Benjamin Brecknell Turner

In 1849 Turner took out a licence to practice paper negative (Calotype or Talbotype) photography from its inventor, William Henry Fox Talbot.

He quickly mastered this form of photography and went on to produce many images during the 1850s, taking part in many photographic exhibitions during this time.

It might have been a sample book, a convenient method for presenting photographs for personal pleasure, and for showing to colleagues or potential exhibitors.

Although Turner is mainly known for his rural and architectural images he did also take portraits using his family and business as subjects.

For these images he often used glass negatives as these had short exposure times allowing a high level of detail.