Overview

Alfred Buckham was a daredevil photographer who created spellbinding images in the most precarious conditions, capturing the imagination. Published to accompany the first major exhibition of Alfred Buckham's work. Leaving behind a comprehensive archive, Alfred Buckham wrote in detail about his exploits, including his nine crashes and how, to get the best images, he would stand up while flying in an open biplane, tying his right leg to the seat with a scarf, in order to loop the loop in 'perfect safety'. But dive a little deeper and there is an even more interesting story – how he created these unbelievable photographs. Using a combination of different negatives, Buckham used his skills in the darkroom to craft stunning images that capture the experience of flight but with a little extra drama. Published to accompany the first major exhibition of Alfred Buckham's work, this book draws on the photographer's archive, held by his grandsons, and exciting new acquisitions made by the National Galleries of Scotland including the camera he took to the skies and a selection of the negatives used to craft his most celebrated images. AUTHORS: Louise Pearson is the curator of Photography at the National Galleries of Scotland, and has been a judge for the British Journal of Photography's Portrait of Britain prize. James Crawford is a writer, publisher and broadcaster whose work has appeared in, among others TIME magazine, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Sunday Times. He is the presenter of BBC One's landmark documentary series Scotland from the Sky and the BBC Radio 4 series 'Take Four Books'. In 2024 he became the chair of the Board of the Edinburgh International Book Festival. SELLING POINTS: . Spotlighting the photographer of one of the most popular photographs in the collection of the National Galleries of Scotland (Aerial View of Edinburgh) . Locations include England, Scotland, Egypt, New York, Florida, Brazil, the Caribbean, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, and Nicaragua . The book follows new and exciting research into Buckham, to provide more of an insight into the photographer's practice and the development of photography and image manipulation . Published to accompany the first major exhibition of Alfred Buckham's work at the National Galleries of Scotland, running from October 18th, 2025, to April 19th, 2026 75 b/w illustrations

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9781911054689

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The National Galleries of Scotland's exhibition Alfred Buckham was featured in an article by The Observer. - The Observer Alfred Buckham: Daredevil Photographer is due to tour to Duff House in Aberdeenshire after it finishes in Edinburgh – dates TBC, but likely opening in April 2026. - Historic Environment Scotland

The National Galleries of Scotland's exhibition Alfred Buckham was featured in an article by The Observer. - The Observer

Author Information

Louise Pearson is the curator of Photography at the National Galleries of Scotland, and has been a judge for the British Journal of Photography’s Portrait of Britain prize. James Crawford is a writer, publisher and broadcaster whose work has appeared in, among others TIME magazine, The Guardian, The New York Times, and The Sunday Times. He is the presenter of BBC One’s landmark documentary series Scotland from the Sky and the BBC Radio 4 series ‘Take Four Books’. In 2024 he became the chair of the Board of the Edinburgh International Book Festival.

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