James_AL_Downs
@magiclantern.bsky.social
Writer: 'Anton Walbrook' (2020) 'Joseph Pike' (2018) & 'A Carnal Medium' (2012), photohistorian, archivist of Middle East collections at Exeter University, runs the Digital Archive of the Middle East (https://dame.exeter.ac.uk/), collector & bibliophile
New blogpost on an interesting photograph album from the Pamir Boundary Commission of 1895, now digitised and available on DAME (the Digital Archive of the Middle East), documenting negotiations about border demarcation in Afghanistan
specialcollections.exeter.ac.uk/2025/11/21/t...
specialcollections.exeter.ac.uk/2025/11/21/t...
November 26, 2025 at 1:12 PM
New blogpost on an interesting photograph album from the Pamir Boundary Commission of 1895, now digitised and available on DAME (the Digital Archive of the Middle East), documenting negotiations about border demarcation in Afghanistan
specialcollections.exeter.ac.uk/2025/11/21/t...
specialcollections.exeter.ac.uk/2025/11/21/t...
Last week I was reading the late Roy Mottahedeh's 'The Mantle of the Prophet' and was struck by what he wrote (in 1984) about the staggering rate of Tehran's growth
www.iranintl.com/en/202511209...
www.iranintl.com/en/202511209...
November 26, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Last week I was reading the late Roy Mottahedeh's 'The Mantle of the Prophet' and was struck by what he wrote (in 1984) about the staggering rate of Tehran's growth
www.iranintl.com/en/202511209...
www.iranintl.com/en/202511209...
This carte-de-visite of one of my Fraser ancestors has always intrigued me
November 23, 2025 at 10:09 AM
This carte-de-visite of one of my Fraser ancestors has always intrigued me
Thank you. I recently reviewed this book and really wanted to write about how it would have been even better with some of your crow cyanotypes
November 23, 2025 at 7:18 AM
Thank you. I recently reviewed this book and really wanted to write about how it would have been even better with some of your crow cyanotypes
Poltimore
Kentmere Pan 400
Kentmere Pan 400
November 23, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Poltimore
Kentmere Pan 400
Kentmere Pan 400
Looking forward very much to reading this: 'The Indigenous Right of Reply to #Archives : Working towards Indigenous Sovereignty, Healing, and Justice in Archival Practice
November 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Looking forward very much to reading this: 'The Indigenous Right of Reply to #Archives : Working towards Indigenous Sovereignty, Healing, and Justice in Archival Practice
On the road to Jasana
November 16, 2025 at 4:56 PM
On the road to Jasana
My beetle collection
November 9, 2025 at 9:48 PM
My beetle collection
Enjoying a Pear Drop Royale (especially the crystallised ginger) while a lady sings Ella Fitzgerald's 'Let's do It' in the background - although the effect is somewhat ruined by the fact that while she croons, all I can hear in my head is Victoria Wood's 'Let's Do It: the Ballad of Barry and Freda'
November 8, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Enjoying a Pear Drop Royale (especially the crystallised ginger) while a lady sings Ella Fitzgerald's 'Let's do It' in the background - although the effect is somewhat ruined by the fact that while she croons, all I can hear in my head is Victoria Wood's 'Let's Do It: the Ballad of Barry and Freda'
Misty morning walk
November 8, 2025 at 7:13 AM
Misty morning walk
A year ago today I was exploring the ruins of Hatra, or al-Ḥaḍra - a vast three acre site that I had all to myself, and which contains some of the most fascinating archaeological structures I've ever seen
November 6, 2025 at 6:42 PM
A year ago today I was exploring the ruins of Hatra, or al-Ḥaḍra - a vast three acre site that I had all to myself, and which contains some of the most fascinating archaeological structures I've ever seen
A book that looks good enough to eat! Settling down to devour this brilliant new work by @annygaul.bsky.social
November 4, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A book that looks good enough to eat! Settling down to devour this brilliant new work by @annygaul.bsky.social
Grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza today. I may visit one day but am glad to have been to the old 'Museum of Egyptian Antiquities' in Cairo before they began transferring material.
www.archdaily.com/1035595/the-...
www.archdaily.com/1035595/the-...
November 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
Grand opening of the Grand Egyptian Museum at Giza today. I may visit one day but am glad to have been to the old 'Museum of Egyptian Antiquities' in Cairo before they began transferring material.
www.archdaily.com/1035595/the-...
www.archdaily.com/1035595/the-...
First November walk
November 1, 2025 at 8:44 AM
First November walk
Encountered in the woods today
October 26, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Encountered in the woods today
You can have a pint of Merry Monk here, which is veru appropriate on many levels
October 25, 2025 at 6:55 PM
You can have a pint of Merry Monk here, which is veru appropriate on many levels
Washing down a Waldorf salad with a bottle of chianti, all the while wondering if any occasion (centenary, social eclipse, full moon?) will be special enough to justify opening this
October 25, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Washing down a Waldorf salad with a bottle of chianti, all the while wondering if any occasion (centenary, social eclipse, full moon?) will be special enough to justify opening this
Although unearthed from Mount Batten, Plymouth, this coin originated in Dorset. I saw this in The Box and immediately thought of @durotrigesdig.bsky.social - some numismatics for #HillfortWednesday
October 22, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Although unearthed from Mount Batten, Plymouth, this coin originated in Dorset. I saw this in The Box and immediately thought of @durotrigesdig.bsky.social - some numismatics for #HillfortWednesday
Chilling out with today's post this evening @stoneclub.bsky.social
October 10, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Chilling out with today's post this evening @stoneclub.bsky.social
Sunday morning. I've already had a stroll through a Devon churchyard a few hours ago, now it's time to read up on some related folklore
October 5, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Sunday morning. I've already had a stroll through a Devon churchyard a few hours ago, now it's time to read up on some related folklore
A wonderful way to end Hell Tor 2025 with a panel of Steve Nallon, Claire Amias, Jonathan Rigby and Stephen Volk reflecting on their personal selection of ghostly film and tv clips
September 28, 2025 at 9:47 PM
A wonderful way to end Hell Tor 2025 with a panel of Steve Nallon, Claire Amias, Jonathan Rigby and Stephen Volk reflecting on their personal selection of ghostly film and tv clips
Pauline Moran and Jonathan Rigby in conversation at the Hell Tor festival this afternoon
September 28, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Pauline Moran and Jonathan Rigby in conversation at the Hell Tor festival this afternoon
Another of today's Hell Tor events - (Rev.)Peter Laws, author of 'The Frighteners: Why We Love Monsters, Ghosts, Death & Gore' and many other books & podcasts, exploring why as a society we feel drawn to the paranormal, and the human needs this may meet
September 28, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Another of today's Hell Tor events - (Rev.)Peter Laws, author of 'The Frighteners: Why We Love Monsters, Ghosts, Death & Gore' and many other books & podcasts, exploring why as a society we feel drawn to the paranormal, and the human needs this may meet