Curio

State Library of New South Wales

Miss and Baby Davis

1873
Glass photonegative

Agnes Davis holds her sister Julia still for their portrait, although the baby has moved during the exposure. The problem of blurred images caused by movement resulted in many nineteenth century photographers charging double for children under four years of age.

From the South Australian Register, 9 November 1880

The system of instantaneous photography has been recently adopted by Messrs. J. R. Dobson & Co., of the Temple of Light, Bundle-street, and the result of the improvement is the production of photographs infinitely superior in clearness, accuracy, and general effect to the likenesses taken under the old style. We were shown some sixty portraits of adults and children, and all of them were remarkable for the minuteness of detail as well as naturalness of expression, rendering them very faithful portraits. For photographingchildren this instantaneous process must be an invaluable aid, as the fleeting expression of a restless child's face can be taken in a second ; and for adults it is very much more comfortable to sit for only a moment to have a portrait taken, without the inconvenience of having the head pilloried in an iron rest. [South Australian Register, Tuesday 9 November 1880, p 4]