User:Daniel D Vince

Harold White
Harold White, FRPS, FIBP, (1902-1983) was a British photographer, scholar and collector who dedicated many years of his life documenting and preserving the work of William Henry Fox Talbot. His work spanned from World War II propaganda for the British Council to working with King George VI whilst photographing Windsor Castle. White has been named a pioneer in photography not only for the work shown above, but simply for his understanding of photographic processes and light-manipulation.

Early Life in Photography
Harold White was 'bitten by the photographic bug' from experiences upon meeting a man who assured him that hypo was really Sodium thiosulfate, in the mid-1920s. He writes in 'Man Behind the Camera', recalling the gloomy November Saturday afternoons spent in a room at Bermondsey Settlement where Mr. Bannister, White's guide to art and practice of photography would reside.

Meanwhile, White was beginning to understand and work upon the mechanics of cameras, having vainly spent hours trying to fix his 'unnamed double extension' camera. Not only was the mechanics of the craft being learnt at this point, but the processing and development too as at these times of printing on gaslight paper which he prized as specimens of the photographic art. It was from the delight in producing these prized specimens that White decided on his career in photography.

Career
White's career in photography didn't start as glamorously as others might have. Beginning with 'learning many a hard lesson' in hard assignments and slogging in dirty darkrooms, his ambition continued despite the low wages and long hours. Passion fueled by the love of photography, he continued on his pursuit for success. It wasn't all bad however, having met many people along the way, even in the early-days of his career and travelling throughout Britain gave White a great knowledge on the beauty of such a fine nation. Notable locations to White were Capel Curig, along the Gwynant Valley to Aberglaslyn, or perhaps from Windermere through Ambleside to Keswick. Many more locations were visited on his early expeditions.