Francis Bedford (photographer) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Francis Bedford
Francis Bedford
Born	1815 London
Died	15 May 1894 London
Resting place	Highgate Cemetery
Occupation	Photographer
Years active	Over 40 years
Known for	Landscape photography

Francis Bedford (born 1815 in London, died 1894) was a very famous landscape photographer in England. He was known for taking beautiful pictures of nature and scenery. He was also the first photographer to travel with a royal family on a special trip.

Francis Bedford's Early Life

Francis Bedford was the oldest son of Francis Octavius Bedford, a well-known architect who designed churches. Francis was born in London and was christened (given a Christian name) on September 11, 1815.

Before he became a photographer, Francis worked as an architectural draughtsman. This means he drew detailed plans for buildings. He was also a lithographer, which is someone who makes prints using a special stone or metal plate. He started taking photos in the early 1850s.

A Career in Photography

Francis Bedford helped start the Royal Photographic Society in 1853. This was an important group for photographers.

In 1854, Queen Victoria asked him to photograph items in the royal collection. Later, in 1857, she asked him to take pictures of her husband Prince Albert's hometown, Coburg, Germany.

He received several more requests from the royal family. His series of stereographs (special photos that look 3D when viewed with a device) of England and Wales were considered some of the best landscape photos of that time.

Photographing a Royal Tour

After Prince Albert passed away in 1861, his oldest son, Prince Albert (who later became King Edward VII), invited Bedford on a big trip. Bedford went with him to Greece and the Middle East. This was the very first time a royal tour was documented with photographs.

For much of his career, Bedford treated photography like an art form. He would add clouds to his photos or make details clearer using pencils or brushes. He even used tissue paper to darken parts of his negatives to make the lighting better.

However, by the late 1870s, he believed in keeping photos simple. Between 1851 and 1894, he created nearly 9,000 wet collodion negatives and albumen prints. This made him one of the most active landscape photographers of his time.

Francis Bedford's Family Life

Grave of Francis Bedford in Highgate Cemetery

On November 1, 1843, Francis Bedford married Mary Graham in London. In 1851, they lived in Kentish Town, London, with their two young sons, Arthur and William. At that time, Francis listed his job as a 'Lithographic Artist'.

By 1861, Francis was listed as an 'Artist'. Ten years later, he and Mary were living on Camden Road in London. Francis now called himself a 'Photographic Artist'. He was still at the same address in 1881. His wife Mary, son William, daughter-in-law Wilhelmina, and six-year-old grandson Francis were also living there.

Francis Bedford passed away on May 15, 1894. He is buried in Highgate Cemetery in London. His grave is close to another famous Victorian photographer, Henry White.

Where to See His Work

Francis Bedford's photographs are part of many important collections around the world. You can find his work at:

• Duke University Libraries
• National Gallery of Art, Department of Image Collections
• The Royal Collection
• Museum of Modern Art
• National Galleries of Scotland
• J. Paul Getty Museum
• Ryerson Image Centre

Images for kids

• 

  River Elwy

• 

  Sphinx and Egyptian pyramids

• 

  The Temple of the Sun and Temple of Jupiter, Baalbek, Lebanon 1862

• 

  Teignmouth - View in the Harbour

• 

  West Facade of Exeter Cathedral 1864 or 1865

• 

  Teignmouth - Arched Rock Beneath the Ness

• 

  Francis Bedford, Kenilworth Castle, England, 1860s, albumen print, Department of Image Collections, National Gallery of Art Library, Washington, DC