mullins’ dedication to his work and his commitment to documenting Jersey’s history have left a mark on the Société Jersiaise Photographic Archives. His work, along with that of other early photographers, forms the foundation of this irreplaceable collection. These archives serve as a treasure trove of visual records, preserving the island’s heritage for future generations.
Mullins’ photographs not only showcase the beauty of Jersey but offers glimpses into the lives of its people, his images capture the essence of the island’s past. They provide a solid connection to the people, places, and events that shaped Jersey’s history.Through his technical skills, Mullins helped establish photography as a powerful medium for storytelling and historical documentation in Jersey.
2:
To produce daguerreotypes, photographers used a method called the daguerreotype process. It involved sensitizing a silver-coated copper plate with iodine vapors, exposing it in a camera to capture the image, and then developing it with mercury fumes. The final image was fixed with a solution to prevent further chemical reactions. This process created unique and detailed photographs on a reflective surface.
Technical: The photo appears to have a sepia tone, a common characteristic of vintage photographs. The image quality is slightly grainy/less sharp compared to modern digital photos, reflecting the limitations of early photographic technology.
Visual: The composition is centered and balanced, with the subjects positioned in the middle of the frame. The use of natural light creates a soft and nostalgic atmosphere.
Contextual: Based on the subjects’ clothing and the overall style of the photo, it appears to have been taken during a time when formal portraits were popular. The attire suggests a past era.
Conceptual: The conceptual elements of the photo could include themes of time, nostalgia, and personal history. The vintage aesthetic and the subjects’ poses and expressions evoke a sense of nostalgia and invite viewers to reflect on the past.
Conclusion:
We can learn alot from images of the past. They provide us with a unique insight of the history behind them, allowing us to glimpse the lives, experiences, and events that shaped our world.
Historical Context: Images from the past offer a visual representation of the time period in which they were taken. They provide valuable insights into the fashion, architecture, technology, and social norms of the era.
Cultural and Social History: Photographs capture moments of everyday life, celebrations, and significant events. They document the diversity of cultures, traditions, and social dynamics of a particular time and place.
Visual Documentation: Images serve as visual documentation of historical events, places, and objects. They provide evidence and support for historical research, helping to validate accounts and narratives. They can also be used to compare and contrast different sources of information.
Emotional Connection: Images have the power to evoke emotions and create a personal connection to history. They can transport us to a different time and place, allowing us to empathize with the people and experiences captured in the photograph. Providing us with a tangible link to our collective past.
To create a photography project based on the theme of nostalgia, I can start by immersing myself in archived photographs evoking a strong sense of longing and sentimentality, paying attention to the composition, lighting, and subject matter of the images. I can then use these elements as inspiration to capture my own photos that evoke a similar nostalgic feeling.
Elizabeth Castle is a castle that was built in Jersey, CI in 1601. It was named after Queen Elizabeth the 1st who was on the throne during that time and it was built for defence for the Port of St. Helier. Since then it has become a tourist attraction and museum for tourists and historians. The castle still holds many artefacts and reminiscence from several events and wars throughout history.
Nazi Occupation:
During most of the Second World War, Jersey was held under occupation by the Germans from 30 June 1940 until liberation day on 9 May 1945. The Nazis during the occupation also made changes to the castle. They made it into a camp by adding bunkers and turrets around the castle.
War Tunnels:
The Nazis during their occupation had their POW’s dig out a large area in a cliff in St. Lawrence. This became the War Tunnels and was made to be a hospital. The hospital was called Hohlgangsanlage 8. It was never completed and after the second world war it was made into a museum.
Plan:
My group; Me, Charlie and George, will be going to Elizabeth Castle and the war tunnels to shoot a film. Our ideas for the film consist of:
Hyperlapse of a walk through the castle. A series of photos taken at each stop during a walk through the castle.
Drone shot, if we can get a drone. Which will help with making the film more professional and interesting.
Shots of the Militia.
Shots of cannons being fired. (Could be in slow motion).
Chris Marker, born 1921, was a French photographer, writer and documentary film director. Best known for his film, “La Jetee” which he published in 1962. He is also known for his participation in the Left Bank subset of the French New Wave that occurred in the 1950’s.
Le Jetee:
Le Jetee was a film that Chris Marker made in 1962. The nearly 30 minute film featured a series of black and white photographs with a narrator speaking over them. It is a story of a post-nuclear war and time travel, some of which was used for inspiration for a movie called 12 monkeys, released in 1955.
Made in 1962, La Jetée is a French science fiction short film which was constructed entirely by still, black and white images. 28 minutes long and directed by Chris Marker, it follows a man is trapped in an aftermath of world war 3 in Paris. Scientists research time travel, hoping to send test subjects to different time periods “to call past and future to the rescue of the present.”
The featurettes cast includes:
Jean Négroni as Narrator
Hélène Châtelain as The Woman
Davos Hanich as The Man
Jacques Ledoux as The Experimenter
Ligia Branice as Woman From The Future
Janine Kleina as Woman From The Future
William Klein as Man From The Future
Chris Marker, a French director, writer, photographer, and poet who is famous for A Grin Without a Cat (1977) and Sans Soleil (1983), as well as La Jetée (1962). While making La Jetée, he was also in the process of making a 150 minute documentary essay-film called Le joli mai which was released in 1963. In the documentary, he interviewed random people on the Paris streets with the questions ranging from their personal lives, as well as social and political issues of relevance at that time.
