名称: Group photo of imperial officials/朝廷大员合影
类别: Albumen Print/蛋清照片 
日期: 1870
尺寸: 22x29cm 



名称: Distant view of Hong Kong/远眺香港
类别: Albumen Print/蛋清照片 
日期: 1870
尺寸: 20x26cm 


William Pryor Floyd (1834-1900) was born in Cornwall, England, into a family that ran a local inn. Between 1863 and 1864, he worked as an assistant photographer at R. Shannon & Co. in Shanghai, where he gained foundational experience in studio photography and portraiture. Floyd later moved to Macau to establish his own studio, demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit and ambition in a rapidly developing photographic market. In 1866, he joined Silveira & Co.’s studio in Hong Kong, and by 1867 he became the proprietor of the firm, rebranding it as Floyd & Co. and establishing the “Victoria Photographic Studio” at 62 Queen’s Road Central, Hong Kong.

威廉·普赖尔·弗洛伊德（William Pryor Floyd，1834-1900）出生于英国康沃尔郡，家族经营客栈。1863年至1864年间，他在上海R. Shannon & Co.摄影工作室担任助理摄影师，积累了摄影和肖像拍摄的基础经验。随后，他移居澳门创办个人工作室，展现出在快速发展的摄影市场中的创业精神与野心。1866年，他加入香港Silveira & Co.工作室，1867年成为其负责人，并将其更名为弗洛伊德摄影公司（Floyd & Co.），在香港皇后大道中62号开设“维多利亚照相馆”。 

Floyd emerged as one of Hong Kong’s most significant photographers of the mid-19th century. His studio achieved considerable commercial success, becoming one of the most prominent photographic enterprises in the Far East. Floyd’s work exemplified the Victorian-era studio portrait style, capturing not only European expatriates but also prominent local figures, offering a rare visual record of Hong Kong society during a period of rapid urban and cultural transformation. His artistry lay in his meticulous composition, attention to lighting, and the ability to convey the dignity and personality of his subjects, characteristics that aligned with the finest contemporary portraiture of the era.

Competition in Hong Kong’s photographic market was fierce. Floyd contended with photographers such as John Thomson and Afong, engaging in prolonged pricing battles that ultimately affected his business. In 1872, facing commercial pressures, Floyd sold his studio to Danish photographer Emil Riisfield. Around 1873, Floyd traveled extensively across China, photographing in Xiamen, Fuzhou, and Beijing, expanding his repertoire and documenting the urban and social landscapes of late Qing China. By 1875, he sold his Hong Kong operations and relocated to the Philippines, continuing his photographic pursuits.

Floyd’s work is now recognized for its historical and artistic significance. Many of his prints, particularly studio portraits and images of colonial Hong Kong, are preserved in prestigious collections worldwide, including the Hong Kong Museum of History and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. These works not only offer insight into 19th-century photographic techniques and aesthetic preferences but also serve as invaluable historical documents, capturing the multicultural milieu of Hong Kong and southern China during the colonial era. Floyd’s photographs remain important references for scholars of photography, colonial history, and visual culture in East Asia.  

弗洛伊德是19世纪中期香港极具影响力的摄影师之一，其工作室曾成为远东地区最重要的摄影机构之一。他的作品以维多利亚时期肖像风格为特色，既拍摄欧洲侨民，也记录当地名流，为当时香港社会留下珍贵影像资料。弗洛伊德擅长构图、光线运用，以及传达拍摄对象的尊严与个性，体现了当时高水平的肖像摄影艺术。

在激烈的商业竞争中，弗洛伊德曾与约翰·汤姆逊、阿芳等摄影师进行长期价格战。1872年，因商业压力，他将工作室出售给丹麦摄影师埃米利·瑞斯菲尔德。1873年前后，他前往厦门、福州、北京等地拍摄，拓展题材与记录范围。1875年，他出售香港业务，迁居菲律宾继续从事摄影工作。

弗洛伊德的作品现被视为具有重要历史与艺术价值，尤其是工作室肖像和香港影像，收藏于香港历史博物馆、伦敦维多利亚与阿尔伯特博物馆等机构。这些作品不仅展示了19世纪摄影技艺与审美，还记录了殖民时期香港及华南地区的多元社会面貌，对于研究摄影史、殖民历史与东亚视觉文化具有重要参考价值。>>返回>>