Talk:John Thomas (photographer)

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Wales Mid‑importance

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Photography

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Parents[edit]

The headstone at the grave of his parents, David and Jane also of Glanrhyd: [1]. Martinevans123 (talk) 19:08, 15 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Additional source[edit]

Jones, Emyr Wyn (1956). "John Thomas of the Cambrian Gallery (John Thomas yr Oriel Gymraeg), 1838-1905". The National Library of Wales Journal. IX (4 (Winter 1956)): 395–391.

So the family grave, noted above, seems to have been at All Saint's church Cellan and not, as one might assume from the description, at St Mary's at Llanfair Clydogau. Martinevans123 (talk) 21:24, 16 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Someone could visit both churchyards and check, but strictly speaking we couldn't rely on that here because of the Wikipedia:No original research rule. Verbcatcher (talk) 21:55, 16 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Burial records seem to exist for 1813-1965: [2], presumably for both churches. Martinevans123 (talk) 13:04, 17 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

The article describes Glanrhyd as "a cottage on the banks of the River Teifi", and that it had collapsed by 1897. So the house wasn't at Pont Glanrhyd (1.5 km E of Llanfair Clydogau). Verbcatcher (talk) 21:58, 16 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

You're right. So not a farm house at all - Thomas' father was a labourer, not a farmer, after all. The Teifi runs more or less due south from Capel Mair in Llanfair down to Cellan. In fact the B2323 is right next to the river as it goes into Cellan. Except that if it was "a heap of stones" by 1897, it may never have been rebuilt. Martinevans123 (talk) 22:04, 16 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Another source[edit]

"John Thomas and Welsh Nonconformity".

This is self-published so it should be treated with caution, see Wikipedia:Identifying and using self-published works. The author cites sources which we might be able to follow up. The page on John Thomas' Method looks particularly useful. Verbcatcher (talk) 22:55, 16 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

This website identifies John Thomas as "the bearded man standing on the right" of this picture.

However, I can't find any confirmation for this identification. The notes on the commons page (also in the National Library of Wales website) do not confirm this, and identify John Thomas as the photographer. It's unlikely that he would be in a photograph he took himself, but an assistant may have released the shutter. If we can confirm the identification we should put this photo in the article, probably cropped to show just him - I'd put it in the infobox. Verbcatcher (talk) 12:25, 17 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

How fascinating and very intriguing. But what's the rationale? That someone else took the picture, or that he set it up and then quickly joined the group. I'm unclear as to how long the shutter had to remain open for this type of photography. Martinevans123 (talk) 12:55, 17 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I guess that Thomas posed the group and set up the camera, and then joined the group. Then someone else triggered the shutter (or removed the lens cap for the length of the exposure). If so, Thomas would probably be credited as the photographer. Verbcatcher (talk) 13:18, 17 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

The (anonymous) author lists these sources:

Woollen, Hilary; Crawford, Alistair (1977). John Thomas, 1838-1905, photographer. Llandysul: Gomer. ISBN 978-0850884579.
Jones, Iwan Meical (2008). Hen ffordd Gymreig o fyw : ffotograffau John Thomas = a Welsh way of life : John Thomas photographs. Talybont, Ceredigion: Y Lolfa. ISBN 978-1847710710.

These books are probably available in a library somewhere. Verbcatcher (talk) 12:52, 17 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

I found an ex-library copy of Woollen and Crawford on line for 64p. Should be delivered shortly! Martinevans123 (talk) 13:25, 17 July 2015 (UTC)[reply]

Excessive Images[edit]

As stated in Wikipedia:What Wikipedia is not, especially the section WP:NOTGALLERY "Wikipedia is not a mirror or a repository of links, images, or media files"
Specifically precluded are "Photographs or media files with no accompanying text."

2576 images is ridiculous - please select say 10-12 images, that are particularly important, write some decent explanatory text as to what the image shows, why it was selected, and why it is important, what impact it had, where it was used, what camera, film and other photographic equipment was used - and delete the rest. Yes I do mean delete over 2,500 images. - Arjayay (talk) 15:22, 16 April 2016 (UTC)[reply]