During the First World War many soldiers elected to take a camera to the front line in order to document their experiences while in service. While this was later discouraged by the British War Office, many still kept cameras under the radar, leading to many evocative and revealing pictures of life on the front line.
The First World War is certainly one of the first major events in history that is almost entirely documented photographically, and this gave me an idea for a little armistice project to mark the centenary this year.
One of the most popular cameras of this period was the Kodak ‘Vest Pocket’ camera. Dubbed the ‘soldiers’ camera due to its popularity within the armed forces, it was designed to fold up and slip away into a pocket – much smaller than many modern day digital camera. It was also simple and easy to use: perfect for the amateur photographer.
Searching online I managed to find one of these beauties still in working order, and after a practice reel (only one – because it turns out that 127 film is hard to get hold of and expensive both to buy and to develop) I took it out to France and Belgium and the battlefields and memorials of the First World War just as the soldiers might have done a century ago. Who knows – maybe this camera was even there first time around.
With only eight photos on my reel of film – and minimal knowledge of film photography – I was very pleased with the results…
Overall, my little project was successful, I think. I look forward to more adventures with my little camera.
(Also, a special shoutout to Express Imaging in Cardiff for developing this film)
– Emily
More information on the Vest Pocket Camera and the First World War: CLICK HERE
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