Royal Commonwealth Society : Fisher Volume I : Outward journey and Ceylon October-December 1907
Fisher, Alfred Hugh, 1867-1945
Royal Commonwealth Society
<p style='text-align: justify;'>This album of photographs of Ceylon [Sri Lanka] forms part of the <a target='_blank' class='externalLink' href='http://janus.lib.cam.ac.uk/db/node.xsp?id=EAD%2FGBR%2F0115%2FFisher'>Alfred Hugh Fisher Collection</a>. In 1907, Fisher was appointed by the Colonial Office Visual Instruction Committee to embark upon a photographic tour of the British Empire. The aim of the project was to produce lantern slides which would accompany lectures on the Empire for use in British schools. Fisher was instructed to concentrate upon the educational rather than the pictorial aspects of photography, and to capture both the 'native characteristics of the country' and the 'super-added characteristics’ due to British government. He was also advised to give a feeling of life and movement where possible by having people engaged in some everyday activity.</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>The album now contains prints numbered in the range 1-167 (originally there were 147). </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Added numbers are: 60A, 60B, 90A and 99A; spoiled: 37-39, 56, 57, 61, 63, 80, 119, 123, 160, 165; not used 41, 44, 49, 52, 60, 75, 84, 95, 140, 141, 142, 151; missing: 43, 48, 99, 153. The photographs are not arranged totally in numerical order within the album so that 99A, 166-167 follow 69 and 136 follows 74. </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Subjects covered in this album are: </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Port Said;</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Cape Gardafui;</p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Ceylon including: </p><p style='text-align: justify;'>Colombo (the harbour, transport, traders, street scenes); Maho, Anuradhapura; Kurengala; Peradineya and Kandy; Telawakele, Nuwara Eliya and Don Pedro; Hakgall and Patna country; Aviswella; Kuraita (elephants); Adams Peak; Gemming pits, Ratnapura; Malwilla ferry; village and river scenes; Medapola Plumbago Mine; Galle.</p>
