shooting stars
2009 is the International Year of Astronomy. To mark it, portrait photographer
Lucinda Douglas-Menzies has produced an exhibition of astronomical great names
from the last 50 years, using traditional black and white methods.
W
ith 2009 marking this with the film processing
the UN proclaimed capabilities of Klaus Kalde Studios
International Year of and the comprehensive facilities,
Astronomy (IYA), Har- including a flat bed dryer, of the
man Technology is playing its own Four Corners darkroom, both
part in celebrations commemorat- located near her studio in London
ing 400 years since Galileo first E1.
looked through a telescope. The In total 38 images, depicting
leading photo-imaging company is sitters that included Bernard Lovell,
supplying materials from its Ilford Martin Rees, Patrick Moore and
Photo range of analogue products Stephen Hawking, were produced
for a touring exhibition by Lucinda as 16 by 20 inch prints. A full set
Douglas-Menzies, featuring por- of these prints has already been
traits of famous astronomers from purchased by The Science Museum
the last five decades. whilst three of Scottish astrono-
A professional photographer mers have been bought by the
since 1986, Lucinda already has Scottish National Portrait Gallery
several exhibitions under her belt and 10 have been bought by the
as well as numerous commissions National Portrait Gallery in London.
for clients such as The Daily Tele- The exhibition series started at The
graph, Veuve Clicquot, Harpers, the Royal Astronomical Society before
Guggenheim Museum New York going on to appear at various
and the Royal Society of Literature. nationwide science festivals and
She was inspired to undertake universities – they are at the Edin-
her latest project - dubbed simply burgh Science Festival this month
‘Portraits of Astronomers’ and (April) – as well as The Royal
due to appear at various venues Society and the Armagh County
throughout the year – after read- Museum.
ing an article on Sir Patrick Moore Lucinda adds: “I’m delighted to
and discovering the imminence of be involved in celebrations to mark
IYA2009. such a defining moment in scien-
Having used Ilford analogue tific history and arguably, human
products for the last 30 years, she existence. It’s also a pleasure to
was keen for the brand to play a showcase the benefits of analogue
part in the event and this senti- photography and to illustrate its
ment was intensified when she continuing importance - even with
learnt of the Ilford Photo ‘Defend the increasing prevalence of digital.
the Darkroom’ campaign. Launched Analogue photography needed a
in 2007, Defend the Darkroom aims champion and Ilford Photo has
to promote the co-existence of certainly picked up that baton.”
analogue and digital photography Her views were echoed by
in an increasingly digital age – a Howard Hopwood, Chairman of
notion Lucinda thoroughly advo- Harman technology, who said:
cates. “With the convenience of digital
She explains: “I shoot both photography, it’s easy to forget
analogue and digital and both there are still reasons to shoot film.
certainly have their merits. But for Aside from its archival benefits
an exhibition of this type, which and its ability to help people learn
has historical significance, I knew the fundamentals of photography
that analogue was by far the bet- such as the effects of aperture
ter option. The archival properties setting and of shutter speed, it’s
Sir Patrick Moore and Sir Stephen Hawking as seen by Lucinda.
of traditional, darkroom developed an art, a craft – and much like
prints are unsurpassed and this be around in 100 years time. you just go straight to the year other traditional crafts, it needs to
can be seen in the fact that prints “Another key benefit is the and index and there they are.” be preserved. To let it disappear is
have survived to this day from the increased ease and peace of mind In particular, Lucinda used totally unthinkable.”
earliest days of photography in the that comes from filing negatives as Ilford HP5 Plus 120 film, Ilford Full information on the Portrait
mid 19th century. I’m not confident opposed to storing digital files on a Multigrade IV FB Fibre paper and of Astronomers exhibition, (dates,
digital media offers the same computer. There’s none of the risk Ilford chemistry that consisted venues, book) can be found at
longevity or that digitally printed of data corruption or of inadvert- of Ilfostop stop bath and Ilford www.douglas-menzies.com
photographs from today will still ently deleting something. Instead, Hypam Fixer. She combined null
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