SUMMARY
Fred Judge, a postcard salesman, was an early pioneer of London night photography, publishing 'Camera Pictures of London at Night' in 1924. He developed a DIY camera setup using a cinema lens with a wide f/1.9 aperture and often eschewed tripods, instead bracing his rig against lamp posts for stability. This innovative approach allowed him to capture images after dark when photography was primarily a daylight medium. A facsimile reissue of his photobook highlights his ingenuity, demonstrating techniques that predate more famous night photographers and resonate with modern low-light challenges.
TAKEAWAYS
Fred Judge photographed London at night in the 1920s, predating Bill Brandt.
He built a custom camera with a fast f/1.9 lens to capture low-light exposures.
Judge often used lamp posts for stability instead of a tripod.
A facsimile of his 1924 photobook, 'Camera Pictures of London at Night,' has been reissued.