Today’s stereo by James Edward Ellam (1857-1920) is one that I posted on social media in early July to mark the start of The Open golf championship.

Its appearance in this series of blogposts throughout September allows it to sit within the context of other examples of James’s 3D photography.

Following yesterday’s “Sheep Shearing,” he again uses a title that succinctly describes what a viewer will see.

In this case, a nattily-dressed golfer is apparently about to putt the ball towards the hole watched by a small crowd of men and boys.

In terms of the fashions on view, the majority are wearing caps, but two men on the extreme left of shot stand out because their bowler hats. One even has a bow-tie.

There is also an impressive display of golf clubs and bags.

What is significant about James’s stereo is that he recorded the game of golf at a formative moment in Britain.

During the 1890s, more and more golf courses opened, terms like “par” and “bogey” entered the language and the Ladies Golf Union was formed (1893).

Here, James has used a lighter grey card on which to mount his prints which are approximately 2.75″ x 3″.

The prints themselves shows signs of slight fading, but the overall 3D effect is still very much intact.

Tomorrow: “Winter.”

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