John Falconer, British Library
A Biographical Dictionary of 19th Century Photographers in South and South-East Asia |
Amateur, India
H.M. 73rd Regiment.
At the Madras Photographic Society Exhibition of 1860 were
‘a series of 16 large views at Ootacamund, printed from collodion negatives by Col. Ross. The atmospheric effect in some of these is well rendered, and there is a great look of nature about them; but the subjects would have looked more picturesque had the camera been placed nearer the ground, so as to show more sky and less of uninteresting foreground and low middle distance in bad perspective...The photographic manipulation and the focussing in Colonel Ross’s views, are excellent with one exception, which has been judiciously withdrawn, as some figures that were introduced below the line of horizon spoilt the effect, and were out of focus, the figures having moved. To those who have visited the Neilgherries these photographs recall pleasing reminiscences of the localities, and it has afforded great amusement to hear how parties have been able to identify every house, and road, and each nook and corner represented. The most picturesque subjects are the views of the hills on the road lead to Coonoor. The new Lawrence Asylum with the lads at play, and at gymnastic exercises, is also interesting, but some of the boys have moved.’[1]
Footnotes
- Λ Madras Journal of Literature and Science, new series, no.11, May 1861, pp.192-3.
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