Figure 1.--Arthur Albert Esme Collings for a time worked with William Fries-Green. he and his wife Keturah were a rare hisband and wsife tem in early photography. Arthur became interested in motion pictures, probably thriugh his association with Fries-Green. Keturah took portraits throughout her life. Her last was just before she died in 1948. Their portratraits were artfully posed which was not all that common. This beaufifully composed Esmé' Collings portrait was taken in West Brighton, probably during the 1890s, probably the late-1890s. We do not know who the girl was.

Arthur Albert 'Esmé' Collings was a notable British photographer who got involved in motion pictures as well as eventually shifted to painting. Collings originally worked with his father in the family trade of boot making. He met Keturah Anne Beedle (1862- ) who like Arthur had artistic inclinations. Either sometime before this or right after the marriage the two began working together as partners in a photographic studio. They were a life-long team although their interests varied over time. They formed a partnership with William Friese-Greene (1885). Arthur married Keturah (1887). Collings also worked in Liverpool. Like Friese-Greene, Collings and Keturah produced artfully composed portraits. He eventually had a falling out with Friese-Greene over thev latter's lackidasical work habits. Collings moved to London and opening studios on Bond Street and later on New Bond Street. He specialised in miniatures on vellum as well as more conventional platinotypes. His work in Brighton is best known. Friese-Greene was as a pioneer in "moving pictures" and Collings appears to have develped an interest as a result of their association. He made severa erly films whicgh have not survived was a part of the Brighton School of early film makers. Keturah Collings continued to run a fashionable London photographic studio in London and was an enthusiastic watercolourist. She photographed some of the German royal, I'm not sure about the British royals.

Created: 7:28 PM 2/17/2011
Last updated: 7:28 PM 2/17/2011