Hill & Adamson
1845
J. Ballantyne, Dr. George Bell and David Octavius Hill

Salted paper process
National Science and Media Museum
The Royal Photographic Society Collection, Inventory no: 2003-5001/2/20211
 
Hill himself is on the right of the photograph. Hill's friend James Ballantyne (1808 -1877) sits on the left. An author, painter and stained glass artist, he produced the designs for the windows in the House of Lords. Dr George William Bell sits in the centre of the group. Bell was one of the founders of the 'Ragged Schools' movement.
 
Hill, an artist, and Adamson, a chemist, formed one of the most important partnerships in the history of photography.
 
Scottish painter and arts activist David Octavius Hill (1802 - 1870) collaborated with the engineer and photographer Robert Adamson between 1843 and 1847 to pioneer many aspects of photography in Scotland.
 
Robert Adamson (1821 - 1848) worked as an engineer in his youth; established Scotland's first calotype studio in Edinburgh in 1843; formed working partnership with artist David Octavius Hill, taking more than 3000 photographs in four years before Adamson's early death.
 
LL/51616