b. 1861; d. 2 August 1947
Alexander Keighley was born in Yorkshire, son of a wealthy industrialist. Pressed into his father's business, his ambition was to be an artist, and he found in photography the outlet he so badly needed.
At first Keighley took the view that photography should be a medium in its own right and not seek to emulate other forms of art. However, he subsequently changed his tune, his carbon prints being very heavily retouched.
A founder-member of the Linked Ring, his work was widely acclaimed; some of his "camera paintings", as he called them, are still masterpieces.
He was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society in 1911.
© Robert Leggat, 1999.