This online exhibition presents an introduction to the Society’s collection of over 500,000 historic images, featuring works by Gertrude Bell, Frank Hurley, Carleton Watkins, Isabella Bird, Sarat Chandra Das and Eric Newby. From an early original daguerreotype of Arctic explorer Joseph René Bellot to a remarkable aerial image of 1960s Abu Dhabi and iconic photographic ‘firsts’, the exhibition spans over a century of documentary photography, with contemporary relevance for research and enquiry. 

 

View the exhibition

Tip: For the best experience, we recommend viewing the content below in full screen mode - press F11 on Windows (press F11 to exit) or Ctr+Cmd+F on OS X (Apple) to enter full screen mode.

Lights and Shadows

Having trouble viewing this online exhibition?

Try static view

 

Explore the exhibition on a map

Please note that approximate locations have been used to indicate where the photographs were taken as the images are not geo-referenced.

 

 

RGS Print Store

All images featured in this online exhibition can be purchased from the RGS Print Store.

You may also be interested in...

Observed on paper

Explore a selection of drawings and watercolours from our Collections, illustrating people and landscapes, many produced decades before the camera became part of the standard expedition kit.

Everest - a reconnaissance

This exhibition showcases a selection of platinum prints made from the newly digitised negatives of the 1921 British Mount Everest Reconnaissance Expedition.

Queen Elizabeth II - In memoriam

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was the Society's Patron for over 60 years. To celebrate her life and mark her passing, we have put together a short display of items relating to the Queen from our Collections.

Dreams and nightmares in the Arctic: The quest for the Northwest Passage

The fascinating story of the search for the Northwest Passage, featuring a wide selection of images from our Collections.

Cookies on the RGS website This site uses cookies to enhance your user experience.