Unit 305 - Photographer, William Henry Fox Talbot

William Henry Fox Talbot

William Henry Fox Talbot was born in 1800. He was an inventor and pioneer of photography. He invented the calotype process, which was the basis for most photographic processes of the last 200 years. The process used paper coated with silver iodide to record images.

Apart from inventing early photographic reproduction, he was also acknowledged as a good photographer, recognising the use of photography as an artistic medium.

His early images which would be considered as urban landscapes still stand up today as being technically and artistically superb.

While researching for inspiration, I could not fail to include Fox Talbot as one such source. He recognised very quickly, how to capture texture, lines and patterns, use of framing and composition and the 'rule of thirds' to create atmospheric urban landscapes.


I will hope to use some of the techniques and skills displayed throughout Fox Talbot's early images in my own assignments, for both urban landscapes and social documentary.


For all the modern processing software and sophisticated camera equipment we have available today, Fox Talbot shows us that the secret to producing a good image is to capture a good image to start with.

William Henry Fox Talbot, 1800 - 1877

Cameras used by Fox Talbot between 1835 - 1839

Latticed window in Lacock Abbey, 1835

An image of a latticed window in Lacock Abbey in 1835 by Talbot is a print from the oldest photographic negative in existence.

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The Haystack, c.1845

Here, an image of a simple haystack shows how the use of the rule of thirds, lines, patterns and texture, and good lighting enhances the scene.

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Nelson's Column Under Construction, c.1843

The composition has been carefully chosen and the rule of thirds adhered to, producing a fabulous historic record of a national treasure.

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The Open Door, 1843

Not a subject that would have been immediately obvious so early in photography, Fox Talbot sees how the use of framing, composition and lines, make this a great picture. The open door, leads the viewer in to the window in the background. The broom handle lies in line with the shadow on the door.

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Holy Trinity Church, Bishop's Road, Paddington, London, William Henry Fox Talbot, 1845

In contrast to the others images represented here in my blog, this image is quite naive. T composition is very bland, the view to the church is very square on, and there is a lot of wasted space in the foreground. This is certainly more of an historical record than an 'urban landscape'. 

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A scene in York, 1845

Nicely framed and lit, with good use of the 'rule of thirds'. The road in the foreground leads the viewer to the focal point of the Minster.

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Ships at Low Tide, c. 1844

Lines, patterns, 'rule of thirds', as well as good composition make this a lovely image.

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Street in Frankfurt, 1846

The composition is good, as the road leads you around the corner, 'rule of thirds' used to good effect.

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The Fruit Sellers, 1842

I like the candidness of this image. Instead of posing his subjects in a typically formal fashion, Fox Talbot has used the casual, fly-on-the-wall view for this scene. Nice use of composition and lighting too.

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Lacock Abbey, c. 1840

Lacock Abbey was the house where Fox Talbot lived for much of his life, and the subject for many of his pictures. Here is a nice view of the house, taken from an oblique angle, making good use of the 'rule of thirds'. The angular perspective leads your eye from left to right.