Annuals. British Journal of Photography 1981 Annual edited by Geoffrey Crawley.

Henry Greenwood & Co., 1980. Distributed in U.S.A. by Focal Press. Fine with fine protected dust jacket. Includes illustrated chapters on Bert Hardy by Leslie Shaw, David Attenborough by James Clement, the 1880s in photography with the advent of gelatin dry plates by Neville Maude, Towards the Electronic Camera by L. Andrew Mannheim, et al.  Photographers: Bert Hardy; David Attenborough; Frank Horvat; Michael Kenna; Wilf Nicholson; Ken Straiton; Mike Abrahams;  Mike Beddington; Kate Salway; Brian Fanning; Nic Walster; Naomi Weissman; Paul Yule; Amanda Currey; Karen Knorr; Carol Sharp; Martin Roberts; Otmar Landt; Marsha Polier; John Thornton; Michael Joseph; Barry Kay; Robert Dawson; Timothy Beddow; Chris Gregory; Hansjochen Heineche; Mike Hollist; Eddie Powell; John Knights, et al.  Summary:

The British Journal of Photography (BJP) 1981 Annual, edited by Geoffrey Crawley, is a distinct volume that focuses heavily on the intersection of legendary British photojournalism, the rise of natural history broadcasting, and the burgeoning "electronic" future of the medium.

Key Illustrated Chapters and Features

• Bert Hardy – "A Man of All Seasons" by Leslie Shaw: A major retrospective of the legendary Picture Postphotographer. This chapter celebrates Hardy’s empathetic documentation of the British working class, from the slums of Glasgow to the streets of London, cementing his status as a master of the "human interest" story.

• David Attenborough – "The Great Communicator" by James Clement: This unique chapter examines the photographic and cinematic challenges of natural history. It highlights Attenborough’s role in bringing the natural world to the screen and the specific technical demands of capturing wildlife for both stills and television.

• The 1880s: The Advent of Gelatin Dry Plates by Neville Maude: A scholarly dive into the history of the medium, Maude explores how the 1881 introduction of the gelatin dry plate revolutionized photography by freeing practitioners from the cumbersome wet-plate process, effectively birthing the "amateur" and "instantaneous" era.

• Towards the Electronic Camera by L. Andrew Mannheim: A visionary (and at the time, controversial) technical essay. Mannheim discusses the early prototypes of solid-state sensors and the shift from chemical film to magnetic and electronic storage—a remarkably accurate look at the digital revolution that was still a decade away.

Additional Highlights

• The Picture Section: Beyond the featured essays, the annual includes curated portfolios covering a wide range of contemporary themes, including architectural studies and industrial photography.

• Technical Reviews: True to Geoffrey Crawley’s editorial style, the book provides rigorous evaluations of 1980’s latest equipment, focusing on the refinement of the 35mm SLR and advancements in optics.

• Commercial and Professional Practice: Articles detailing the evolving business of photography in the U.K., including copyright issues and the changing landscape of professional studios.

Historical Significance

The 1981 Annual is particularly significant for its prophetic tone. While it honors the classic tradition of Bert Hardy, it simultaneously provides the technical blueprints for the digital age through Mannheim’s analysis. It captures a moment of deep reflection on where photography had been (the 1880s) and where it was inevitably headed (the electronic camera).