Alfred Buckham - by Louise Pearson (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Alfred Buckham was a daredevil photographer who created spellbinding images in the most precarious conditions, capturing the imagination. Published to accompany the first major exhibition of Alfred Buckham's work.

Leaving behind a comprehensive archive, Alfred Buckham wrote in detail about his exploits, including his nine crashes and how, to get the best images, he would stand up while flying in an open biplane, tying his right leg to the seat with a scarf, in order to loop the loop in 'perfect safety'.

But dive a little deeper and there is an even more interesting story - how he created these unbelievable photographs. Using a combination of different negatives, Buckham used his skills in the darkroom to craft stunning images that capture the experience of flight but with a little extra drama.

Published to accompany the first major exhibition of Alfred Buckham's work, this book draws on the photographer's archive, held by his grandsons, and exciting new acquisitions made by the National Galleries of Scotland including the camera he took to the skies and a selection of the negatives used to craft his most celebrated images.

About the Author

Louise Pearson is the curator of Photography at the National Galleries of Scotland, and has been a judge for the British Journal of Photography's Portrait of Britain prize. James Crawford is a writer, publisher and broadcaster whose work has appeared in, among others TIME magazine, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Sunday Times. He is the presenter of BBC One's landmark documentary series Scotland from the Sky and the BBC Radio 4 series 'Take Four Books'. In 2024 he became the chair of the Board of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.