Fairground swing boats, 1898

A photograph taken by Paul Martin at a fair on Hampstead Heath in London in 1898. People in their Sunday-best clothes relax on a bank near a line of swing boats. These swings were powered by people pulling energetically on ropes. Crowds are busy amongst the stalls and other fairground attractions off to the left. Paul Martin is regarded as a pioneer of photo journalism. In 1892 he bought a 'Facile' - a popular hand camera made by Fallowfield of London. With his camera disguised as a leather case, he was able to work unobserved, taking the candid photographs of daily life which are recognised as his greatest work.