Hill and Adamson's pioneering Newhaven fishing community photographs compiled in new book

Sara Stevenson’s new publication, 'Hill & Adamson’s Fisherwomen and Men of the Firth of Forth', released by Studies In Photography, showcases early calotype images of Newhaven’s fishing community, located near Edinburgh. These photographs, taken by the innovative Scottish duo David Octavius Hill and Robert Adamson, along with Jessie Mann, span from 1843 to 1847. This collection of 120–130 photographs is recognized as the inaugural social documentary series, portraying the lives of fishermen, fishwives, and children amid challenging conditions. Among the standout images are 'Elizabeth Johnston Hall: ‘It’s no’ fish ye’re buying, it’s men’s lives’', praised by philosopher Walter Benjamin in the 1930s, and 'A lane in Newhaven', cherished by marine artist Clarkson Stanfield. The book also includes modern prints derived from original negatives in the National Galleries of Scotland and other collections.