Herbert Bowyer Berkeley
Encyclopedia
Herbert Bowyer Berkeley was an English
photographer as well as a chemical engineer
. He was the fourth son of The Reverend William Comyns Berkeley and Harriet Elizabeth Bowyer Nichols Berkeley. Berkeley was educated at Uppingham School
http://www.uppingham.co.uk, was a member of the Royal Photographic Society
and exhibited work from 1874 until 1889.
, and experimented with the developing processes and photographic materials available to him during that time. Many of his early photographs were scenes taken around the extensive woods and pastures in the vicinity of his family home. By early 1881 he had left Cotheridge
and was living in lodgings in London.
was still in its early stages of experimentation. Berkeley experimented with the pre-coated, semi-dry collodian plates which were commercially available at that time. He discovered that with the addition of sulfite
to Samman's developing solution, in order to absorb the sulphur dioxide, which was given off by the chemical dithionite
, that dithionite was no longer required in the developing process. Berkeley published his discovery in 1881.
, sulfite
and citric acid
in their publication. In Berkeley's new formula
, just before use, ammonia
was added to make it more alkaline.
In London, Berkeley was a member of the Platinotype Company where he worked in association with William Willis
. The company marketed Berkeley's Sulpho-pyrogallol Developer.
between the years 1874 and 1889. In 1886 he was awarded a medal for a scene taken in the Dove Valley, Staffordshire
, England.
, probably with the hope that a drier climate would be of benefit to him. He died in Algiers at age 39, unmarried. A plaque in memoriam to him hangs inside St. Leonard's church, Cotheridge, located a short distance from his family home. Herbert Bowyer Berkeley was not fully recognised for his important discovery and contribution to the developing process.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
photographer as well as a chemical engineer
Chemical engineer
In the field of engineering, a chemical engineer is the profession in which one works principally in the chemical industry to convert basic raw materials into a variety of products, and deals with the design and operation of plants and equipment to perform such work...
. He was the fourth son of The Reverend William Comyns Berkeley and Harriet Elizabeth Bowyer Nichols Berkeley. Berkeley was educated at Uppingham School
Uppingham School
Uppingham School is a co-educational independent school of the English public school tradition, situated in the small town of Uppingham in Rutland, England...
http://www.uppingham.co.uk, was a member of the Royal Photographic Society
Royal Photographic Society
The Royal Photographic Society is the world's oldest national photographic society. It was founded in London, United Kingdom in 1853 as The Photographic Society of London with the objective of promoting the Art and Science of Photography...
and exhibited work from 1874 until 1889.
Early life
During his years at Uppingham he was introduced to chemistry by his science teacher, a German PhD. After Uppingham he livd at Cotheridge Court. During the 1870s he became an amateur photographer as well as a chemical engineerChemical engineer
In the field of engineering, a chemical engineer is the profession in which one works principally in the chemical industry to convert basic raw materials into a variety of products, and deals with the design and operation of plants and equipment to perform such work...
, and experimented with the developing processes and photographic materials available to him during that time. Many of his early photographs were scenes taken around the extensive woods and pastures in the vicinity of his family home. By early 1881 he had left Cotheridge
Cotheridge
Cotheridge is a village and civil parish in the district of Malvern Hills in the county of Worcestershire, England. It is west of the city of Worcester and a mile north-east of the Leigh Court railway station on the Great Western Railway on the opposite side of the River Teme.The River Teme...
and was living in lodgings in London.
Experiments
During the 1870s photographers used the common wet-plate, which required a lot of on-the-spot preparation for immediate exposure. Although not a new idea, photographyPhotography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
was still in its early stages of experimentation. Berkeley experimented with the pre-coated, semi-dry collodian plates which were commercially available at that time. He discovered that with the addition of sulfite
Sulfite
Sulfites are compounds that contain the sulfite ion SO. The sulfite ion is the conjugate base of bisulfite. Although the acid itself is elusive, its salts are widely used.-Structure:...
to Samman's developing solution, in order to absorb the sulphur dioxide, which was given off by the chemical dithionite
Dithionite
The dithionite anion , is an oxoanion of sulfur formally derived from dithionous acid, H2S2O4.-Chemistry:Dithionous acid has not been detected either as a pure compound or in solution....
, that dithionite was no longer required in the developing process. Berkeley published his discovery in 1881.
Chemical engineer
In 1882 the British Journal of Photography Almanac included his new formula of pyrogallolPyrogallol
Pyrogallol or benzene-1,2,3-triol is a benzenetriol. It is a white crystalline powder and a powerful reducing agent. It was first prepared by Scheele 1786 by heating gallic acid. An alternate preparation is heating para-chlorophenoldisulphonic acid with potassium hydroxide.When in alkaline...
, sulfite
Sulfite
Sulfites are compounds that contain the sulfite ion SO. The sulfite ion is the conjugate base of bisulfite. Although the acid itself is elusive, its salts are widely used.-Structure:...
and citric acid
Citric acid
Citric acid is a weak organic acid. It is a natural preservative/conservative and is also used to add an acidic, or sour, taste to foods and soft drinks...
in their publication. In Berkeley's new formula
Formula
In mathematics, a formula is an entity constructed using the symbols and formation rules of a given logical language....
, just before use, ammonia
Ammonia
Ammonia is a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen with the formula . It is a colourless gas with a characteristic pungent odour. Ammonia contributes significantly to the nutritional needs of terrestrial organisms by serving as a precursor to food and fertilizers. Ammonia, either directly or...
was added to make it more alkaline.
In London, Berkeley was a member of the Platinotype Company where he worked in association with William Willis
William Willis (inventor)
William Willis Jr. is a British inventor who developed the platinum process on the basis of the light sensitivity of platinum salts, originally discovered by John Herschel....
. The company marketed Berkeley's Sulpho-pyrogallol Developer.
Photographic career
Berkeley displayed his landscape photographic works in exhibitions of the Royal Photographic SocietyRoyal Photographic Society
The Royal Photographic Society is the world's oldest national photographic society. It was founded in London, United Kingdom in 1853 as The Photographic Society of London with the objective of promoting the Art and Science of Photography...
between the years 1874 and 1889. In 1886 he was awarded a medal for a scene taken in the Dove Valley, Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England.
Early death
Berkeley's health was beginning to fail and in 1889 he left England and travelled to AlgiersAlgiers
' is the capital and largest city of Algeria. According to the 1998 census, the population of the city proper was 1,519,570 and that of the urban agglomeration was 2,135,630. In 2009, the population was about 3,500,000...
, probably with the hope that a drier climate would be of benefit to him. He died in Algiers at age 39, unmarried. A plaque in memoriam to him hangs inside St. Leonard's church, Cotheridge, located a short distance from his family home. Herbert Bowyer Berkeley was not fully recognised for his important discovery and contribution to the developing process.