Antique Photograph Question

[Vinca]

I found a photo, probably late 1800's from the "Bradley Studios, 435 Fifth Ave., New York." It's a lovely image of a woman and when I googled "Bradley Studios" with the address, up popped a blurb about Mark Twain having his photo taken by Wm. A. F. Bradley at that studio address and that Bradley was a world famous studio photographer. I haven't been able to find anything else out about the studio. Are there books that list famous photographers - similar to the ones that list famous artists?

[NashVegas]

1. From That Time Period, Kinda Doubtful

I'm mostly guessing, but of that era, the photos themselves are more the marvel than those who took them. Photography equipment wasn't available to the masses. Even if you could afford it, who had time? Those who could do it for-hire in their own studio. And you'd have to have the knowledge to fix your own equipment, often. Very pioneer-oriented, but those who made the most advances should be easily findable.

It was later, when more cameras got unto the hands of those who could follow their creative muse that things got interesting. Traditional artists who were unwilling to consider the camera made way for younger artists who didn't have the prejudice against it.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

2. Matthew Brady was a famous photog who shot pictures during the Civil War so

cameras and photography studios were around for quite awhile by the late 1800s. I have several studio photos of family members that were made in the 1860-1870s. There are couple that are printed on tin that are much older but I can't date them.

[F.Gordon]

3. Antiques? History?

:P

What Crisco said regarding your question.

We have quite a few old photographs. We got them as "worthless" pics obtained from a NYC photog from the 1940's. I could probably "date" yours if you post a copy of it. How do you date an old photo? It's fairly easy. The clothing and "set" used in the studio are the two main factors.

I did find an interesting tidbit on Bradley on the internets. He would put his subjects on a chair that moved on a turntable so he could move the person while they kept their pose. Pretty clever.