Camera Monte Fragum

The Camera Monte Fragum (Strawberry Hill Camera) was inspired by a project at Strawberry Hill House, an amazing gothic folly in south west London built in the 18th Century by Horace Walpole, son of the famous British prime minister.  The camera borrows a few architectural features from the house, and was created in very much the same spirit.  It’s an 11×14″ studio camera, mounted on a custom made stand.  The lens is a Bausch and Lomb Portrait 3A, 16″ f/4, a Petzval design of unusual size (it weighs 6kg!), made in the early 1900s.  It’s mainly used as a portrait camera shooting paper negatives, which suit the low contrast, uncoated lens.  The wafer thin depth of field, classic Petzval character of the lens and soft focus control yield portraits with an ethereal quality which have proved extremely popular with sitters.  It currently resides at a local charity, Integrated Neurological Services, taking portraits of the clients, their carers, volunteers and staff.