Imagine stumbling upon a treasure trove of untold stories, captured in stunning detail decades ago. That's precisely what happened to Jack Smith when he unearthed his grandfather's incredible legacy: a collection of over **80,000 travel photographs.** This discovery is a testament to the power of photography to transcend time and connect generations.
In late 2021, Jack began to unwrap two boxes filled with his grandfather's old photographic slides, which had been stored in his parents' garage for years. He quickly realized that his grandfather, Herbert, was not only an avid amateur photographer but also a well-traveled individual. This revelation sparked the creation of "A Blank Wall," a project spearheaded by Jack to showcase Herbert's remarkable photographic work.
The archive consists of approximately 65,000 color positive slides and 15,000 black and white negatives. Herbert, hailing from Bolton in the North of England, started his photographic journey with a Rolleiflex in the 1950s. By the 1970s, he was traveling the world with his Olympus OM-1s and later OM-4s cameras, venturing to exotic locations such as South Africa, Bolivia, Fiji, and Russia.
"I believe his style was akin to fly-on-the-wall travel photography," Jack explains. "He was captivated by people; he would visit places like Guatemala, Tokyo, or South India, and a significant portion of his photos would feature people. He would often engage with them, stopping them on the street to ask for a situational portrait. Consequently, the collection offers a deeply personal perspective on the world as he saw it."
Jack notes that Herbert would often seek out remote areas to capture his photographs, a practice that was quite unusual in the 1960s and 1970s, even though it's more common to see photographers doing that on platforms like Instagram today.
As Jack delved into Herbert's archive, he observed his grandfather's evolution as a photographer. "Initially, there are numerous holiday snapshots, as he experimented and played around," Jack says. "But it's incredibly fascinating because you can witness him refining his craft within the collection, particularly in black and white printing. He was a surgeon, and a similar methodical, meticulous approach is evident. It's clear that he was exceptionally dedicated and invested a considerable amount of time in his photography."
The collection includes a variety of film types, such as Kodachrome 25 and II, Agfachromes and Fujichrome transparencies, Ilford black and white 35mm negatives, 127mm medium format negatives, and some large format film. Jack has revitalized this forgotten archive by launching "A Blank Wall," a website and Instagram account that features Herbert's work.
"A Blank Wall" has amassed over 250,000 online followers, with Jack leveraging social media to share his grandfather's untold stories from the past. "I quickly realized that people are drawn to the narrative surrounding his photography," he explains. "But they also appreciate the story of how his photography was discovered."
Jack believes that his intergenerational story has resonated with the public. "People enjoy exploring the past; they also appreciate having a historical connection to the present, which is represented by my father and me."
Jack, now in his late 20s, never met Herbert, who passed away a decade before his birth, but he has come to know him better through his photographs. While Jack's father, who is also a photographer, serves as the link between them, Jack has also spoken with some of Herbert's friends, who describe him as a quiet, kind-hearted man with a dry, witty sense of humor.
"I know he had a deep respect for the creative arts and culture, in general," adds Jack. "So when he embarked on these trips to remote locations, it was driven more by curiosity than anything else, which is wonderful to hear."
Jack initiated the project while working in London. The discovery of Herbert's archive became his creative outlet, and the project has allowed him to deepen his understanding of the art of photography.
"Initially, I was unsure how to approach the collection. I sought advice from photographer friends and realized I should spend time uncovering the untold stories behind the images. After discussing it with my family, I began learning how to document and archive his work."
The collection has a similar feel to Vivian Maier's work. However, Herbert wasn't entirely unknown: he was a fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and had friendships with several professional photographers, including Alf Gregory, who took the photographs of the first ascent of Mount Everest in 1953. Despite encouragement, Herbert never published his work, only entering a few images in competitions and occasional shows for local photography societies.
As Jack has become more proficient in digitizing and archiving the slides, he's expressed his desire to one day use the same camera his grandfather used and follow in his footsteps by visiting the same places Herbert photographed.
"I also want to use the project as a creative platform; not just to highlight my grandfather's photography but also to showcase other photography I appreciate," he says, adding that a book is planned and potentially longer-form video content.
But here's where it gets controversial... Do you think Herbert's work would have gained the same recognition if he had been actively sharing it during his lifetime? Or did the passage of time and the unique discovery add to its allure?
To explore the "A Blank Wall" project and purchase prints of Herbert's work, visit Instagram and the website.
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