Working independent of his contemporaries in the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s, Miroslav Tichy (b. 1926) created an idiosyncratic style, fascinating in its imperfection and reminiscent of photography’s early experimental years. Using homemade cameras Tichy took blurry mottled photographs in his Czech hometown Kyjov – anonymous portraits, often framed by elaborate mounts.

In contrast, Julia Margaret Cameron (1815–1879) was an early star in the writing of photographic history. As part of Victorian England’s privileged cultural elite she was able to devote herself to exploring the new medium of her time, assiduously taking portraits of her circle of friends. Authors, scientists, artists and their families were captured in dream-like, allegorical images or intimate portraits. Cameron gained early acclaim as a photographic innovator for her experiments with composition and lighting.