Margaret Cameron: Mothers of Photography, Part 1

On the occasion of World Photography Day (August 19), we will highlight some of the earliest women photographers in the United Kingdom, specifically in Wales. Anyone involved in photography is likely familiar with figures such as Margaret Cameron (1815–1879) or even earlier pioneers like Constance Fox Talbot (1811–1880) and Anna Atkins (1799–1871). However, in this text, adhering to one of WinArt’s key principles, visibility, we will focus on two lesser-known women photographers: Mary Dillwyn (1816–1906) and Emma Dillwyn Llewelyn (1810–1882).

Mary Dillwyn (1816–1906) was the younger sister of John Dillwyn Llewelyn and an accomplished photographer in her own right. She is distinguished as the first female photographer in Wales. She preferred using a smaller camera with shorter exposure times, which allowed her to capture more spontaneous photographs. Her portraits are particularly natural and lively, contrasting with some of the more rigidly staged photographs of the same era. Below, you can see some of her works, which are preserved at the Swansea Museum and the National Waterfront Museum of Swansea.

Emma Dillwyn Llewelyn (1810–1882), the second photographer we will discuss, was the wife of John Dillwyn Llewelyn and a cousin of Henry Fox Talbot, hailing from Swansea, Wales. We know that she took photographs and, in fact, she is depicted drying a photograph on a windowsill at Penllergare.

Wales seems to have been at the forefront not only in terms of pioneering women photographers but also in the broader movement for women’s rights. By 1913, it had 28 local societies affiliated with the National Union of Women’s Suffrage Societies, rallying under the slogan, “Dare to be free.”