3 photographs of lightning strikes!!!

Bridgham, S [amuel]. W [illard].

[Photography] Three lightning photographs by S. W. Bridgham

[no place of publication stated]: S. W. Bridgham c1895. Three silver prints of lightning strikes, each stamped "S.W. Bridgham" (as are most of his photographic prints). The mounts are oblong 10x12 inches, with the actual print 6 x 7 1/2 inches. Image #1 is fantastic and has the largest lightning strike resembling a funnel with a number of smaller strikes in the background. The mount is lightly soiled and the print is in very nice condition. Image #2 has five vertical lightning strikes happening at one time. The mount is soiled, and lower left has a blotch that was colored in. Image #3 has one crooked lightning strike with small tendrils. The mount is lightly soiled and there are some surface abrasions to the image.

We also include a 5 1/2 x 7 1/2 inch card noting Mr. Samuel Willard Bridgham was appointed an Honorary Regent. Very Good. [29712]


Samuel W. Bridgham was a serious amateur photographer and member of the New York Camera Club. He was noted in several publications as Vice President and President of the club. In The "Photographic Times", March 1895, p 181 notes that New York Camera Club member S.W. Bridgham gave a notable presentation of lantern slides of lightning flashes. The casual viewer of any thunderstorm can appreciate how difficult it is to get a nice image of a lightning strike given the speed of the strike and the difficult conditions often surrounding the storms.

"In December 1888, a group split from the Society of Amateur Photographers and formed The New York Camera Club. While no record to date has surfaced to explain the split, it is possible that by 1888 the science of the medium was beginning to take a back seat to the social and artistic aspects of photography. Indeed, taking one's camera out on bicycling trips was a common recreation, and devices were sold to attach a camera to the cycle's handlebars. There was no apparent animosity between the two groups, however, since each regularly participated in joint exhibitions with neighboring societies from Boston and Philadelphia. These exhibitions, which sometimes featured up to 1000 prints were fashioned after the European painting salons of the day, stacked in the old salon style. One can see the dependency at this time on traditions normally connected with painting. It was not until 1897, when the two groups decided to rejoin under the encouragement of Alfred Stieglitz, that photography began to emerge as a medium under its own terms. The new organization, renamed Camera Club of New York, would eventually become the world leader in championing the cause of photography as an art in its own right." (NYPL Camera Club of New York records overview)

Price: $800.00