Iconic image from the history of photography



In 1917, Frances Griffiths returned home with wet feet after playing by the stream with her cousin Elsie Wright. In trouble again after being told repeatedly not to play there, her excuse for being near the stream started an illusion that would last for over 70 years - she told her mother she went to see the fairies.

 

They borrowed a camera, and returned it to Elsie's father for him to develop, after the initial surprise, Mr. Wright dismissed the fairies as cardboard cutouts. He knew his daughter was a talented artist who enjoyed drawing fairy figures. Eventually Mr. Wright stopped loaning his camera to his daughter and niece after they took another photo with Elsie posed next to what appeared to be a gnome.

 

The whole matter might have stayed a private affair, but in 1919 the mothers attended a philosophy meeting that included in its teaching the possibility of nature spirits. After the meeting was over the women approached the speaker about the pictures. This brought the photographs to the

 

Through word of mouth the pictures came to the attention of Conan Doyle, author of the Sherlock Holmes, who was also a member of the Spiritualist movement and believed that the living could communicate with the dead through psychics and seances. He was very open to the idea of fairies and welcomed the photos as evidence of a world beyond physical reality. Conan Doyle was unable to travel to interview the family, and instructed Mr Gardner to go in his place. 

After talking to the girls, Gardner reported to Conan Doyle that the girls were telling the truth. Conan Doyle then used the pictures in a story he was writing about fairies for The Strand magazine and suggested that more photographs be taken.

 

For many years the argument continued to speculate as to whether the girls had actually captured fairies on film.

 

Finally in 1981 and 1982 in an interview, Frances and Elsie admitted that the photographs had been faked.  Both ladies contended they had indeed seen real fairies near the stream.

 

Whether seen or not, the photographs have been used to communicate something not actually present at the time, and shoes that photo manipulation is not a new or digital invention.

The thought that the camera never lies has never truly been the case and photography still offers a medium by which to deceive or trick the viewer.