DIY Photography

Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

Submit A Story

This Indian “Photographer Prince” made his harem pose for photos over 150 years ago

Feb 6, 2017 by John Aldred 3 Comments

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

As the Maharaja of Jaipur, Ram Singh II was famous for many things. It was during his reign that slavery, infanticide and other cruel customs were abolished. He was, however, also known for being a rather avid photographer.

He could see the value of photography years before many people had even heard of it. In this collection of glass negatives, shot between 1857 and 1865, we get unique insight into the people he spent his days with. It’s a fascinating look at the fashions of the day, and some rather magnificent facial hair.

Self-portrait of the Maharajah Ram Singh III, in the royal palace of Jaipur, India

Guided by British photographer, T. Murray, he developed his interest in portraits. With four wives to photograph, he was never short of subjects to practise with, either. But he also had visiting dignitaries and staff upon which to hone his skills.

A female supervisor of the harem in the royal palace who looked after the Maharajah’s four wives

The minister of the Maharajah, in the royal palace

Portrait of a woman in the harem of the royal palace of Jaipur, India, taken around 1857

Portrait of a woman in the harem of the royal palace of Jaipur, India, 1857

Group portrait of noteworthy men and visitors pictured at the royal palace during a visit

Portrait of a fakir, in the Royal Palace of Jaipur, India

Full portrait of a woman in the harem in the royal palace of Jaipur, India – possibly one of the Maharajah’s wives

Portrait of a prince in the royal court of the palace of Jaipur, India

Full portrait of a noteworthy man in the royal palace of Jaipur, India

The Maharaja did venture outside with his camera, though, too.

The horse of Maharajah Ram Singh III, sovereign of Jaipur, India

Military troops in the service of Maharajah Ram Singh III, sovereign of Jaipur, India. The soldiers are wearing Scottish uniforms

The quality of the shots, considering the technology back then is rather incredible. Some shots exhibit a little motion blur showing how long the exposures must’ve taken, but overall they’re pretty amazing.

The images were found in the Madho Nivas Wing of the City Palace in Jaipur, in Rajistan, in northern India. I was never really a fan of history at school, but photos from the past fascinate me. I suppose seeing it rather than hearing or reading about it is just so much more appealing to me.

[via The Sun]

FIND THIS INTERESTING? SHARE IT WITH YOUR FRIENDS!

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Flipboard
  • WhatsApp

Related posts:

Photographer Sam Abell Talks about “Cheeky” Richard Prince After Prince Sold His Photo for Millions This photographer saved Yosemite Park, helped to create the National Parks system and shot 3D photographs over 150 years ago A Beautiful 4 Years Timelapse Showing A Star Exploding 20,000 Years Ago This photographer quit her job three years ago to photograph women around the world

Filed Under: Inspiration Tagged With: india, inspiration, Photography, portrait, Prince, Royalty

About John Aldred

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

« GoPro is back in business: they plan to launch HERO6 camera later this year
This is how Canon’s f/0.95 Dream Lens performs on a Sony mirorless body »

Submit A Story

Get our FREE Lighting Book

DIYP lighting book cover

* download requires newsletter signup
DIYPhotography

Recent Comments

Free Resources

Advanced lighting book

Recent Posts

  • Watch: How good (or bad) is an $8.50 tripod?
  • How to light and photograph Lego building interiors
  • Lighting Setup: How to light your portraits with £50 LED tubes
  • Review: Insta360 announces its first gimbal – The AI-tracking Insta360 Flow
  • World Press Photo 2023 regional winners show why AI will never kill photography

Alex Baker is a portrait and lifestyle driven photographer based in Valencia, Spain. She works on a range of projects from commercial to fine art and has had work featured in publications such as The Daily Mail, Conde Nast Traveller and El Mundo, and has exhibited work across Europe

Dave Williams is an accomplished travel photographer, writer, and best-selling author from the UK. He is also a photography educator and published Aurora expert. Dave has traveled extensively in recent years, capturing stunning images from around the world in a modified van. His work has been featured in various publications and he has worked with notable brands such as Skoda, EE, Boeing, Huawei, Microsoft, BMW, Conde Nast, Electronic Arts, Discovery, BBC, The Guardian, ESPN, NBC, and many others.

John Aldred is a photographer with over 20 years of experience in the portrait and commercial worlds. He is based in Scotland and has been an early adopter - and occasional beta tester - of almost every digital imaging technology in that time. As well as his creative visual work, John uses 3D printing, electronics and programming to create his own photography and filmmaking tools and consults for a number of brands across the industry.

Dunja Djudjic is a multi-talented artist based in Novi Sad, Serbia. With 15 years of experience as a photographer, she specializes in capturing the beauty of nature, travel, and fine art. In addition to her photography, Dunja also expresses her creativity through writing, embroidery, and jewelry making.

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2023 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy