Bedford Lemere
Lucy is currently employed by English Heritage as an Assistant Conservator with the 'Bedford Lemere' collection of photograph negatives. Bedford Lemere was a leading architectural photography firm in the late 19th to early 20th centuries. English Heritage are currently running a project to conserve, catalogue and digitise the collection; averaging approximately 29,000 negatives. This will then reduce handling and eventually allow the images to be digitally accessed by the public. As an Assistant Conservator, Lucy is responsible for the cleaning of the negatives and highlighting those needing more in depth conservation. This aspect of the project is nearing completion, with the estimated finish of March 2012. For further information about English Heritage please visit the link below: English Heritage The Cleaning of Negatives
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*(Please note that this image is a result of the manipulation of a photograph of its corresponding negative. It is not a print from the negative and therefore is not an exact likeness of the original photograph or any digital reproductions).
Conservation Methods
During her contract, Lucy has had the opportunity carry out more in depth conservation of broken negatives and those with suffering from peeling emulsion (a gelatine layer above the glass in which the image is suspended).
Flush Repairs
This type of repair is used in the conservation of negatives where the emulsion layer has become delaminated from the glass. The negative is stabilised through securing a layer of repair glass (of the exact size) above the emulsion. This allows the negative to be safely handled whilst not effecting digitisation.
Negative Before Conservation
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Detail of the Peeling and Risen Emulsion Layer
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The Repair Glass is placed Above the Emulsion Layer and Secured with Archival Adhesive Strips
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All Edges are Taped and Cut Back to Reveal the Entire Image
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Resulting Image (from the Aerofilms collection)
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