Orrin Erastus Freeman (1830–1866) was an American professional photographer in China and Japan. Freeman worked in the
ambrotype
The ambrotype (from grc, ἀμβροτός — “immortal”, and — “impression”) also known as a collodion positive in the UK, is a positive photograph on glass made by a variant of the wet plate collodion process. Like a pr ...
process.
For a short time, Freeman opened a photography studio in
Shanghai in 1859 before leaving China for Japan.
[Hannavy, John. (2007). ]
Freeman established a studio in
Yokohama in 1860. He is considered to have been the first Western professional photographer to establish a permanent residence in Japan.
[Hannavy, ]
He taught the elements of photography to
Ukai Gyokusen
was a pioneering Japanese photographer. Although he is much less well known than his contemporaries Shimooka Renjō and Ueno Hikoma, he is important for being the first Japanese professional photographer, having established a photographic studio ...
who established the first photographer studio in
Edo
Edo ( ja, , , "bay-entrance" or "estuary"), also romanized as Jedo, Yedo or Yeddo, is the former name of Tokyo.
Edo, formerly a ''jōkamachi'' (castle town) centered on Edo Castle located in Musashi Province, became the ''de facto'' capital of ...
(''Eishin-dō'') in 1861.
Gyokusen's camera, equipment and supplies were purchased from Freeman.
His death in 1866 was sudden. He is buried in Yokohama Foreigner's Cemetery (''Gaijin Bochi'').
Notes
References
* Bennett, Terry. (2006). ''Photography in Japan, 1853-1912.'' Boston: Tuttle. ;
* Hannavy, John. (2007). ''Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-century Photography.'' London: Routledge. ;
1830 births
1866 deaths
Photography in China
American expatriates in China
Photography in Japan
American expatriates in Japan
Pioneers of photography
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