Some great photos by a Great uncle

My Great Uncle, Harry Braine, set up the Dublin Camera club in 1945. Apparently he spent some time in the Tower of London having been arrested as a spy for being found with photos that were used to plan attacks with the bouncing bomb, or something like that. I say apparently as male members of my family have been know to talk a lot of shit, not least of all the oul lad, also named Harry Braine. Although his shit-talking is more fondly remembered.

Apparently, he also had one of the first cars in Dublin and he also invented the car battery, or at least a part of it. Although I have seen photos that give the latter some credence, and there's no doubting that he was a prominent member of the Photographic Society of Ireland. According to the History of the Dublin Camera Club (pdf), club meetings were sometimes held in his Drumcondra garage and he won many awards. The Bathers, above, is available to buy for a mere €300.00, maybe I'll buy it some day. But it's on a long list of currently unaffordable luxuries, and having my tattoo removed is top of the list.

Here are some other great shots he took. Some backstage photos from Dublin theater back in the day. Found at www.news4.ie

John Harry Braine.

P.S. Speaking of photography, here's a fascinating project:

  This exhibition features people whose lives are coming to an end. It explores the experiences, hopes and fears of the terminally ill. All of them agreed to be photographed shortly before and immediately after death.