THE SHADOW OF DAYS

 A Personal Exploration Of Time and Light.

In the quiet resonance of “The Shadow of Days”, artist John Dugdale invites the viewer into a world where time feels suspended. Utilizing 19th-century photographic processes, this collection transcends the modern digital lens, reaching back into the history of light and chemistry to capture the ephemeral beauty of the human spirit and the domestic still life.

Each piece, from the deep, meditative hues of the large format fine art cyanotype to the delicate textures of albumen, silver, gelatin chloride, argentotype prints, serves as a testament to the endurance of historic photography techniques. These works are not merely images; they are tactile remnants of a “Gentleman’s Tour” through memory and interiority. For the collector of fine art photography and the student of classical aestheticism, The Shadow of Days offers a profound exploration of what it means to see—not just with the eyes, but with the soul.

Through the mastery of the large format camera, Dugdale transforms simple glass vases and quiet portraits into ethereal still life masterpieces. 

The Shadow of Days is a phrase John has been very fond of since the change in his sight. Slowly this diary of photographs taken over the last 40 years will form into an ongoing collection of books by the same name. This website is a sample of the pictures that will be included in the collection. We invite you to explore this archive, where the shadows of the past illuminate the clarity of the present.