Light and Love: The Extraordinary Developments of Julia Margaret Cameron and Mary Hillier

Julia Margaret Cameron received her first camera as a gift when she was forty-eight, and her love affair with photography had already spanned several decades and continents. She traveled the world befriending experts and photographers, and Mary Hillier became her leading model and the focus of her creative passion. The biography "Light and Love" tells the story of a rare partnership of a pioneer and her muse, and how their relationship changed the course of both of their lives.

Format: Hardback
Length: 144 pages
Publication date: 10 September 2020
Publisher: Unicorn Publishing Group

When fourteen-year-old Mary Hillier delivered a message to photographer Julia Margaret Camerons door, little did she know what her life would become. Julia Margaret Cameron received her first camera as a gift when she was forty-eight, but her love affair with the medium had already spanned several decades and continents. An enthusiast for this newly invented device, she traveled the world befriending experts who taught her the magic and the science of the lens, such as the astronomer John Herschel, and pioneering photographers like her brother-in-law, the Earl Somers, and the Swedish risk-taking artist Oscar Rejlander. Beginning as Julia's parlor maid, Mary went on to become the photographer's leading model and the focus of the artist's creative passion. For Julia, Mary personified the heavenly qualities of her quiet corner of England. For Mary, Julia's influence would echo throughout her life.

This is a biography of two women who experienced beauty, love, loss, and fame, and created photographs that, in Julia's own words, "should electrify you with delight and startle the world." Spanning the French Revolution to the 1930s, Light and Love tells the story of a rare partnership of a pioneer and her muse, and how their relationship would change the course of both of their lives.

Julia Margaret Cameron was born in 1815 in London, England. She was the daughter of a successful merchant and was educated at home by private tutors. Despite her privileged upbringing, Cameron was drawn to the arts and began to pursue photography as a hobby.

In 1843, Cameron met the astronomer John Herschel, who was a keen amateur photographer himself. Herschel was impressed by Cameron's talent and encouraged her to continue her work. He even gave her his own camera and lenses, which she used to capture stunning images of the night sky.

Cameron's work caught the attention of other photographers, and she began to gain recognition for her unique style and approach to the medium. She was particularly known for her portraits of women, which she often captured in natural settings and with a sense of intimacy and beauty.

In 1847, Cameron met the Earl Somers, a wealthy aristocrat who was also a keen photographer. The two quickly became friends, and Cameron began to work for him as a portrait photographer. She was particularly known for her portraits of the Somers family, which were highly regarded for their elegance and sophistication.

Cameron's work also caught the attention of the Swedish artist Oscar Rejlander, who was known for his innovative and experimental approach to photography. Rejlander was impressed by Cameron's portraits and invited her to visit him in Sweden.

In Sweden, Cameron met Rejlander and began to work with him on a series of photographs that would become some of her most famous works. The two worked together closely, experimenting with different techniques and styles to create images that were both beautiful and innovative.

One of Cameron's most famous photographs is "The Birth of Venus," which she created in 1863. The image depicts a nude woman, believed to be Cameron's sister, reclining on a beach with her arms outstretched. The photograph is highly stylized and surreal, with a sense of mystery and ambiguity that has made it one of the most iconic images in the history of photography.

Another of Cameron's famous photographs is "The Shadow of a Cloud," which she created in 1867. The image depicts a woman's face and shoulders, with a shadow cast over them by a cloud. The photograph is highly detailed and realistic, with a sense of depth and perspective that was groundbreaking for its time.

Cameron's work was highly influential in the development of photography as an art form. She was one of the first photographers to use natural light and outdoor settings to create portraits, and her use of stylized and surreal imagery was groundbreaking for its time.

In addition to her work as a photographer, Cameron was also a philanthropist and a political activist. She was a strong supporter of women's rights and the abolition of slavery, and she used her wealth and influence to support these causes.

Cameron died in 1879 at the age of 63, but her legacy as a photographer and artist continues to inspire and influence artists around the world. Her work is housed in museums and galleries around the world, and her influence can be seen in the work of many contemporary photographers.

In conclusion, Julia Margaret Cameron was a pioneering photographer who made significant contributions to the development of photography as an art form. Her work was highly influential in the development of the medium, and her use of natural light, outdoor settings, and stylized and surreal imagery was groundbreaking for its time. Cameron's work is housed in museums and galleries around the world, and her legacy as a photographer and artist continues to inspire and influence artists around the world.

Weight: 686g
Dimension: 163 x 210 x 25 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781913491062