Capturing a Moment in Time
Condition Photography at Glensheen, the Historic Congdon Estate.
Over the past few months I have been working on photographing the main floor and basement of Glensheen. These photos are not used for marketing or promotion; they are used to document the house and the items. The photos that I have been taking are considered Condition Photos. Just like their title, they are used to show the current condition of the house. They can also provide for a more in depth inventory, and help to preserve the history of the estate.
With photographing an historic estate, there is a lot to capture. Not only do individual items have to be photographed, but the entire room has to be captured as well. This means that the floors, ceilings, drapery, windows, and walls also need to be documented. As you can imagine this can result in a substantial amount of photos. The second room I photographed was the Reception Room, next to the main entryway. This is one of the smallest rooms in the house, but it resulted in over one thousand photos. The Living Room, one of the largest rooms of the house, resulted in over three thousand photos. After they are taken, the photos then have to be uploaded, sorted, and stored in such a way that is comprehensible for anyone who may search through them over the coming years.
It is important to show the layout of the items, and the estate. Wide photos are needed so that a large majority of the room can be shown. This provides for an insight into what was displayed in the room, and in what position. Closer photos are needed to show small details, manufacturing logos, or damage to the item or structure. Even a single item may result in a substantial amount of photos. General photos need to be taken of an item, as well as closer photos, from all angles. For instance, if I was taking photos of a lamp, I would take them from all sides, showing the entire lamp. Then, I would take photos of just the lamp shade and just the body of the lamp. This allows for isolated detail of individual parts of the lamp to be shown. Other parts will also need to photographed. This includes the light, any attachments, and the power cord.
This process has allowed me to view Glensheen’s collection in a way that few people have before. By photographing every item, I have been able to see details that are often missed by visitors, or other staff members. Many items are hard to see while on a tour, or there is not enough time to fully take in the details of an item. Not many people can say that they have spent weeks in Glensheen’s Library. This room has been my favorite to photograph so far.
What I have found most interesting, during my time photographing the house, is the amount of life that can still be seen in the house. The traces of the everyday life of the Congdon family can still be seen throughout. From scratches in the floor to dents from furniture, it is easy to see that Glensheen has been a well lived in home for several decades. The Library is one such room that shows some of the character of the family. I believe that this is shown in the book collection. This collection has been one of my favorite portions to photograph, but it has also been one of the most challenging, since a good amount of the collection sits behind glass. When items sit behind glass, there is often glare that makes it difficult to see and capture what is behind it. The collection ranges from the driest of educational books, to world travel, and even includes the complete works of Edgar Allen Poe.
Anyone who has visited Glensheen has been told of the architectural magazine that photographed the house circa 1910. These photos have given us the chance to see the design and layout of the house when the family moved in. These photos allow Glensheen to be as close to original as possible. The Condition Photos of 2014–2015 can also help to preserve Glensheen by seeing how well the items and the estate are aging. Condition Photography is a convenient way to document which items are on display in the house, and how the estate is currently arranged. By better understanding the layout and design of the estate we can help to preserve the legacy of Glensheen for years to come.
