what are archives:

Archives are a way to hold documents, images, videos, recording and more. Archives in photography are where many old, historical images are held, often in libraries or museums. Many of the images help us to understand to this day what things were like back then and how photography has evolved. The Société Jersiaise archives is an educational charity and is known for having over 15,000 images of portraits of named people as well as images of the island including even bay, the valleys and more. Not only does it hold older images but also newer image that will be held for the future and for memories. It is an important cultural heritage value that Jersey is lucky to have. They have be producing and documenting things from archeology, geology, ecology and economy, to community, architecture and culture for the past 150 years through the form of photographic material. The archives hope to provide a way to reflect on the past life and events through their multiple collections.

artist zoom in: Percival Dunham

Percival Dunham was a photographer journalist since 1911, and photographed events such as the Jersey Battle of Flowers and the grounding of the roebuck at St Brelade’s Bay. He left Jersey in 1914 to serve in 503 Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery during World War 1. As little is known about him, it is assumed that he moved to the island in the latter half of 1911. After the war he moved back to Jersey and lived here until his death in 1961. On the 7th of April an exhibition was opened at the Jersey Art Centre featuring a large number of his images collected from the Société Jersiaise archives. Overall Dunham produced a remarkable amount of images of Jersey all over the island about life before and after the Great War. It is said that Dunham’s style of images was ahead of his time which is why they were so greatly impactful.

image analysis:

conclusion:

To conclude, I think that archives are more than just gatekeeping old photos or documents but a way of holding the history of Jersey and knowledge that can be passed on to understand it. Not only do these photos show us how the Island was back then but they also hold deep stories that are very meaningful to many people and can show us how Jersey has evolved and developed since. I also believe that history in involved in everyones lives whether its to do with family, traditions or architecture etc. Within many of the photos that the Société Jersiaise archives hold we can see these aspects throughout. this makes the images more sentimental and hold greater meaning. Some of what the images capture is still on the island to this day showing its importance to Jersey and how islanders treasure it.

I believe that this photoshoot outcome was overall positive. We got many images of Elizabeth Castle relating to the Nazi Occupation. However, I do believe that we could have done with some more images and also recorded some videos to include in the film.

Lightroom:

To edit all of our photos, we used Lightroom where we could enhance all of the features to create a mood within each image. We also used Lightroom to resize the images for adobe premiere.

Adobe Premiere:

Premiere Pro is designed for a video editor’s post-production workflow. It’s equipped with a suite of powerful editing tools for content creators and filmmakers to organize and edit video files as well as to enhance and fine-tune audio and image quality.

Due to out short film only being still images, I started by importing all of the final edits into Adobe Premiere Pro. II created sub folders for my images so it would be easier to find my images.

When importing all of the images into Adobe Premiere, each image was zoomed in, therefore we had to scale every image to the right size. we could also use the scale to crop out part of the image we do not want in the short film.

I created transitions between each image to allow all the photos to flow together. I did this by adding key frames. I opened up the top bar and on each image a would add four key frames. The first two would be on a inclining angle where as the last two would be on a declining angle, this creates a fade between each frame.

Adobe Audition:

Adobe Audition:

On Adobe Audition we played around with sounds and started creating the audio for our short film.

During the lesson where we were being taught how to use adobe audition, we learnt how to cancel out background noise and add in sound effects. the audio was collected from our visit to Elizabeth castle. My aim is to enhance the audio to make it clear while ensuring it fits in with the Nazi Occupation theme.

Using the ‘multitrack’ feature I began to layer different sounds including ambiances and SFX to create a suitable audio file for the short film.

Using the sound bar I was able to adjust the volume of the clip allowing the sound to slowly get louder or quieter and could be faded in/out. This meant that there were no harsh transitions between sounds.

Once i was happy with the audio I had created I needed to import it for the film but first had to comprise all the sounds into one. I did this by going FILE>EXPORT>MULTITRACK MIXDOWN>ENTIRE SESSION and then save it as a file ready to export it onto the film.

I uploaded the footage, images and audio that my group and Sam had taken on the Elizabeth Castle trip into Adobe Premiere Pro. My focus for this was on the video editing and the sound editing would be done by someone else in the group

I started to organise the video clips into my timeline, removing the audio and stabilising the footage using the warp stabiliser effect in the editor. To start the film, I used a clip I shot before we set off for the castle that was shot to be an establishing shot, although I plan to reshoot this before I finish editing as the camera is too unstable to achieve a clean look. I had this clip fade in from from black to smoothly start the film.

I put together a sequence of the trip on the amphibious bus travelling through the sea before we arrived at the castle gate, which then moves onto a shot of the coast, one of the peak of the castle and the Union Jack flag raised up on a pole. The next segment features one of the ‘British Army’ soldiers working for the castle giving a demonstration on how to operate a 19th Century musket.

This next part of the timeline shows more of the same as the soldier gives the demonstration, however, I also placed clips of the soldier giving a demonstration with one of the castle’s cannons intersecting with these clips to create a build-up as they prepare to fire, before the tension is released with four clips of the weapons firing on different occasions – two of the cannon and musket firing respectively. I used editing techniques such as speed ramping to slow down and speed up the footage and different moments when the musket fires for the first time – slowing down just as it fires, speeding back up after the smoke has mostly cleared. For the cannon’s first shot, I recorded it using the slow-motion camera on my phone, which ended up sacrificing some of the video quality so I could be a safe distance away from the shockwave zone.

I then segued the narrative toward the small war museum in the courtyard, that displays the various artillery used in WWII and in the castle throughout the years, before moving back to more panning shots of different areas and viewpoints of the castle, including staircases, old living quarters, and a view of the coast before slowly fading back to black.

For the sound design of the film, we plan to compose a relatively basic score that creates a sense of adventure across the entire project, focusing more on the ambient sound and a voiceover to provide more context to the shots of the soldier and the museum. We plan to try and rely more on our own sounds that we recorded whilst at the castle, instead of what’s been given to us through Sam’s sound library.

Outcome

I believe that this photoshoot outcome was overall positive. We got many images of Elizabeth Castle relating to the Nazi Occupation. However, I do believe that we could have done with some more images and also recorded some videos to include in the film.

The Societe Jersiaise photographic archive was established in 1873, they serve as an important resource providing information and artefacts on Jersey’s heritage open to the Jersey community. The material that is collected includes drawings, photographs, documents, paintings and records, making it much easier for people to look into the history and play a significant role in our cultural heritage. the archives play an important role on improving our knowledge of the past meaning having a more informed perspective on both the future and the present.

The impressive work of the archive to preserve the islands history has an impact on the local art scene which strengthens this connection between art and history, the Archisle contemporary art programme hosted by societe Jersiaise since its foundation in 2001 has commissioned renowned artists such as Martin Parr, Tom Pope and Michelle Sank which created artwork to create the vibe of Jersey.

What I really find fascinating is that the photographic archive captures a range of subjects such as documentation such as the islands wildlife, the geography of the island, images of the local population and also significant historical island events. Societe Jersiaise aims and goals are to (“produce and facilitate research on the Island’s history, culture, language, and environment; and to share that knowledge with the widest possible audience for the benefit of our island community”). And what I really like is how this is represented in the Societe active engagement with the local community. This engagement is an ongoing participation in community outreach programmes research initiatives and collaborations with various local partners. There are also conservation and care given to donated artefacts and the Societe members contribute significantly to the communities appreciation of its heritage. This community acts as a cycle of people giving material to be preserved allowing others to learn and inspire them to grow their knowledge and give back to the Societe.

While I was researching the history behind important figures of Societe Jersiaise I stumbled upon the name of Ernest Badoux. Born in 1828, he conducted his photographic work in jersey starting in 1829. Ernest had a total of 1350 of his images primarily focusing on portraits, these are accessible to view on the jersey heritage website. These portraits were only available for the wealthier inhabitants of the island. Although he did focus on portraits, these are some works of his which include landscaped, mainly client’s residences as well as documenting significant events happening at the time. These scenes when put together hold great value as they tell the story of the islands historical transformations. Because of the amount and quality of Badoux’s imagery, it is a greta resource for other people and it shows how the archives serve as a library of knowledge and experimental understanding.

This image, taken by Ernest Badoux in 1886 is one of the many interesting images produced by him but also another historic photograph that takes us back. Although there is not much actual history shown in the photograph meaning there is no specific landmarks or other historic scenery that makes the picture look vintage. With little infrastructure, it focuses on the natural beauty and wildness of the island, however this can be deceiving as the contents of the image itself do not reflect the time at which the image was taken like the other images that I came across which included victorian buildings and portraits of people. What made me choose this image is that although it is a very old image, it still shows the beauty of nature seen in the present day, it is showing one of the only aspects that remain the same. As the image is composed of mainly crashing waves and the violent sea, we can see a glimpse of vague infrastructure in the background. What I find interesting is that the same image image could be produced in the present day with the right equipment whereas other images freeze time, this one feels different as it is relatable to the present day. The photograph itself is bathed in soft hues of late 19th century, his composition skilfully balances the natural elements and human presence with the nature dominating the image but influence of human kind being shown through the buildings, this reflects Badoux’s signature approach of storytelling through images.

The play of the daylight and shadows reveals details casting a nostalgic glow over the waves and rustic architecture in the background. (Le Collete 1886) stands as a testament to Badoux’s ability to transcend the boundaries of a single frame, giving an emotional reflection on the historical aspect of Jersey but mainly timeless beauty in its landscapes.

When taking a leap into early photographic processes, such as daguerreotype, calotype, salt paper prints, wet plate collodion, albumen prints, autochrome and colour transparencies archival imagery is is great record of each . Ernest Badoux uded a chromotype process, also known as “carbon printing”. These produced a sepia tone print with a metallic-like finish. It is amazing that we are able to go back in time through the different processes and photographic evolution, by having records of it, enabled by the jersey archive, and archives all around the world.

In conclusion, the significance of photographic archives, are for the historical images that open many paths into the past, opening windows for peoples understandings of their origins and connecting with their artistic inspiration. For photographers, these archives hold very valuable resources as many photographers and artists incorporate archival material into their works. By people using archival images, it hightens the meanings of the paths and ensures the history is preserved and is not forgotten, this is a pivotal role of archives, shaping our perception of the island and its history. No matter if one is native to jersey, these archives hold significance in illustrating how our island once functioned. They serve as a vital compass guiding us through the historical maze of our island, making them an invaluable resource for our research and exploration.

What is an Archive?

Archives are organized collections of historical records, documents, and other materials that are preserved and maintained for research, historical, and cultural purposes. These collections may be physical, digital, or a combination of both, and they serve as important repositories of information and knowledge. One of the primary functions of archives is to preserve historical materials. Archivists use specialized techniques and storage methods to protect documents and artifacts from deterioration, damage, and loss. This may involve climate control, conservation efforts, and digitization to ensure long-term accessibility.

What are the functions and purposes of photo archives?

Preservation of visual history/ education:

Photo archives are collections of images that document historical events, people, places, and cultures. Their primary purpose is to preserve visual records for future generations, ensuring that important moments of history are not lost. They are also very valuable sources of information for historians, educators, students and researches as they provide visual evidence and allow access to materials that can be used to study and learn about specific moments in history.

Journalism and Media/ legal:

News organizations and media outlets frequently use and rely on photo archives to access images for news stories, documentaries, and other media productions. by using archival images, it allows the person viewing/ consuming the media to add some visual context to news events ect. Furthermore, photos are often used as evidence in legal cases, insurance claims, and property documentation. photo archives can be crucial in verifying the accuracy and authenticity of visual evidence.

How are archives a repository of knowledge?

Archives serve as repositories of knowledge by preserving and organizing historical records, documents, and materials. Archives protect valuable information from deterioration and loss due to ageing or erosion/ environmental factors. ensuring that knowledge is available for future generations. By having archives it provides a structured and organised system to find and access information.

Jersey archive

The Société Jersiaise was founded in January 1873 by a small number of prominent Islanders who were interested in the study of the history, the language and the antiquities of Jersey.  Membership grew quickly and the aims of the new society soon widened to include the publication of historical documents, the founding of a Museum, and the study of the Island’s natural history.  Their first Bulletin Annuel was issued in 1875 and continues to be the main record of our activities. However, In 1992 the Photographic Archive (SJPA) was established to implement appropriate collections management policies for the photographic collections held by the Société Jersiaise Library. From its foundation, the Société actively encouraged the use of photography in achieving its aims, resulting in the natural accrual of photographic materials. In 1927 Emile F. Guiton was appointed to manage the Library’s first cabinet for housing photographic records. The collection acted as both a repository of research resources relating to Jersey, and as a record of the work carried out by the Société’s Sections and Departments. Today the SJPA is responsible for over 140,000 records and is Jersey’s primary repository for photographic materials; as described in the shared collections management policy between Jersey Heritage and the Société Jersiaise, which came into effect in 2019. 

What i found was interesting about the Jersey Archive was how it is looked after by people from the jersey community, and how, many people donate artefacts for them to be preserved in the correct conditions which further allows it to be enjoyed by more people. Another thing that i thought was really interesting was, if Jersey societie was not created many of these images would have been lost and we would not know as much history about the Island we live on.

Ernest Badoux

Born in France, 1828, Ernest Badoux moved to Jersey in 1869 where he made his living as a portraitist, and took pictures of affluent islanders’ houses. Baudoux’s work was of the highest quality, and many of the surviving images are in superb collection. The portraits, most of which have names inscribed on the backs (although often only surnames, so that it is difficult to link pictures to particular families) are supreme examples of the Victorian art of photographic portraiture. They convey the fashions of the time, both in clothing and hairstyles. Usually the subjects wore their best clothes for the portrait sessions. For the ladies in the 1870s and 80s, this meant long black dresses. The fashion for white dresses, which would be almost universally worn in public later on, did not emerge until much closer to the end of the century. It was also common for children, and sometimes adults, to be photographed wearing fancy dress. Sailor suits were particulaly popular for boys. If the subjects of the images appear rather dour this is easily explained. They would have to hold their pose for a lengthy period, which is why they can often be seen posing with their arms folded and supported on the back of a chair, or a firm cushion. Staring blankly at the camera for the required time was relatively easily accomplished, whereas holding a smile was impossible.

In conclusion, archives are evidence of knowledge, which ensures that the past is not forgotten and that information is accessible to current and future generations. They play a vital role in preserving, organizing, and providing access to a wide range of valuable knowledge sources. These collections may be physical, digital, or a combination of both, and they serve as important repositories of information and knowledge.

An archive- a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people.  

The Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive is holds Jersey’s collection of archives, containing over 125,000 items dating from the mid-1840s to the present day. Formed in 1873, it was originally designed to be a museum and library, however by the second year much more focus was put onto the collection of the archives itself. The importance of ‘recording in permanent photography local prehistoric monuments, buildings and ruins’ was the main ideology of the founders, thus the sorting of the data collected became the main priority. They wanted to show how their archival collection weren’t just pictures, they were a portrayal of the past in a highly detailed manner. This is why context proved to be so important- a picture needed a labelled time and place to have a significant meaning and place in Jersey’s timeline. Photography arrived in Jersey on 9th May 1840, and without archives all the information and knowledge documented would be lost, causing the past to fade. Archives help create a collective memory of Jersey, from many different points of view, and can teach us about other people’s opinion in a way nothing else can. We can look at archives and notice the good and bad changes that have occurred over the year, helping us avoid repeating mistakes. Every person keeps achieves- whether it is pictures on our phones or text messages- and they say more about us than we realise. Our identify revolves around events and how they affected us, and what better way to show that than keeping archives? 

William Collie

William Collie was born in October 1810 and passed away in the year 1896. He was born in Skene, Aberdeenshire, Scotland and moved to St. Helier, Jersey in his 30s, opening a portrait business in Belmont Road and Bath Street. Like many other early photographers, started his professional life as a portrait painter. However, after moving to Jersey, he began a portrait business, making him one of the first photographers in the Channel Islands. Collie was probably the first photographer to use Fox Talbot’s calotype process, which required paper coated with silver iodide to develop his photographs. was exposed to light in a camera obscura; those areas hit by light became dark in tone, creating a negative image.  His most popular project is called the ‘French and Jersey Market Women’ and was created by him in the late 1840s. Many of these portraits actually show friends and family dressed as the migrant market women Collie met at St, Helier’s Market. The Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive lists 157 photographs by William Collie and are all portraits of Jersey folk and their surroundings from the 19^th century. His photographs show a mix of professional portraits and candid photos, presenting us with how the upper and lower classes lived. We can see the segregation between the classes at the time, taking into account their clothes and the activities captured in the images. Being one of the first photographs in Jersey, Collie captured a time in the island’s history that not many other people did. It is the oldest imagery we have of our home, causing these photos to be priceless and a true representation of the past.  

Emile Guiton- Children in Park

Thomas Young provided the theoretical framework for the first commercially viable method of colour photography, the autochrome, by theorising that our physiological perception of light was trichromatic, that all perceived colour is produced optically, by the eye’s sensitivity to just three wavelengths of light: red, green, and violet. On the 10th of June 1907, to an invited audience of 600, the brothers Louis and August Lumière, demonstrated their newest invention, the first combined system additive colour screen process. The interest around autochromes in 1907 was worldwide, photographically, scientifically and culturally.

Emile Guiton was born in Jersey in 1879 and had a keen interest in history and was a member of La Société Jersiaise, being known by many as the founding father. He was known for experimenting with autochrome colour very early on and producing in the process many beautifully coloured photographs. Guiton had a particular interest in the design of Jersey houses over the centuries, and particularly in different styles of arches to be found in the island. In Patrick’s Cahill’s ‘The Autochromes of Emile Guiton’, he mentioned how ‘Emile’s autochromes form the bulk of the early colour collection, thematically they fall quite neatly into two categories. The first category can be described as still life photographs, images of flowers, a stained- glass window, a colour chart, fruit. The second category can be loosely described as domestic photographs, Mrs Guiton, children playing, a garden, local country scenes’. I think is very interesting as it shows how Guiton used photography as not only an art, but also a useful tool in the documentation of history and his life. 

I think this picture is a beautiful representation of Guiton’s work as well as a perfect example of the simplicity yet uniqueness of Autochrome colour photos. The photo appears to have quite a shallow depth of field, the children being mostly in focus and the background being smudged, however this could simply be due to the long exposure (due to the child on the far right also appearing blurred). This adds to the softness of the picture, a resemblance of the children. The picture shows how Guiton was a ‘trendy’ photographer, engaging with the photographic styles at the time. The theme of maroon in the picture- being present on the children’s clothes and flowers- creates a feeling of repetition. He also utilised this colour as a heavy contrast in the image. The washed out look of the photo causes there to be a sense of nostalgia in the photo, creating a portrayal of the past in a dreamlike, gentle manner. Guiton recorded an everyday scene in unique and almost magical manner, causing this to be a truly significant photo. The natural lighting in the photograph causes the colours of the dresses to stand out in the otherwise dull environment. I think the photo provided a lot of inspiration for other photographers who hadn’t yet experimented with colour, and how a simple picture could be significantly enhanced with the technique. Furthermore, the fact that this image is one of the first coloured photos, implies that the way coloured photographs have developed can be tracked.

In conclusion, images of the past are the main, and most important, form of documentation, that has a huge impact on our knowledge of history. We can learn how people before us lived, as well as learn from their mistakes and achievements. The past is a big part of each individual’s identity, and many to this day take inspiration from different aspects of the past. Without photography or, more specifically, archives this knowledge would be unknown to us. Archives are a repository of knowledge since they are a physical way of proving many aspects of our world’s past, and a way of understanding what photographers deemed to be interesting/ important. It is not only an insight to our history but also to people’s opinions and thoughts. Without organised archives our world would be very different, which is why places like the Société Jersiaise Photographic Archive must continue their important work. In my opinion, archives would help me explore the theme of nostalgia in the way that nothing else could. Looking back at old photo albums helped me understand many things about my family, and how my own life came to a start. I would want to respond to the knowledge I have gained to create a comparison between nostalgic images and how the same places/ people are now, as I attempted in my summer task. I think it would be interesting to see how time changed everything for the better and worse.  

‘Photography did not spring forth from nowhere: in the expanding capitalist culture of the late 18th and 19th centuries, some people were on the look-out for cheap mechanical means for producing images […] photography emerged experimentally from the conjuncture of three factors: i) concerns with amateur drawing and/or techniques for reproducing printed matter, ii) light-sensitive materials; iii) the use of the camera obscura
— Steve Edwards, Photography – A Very Short Introduction’

An archive is a collection of historical records or materials which contain primary source documentation, such as photographs- reports – memos etc, of certain events. These sources have been collected over the course of an organization’s lifetime, and are usually kept in order for the public to gather or view said information first hand. A popular archive in Jersey is the société Jersiaise which 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 of the société 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. 

Albert Smith

The photographer I chose to focus on is Albert Smith. He was born on the 12th of August, 1856 in Hornsey to his parents, Henry Smith and Mary Rawlings. He was a stockbroker in Weybridge, Surrey until the early 1880s where had his first child, with his wife Josephine Elizabeth Coutts, in Weybridge before the family moved north to Scotland. They had two more children who were born in Waterloo, and this is where Albert took up photography.  He would later start business in Jersey in 1892 and by the time of his Sixth child he and his family had already moved to St. Helier with Albert purchasing a photography studio.  

Smith used the collodion wet plate process in order to produce his images, leading to thousands said images surviving the test of time. These images can also be viewed in the archive of Société Jersiaise. This an example of how useful archives can be in preserving knowledge as not only do we get to learn more about the past through said images, (since they would have captured key aspects of the past like clothing, locations, lifestyle, etc.) as well as gaining more knowledge about the processes behind the pictures. We are also able to learn a bit about Albert though his photos, for example we can tell that he takes a variety of pictures, from portraits to landscapes, leading us to believe that he enjoyed many aspects of photography and didn’t want to stick to one main part of it.  

Analysis of photo

The photo above was taken by photographer Emile F. Guiton. In the picture we are able to see a well-dressed woman in what appears to be a style from the 1800’s. The image creates a contrast between the woman and the background due to the light, pastel colours of her attire in comparison to the more bleak/ dull appearance of the scenery behind her. This helps to keep our attention on the woman making her the main focus of the image even if she isn’t directly in the centre. Since she is what we focus on we are able to focus more on the finer details about her, such as her body language. The way shes standing, in my opinion, makes her seem dejected as her arms are hanging somewhat loosely at her side, while she looks off into the distance with a sullen expression on her face.  

Photos like the one above provides quite a bit of insight into the past. Going back to her attire, we can infer quite a bit from the woman such as she could be well off since the style is one that was often worn by the upper middle class. We are also able to link the image to fact that we know about the past, for example maybe a reason she seems upset is due to her being forced into something since we know patriarchy was quite strong during this time.  The main point is that having sources like this which we can access means that we are able to learn more about the past suggesting that archives are a good repository of knowledge.  

Conclusion

In conclusion, archives are a repository of knowledge as they hold an abundance of information and resources which are used to look into the past. Looking into the past is important as we can learn about key events which is important in order to better the future, if we don’t reflect or learn about the past we won’t be able to avoid making the same mistakes. It is also a good way of improving skills or methods of doing things, for example with photography we can look back at old photographs and see what made them eye catching and then replicate that in our own photos. Additionally, archives are a great way to research about the past since they hold many primary sources which you wouldn’t be able to find normally, such as old photos, notes, diary’s etc.