A Dirty History of Photography

“A Dirty History of Photography is a passionate, unusual, and conceptually rich exploration of photography’s complex material histories and ties to industrial capitalism. Starting with the premise that photography is both atmospherically and environmentally sensitive, Henning weaves a complex web that connects the chemical industry, industrial pollution, and the photograph.” – Siobhan Angus, author of “Camera Geologica: An Elemental History of Photography”“Film emerges here as a lively, sensitive, and sensing thing, responsive to the atmosphere and in turn generating new industrial environments—much like the humans who use the technology. Henning focuses on interwar Britain and Ilford, then expands from there, connecting to coal extraction imperialism, and beyond, demonstrating how deeply photography permeates domains of the social and industrial infrastructure, global trade, and cultural conceptions.” – Monica Bravo, author of “Greater American Camera: Making Modernism in Mexico”

Michelle Henning is chair in photography and media at the School of the Arts, University of Liverpool. She is the author of Museums, Media and Cultural Theory, Museum Media, and Photography: The Unfettered Image. She also works as an artist/designer, designing award-winning album covers for artists including PJ Harvey.