Birmingham’s ‘forgotten’ pioneer of photography celebrated

A little-known Victorian scientist, who helped shape the future of photography, is being recognised in a new exhibition.

George Shaw is one of Birmingham’s “most overlooked innovators”, according to the organisers of the city-centre display.

Shaw not only created the first photograph in the city but also championed education, playing a key role in establishing the city’s first free public library.

The showcase features reproductions of rare images and archive materials, including recently unearthed daguerreotypes – among the earliest examples of modern photography.

Artist Jo Gane, from Nuneaton in Warwickshire, said she had worked with the late Birmingham Library curator of photographs, Pete James, to research Shaw’s life and introduce the city to his story.

“Shaw made the first daguerreotype photograph in Birmingham within two days of the announcement of photography in France, in August 1839,” she said.

The professor of chemistry was the “right person at the right time” because he had knowledge of how chemicals behave, she explained, bridging science, art and industry.

Also a patent agent, he was “really plugged in to manufacturing and scientific advances in industry in Birmingham”.

Daguerreotypes – invented by Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre – are images made on copper plates coated with silver.

“That’s where industry in Birmingham was really important, because of the innovation in the manufacture of silver plate in the city,” she said.

“In those days, it was something that wasn’t really available to the consumer, and was something that was quite a difficult specialist thing to do that Shaw was doing in the city in the 1840s”.

The scientist was also a “key figure” in ideas about education for all, and was the vice president of the Mechanics Institute in the city.

Friends with prominent city landscape painter, Frederick Henry Henshaw, the pair went on sketching and photographing visits together, Ms Gane explained.

Shaw’s scientific work earned praise from Michael Faraday, and he lectured at the Royal Society on photographic techniques.

“I think he’s been forgotten about because of the breadth of his work, as an artist, chemist and photographer,” Ms Gane said.

Her PhD work was trying to understand the contribution Shaw made to early photography and manufacturing and industry in Birmingham.

Designed by Stacey Barnfield, Ms Gane developed the free exhibition in partnership with the Colmore BID team.

It can be seen at the West Midlands Metro Town Hall stop until January.

The photographer’s story is a “powerful reminder of Birmingham’s legacy as a city of innovation and creativity, said Melanie Williams, the BID’s board director.

“It not only celebrates a largely unrecognised pioneer, but also invites the city to better reflect and respect its rich industrial and artistic heritage.”