John Patrick - Photographer

John Patrick (the early photographer who took the image from the previous post) was born on 16 January 1831.  Initially, John became a baker in Buckhaven, the place of his birth, but, while still a young man, he changed direction to become a bookseller in Leven. In 1852 he married Jane Rutherford and by 1857 he had developed significant experience of the collodion photographic process. He wrote a detailed letter to the Photographic Journal in August 1857 proposing a modification to the developer within the process.  In 1860 Patrick's dual book-selling and photography business on Leven High Street was frequently advertised in local newspapers. However, as the 1866 notice in the Fife Herald of 17 May demonstrates, photography turned out to be John's vocation and the book-selling element of his work was dropped.  He moved to better premises at his own home, 'Photo Villa', at the Links in Leven.

In 1867, Patrick's photography business would move to Kirkcaldy and in 1884 on to Edinburgh.  Over the decades, he would capture many interesting subjects - events, places and people - including the Pictish symbols in the Wemyss Caves, the building of the Forth Rail Bridge, Scottish writer and philosopher Thomas Carlyle, Royal visits to Edinburgh and many postcard views of Edinburgh.  However, I find his very early work of Fife captivating and particularly cherish views around Largo and Lundin Links.  Below is a very busy scene at the Leven and Lundin Golfing Links. This scene was captured at the close of the 19th century. The course is crowded with spectators so it must have been a special event - if you have any suggestions as to what the event could have been - please comment.  It appears that fishing nets may be drying on poles by the beach on the right of the image.

John Patrick passed away at the age of 92, at the home of his daughter in Kennoway on 19 May 1923.  At that time the Fife Free Press reflected on the life of this well known "photographic artist", noting his "upright and genial character, his cultured mind, and his noteworthy artistic taste and accomplishments. He was successful with the brush as well as with the camera; and contributed landscape paintings to the Royal Scottish Academy and other exhibitions." Mr Patrick was survived by two sons and three daughters.