Fotoğraflar

Richard Chamberlain Collection

The Richard Chamberlain collection contains around 300 black and white photographs, out of which around 160 were presented through the pages of the publication “Cyprus scenes and way of life 1954”. The collection is mainly focused in and around the town of Famagusta where the photographer was stationed as a soldier of the British army in 1954, but also features other areas of the island he visited during his military service. Unlike other photographers of the time, Richard Chamberlain did not stage or set the scenes he would photograph and did not focus on his military service. Instead, he turned his camera towards candid and casual moments happening around him, resulting in a unique and genuine testament of life in Cyprus in 1954.

Richard Chamberlain was born in England on 30 January 1935. At the age of 16, he got interested in photography after his older brother Michael made him a little camera out of a Colman’s mustard tin, which he used to take pictures of classmates in school. He first arrived in Cyprus as a British soldier at Nicosia airport on 28 May 1954, just a week before the military parade for Queen Elizabeth’s birthday in Famagusta which he photographed and is a significant part of his collection. As a Special Wireless Operator for the Royal Signals Regiment, he was stationed at “4 Miles Point” in Famagusta and that is why his collection is primarily focused on the town and its people. After returning to England he visited Cyprus about 15 times before finally deciding to move to the island. He now lives in Kyrenia.

In 2010, Richard Chamberlain published most of his 1954 images in his book “Cyprus Scenes and Way of Life in 1954/55” and in a second publication “Cyprus Scenes and Way of Life in 1954/55 and Sixty Years Later in 2014” revisiting most of the sites where he took his photos in 1954.

In 2021, he donated his photographic collection to the Centre of Visual Arts and Research in Nicosia, to be studied and published as a testament to life in Cyprus in 1954. The images that comprise the online collection were reproduced from the original black and white negatives. The titles were taken from inscriptions to the photographs given by the photographer in his publication. Where no inscriptions were available the titles were generated by the cataloguer describing the depicted subject. CVAR holds digital reproductions of the originals and shares copyrights with Richard Chamberlain.

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Local young men on Famagusta Harbour Wall
1954

Famagusta Harbour was very busy in those days
1954

A tug stands by and the fishing boats hang out their nets to dry
1954

An old fisherman takes the opportunity to have "40 winks"
1954

Famagusta docks lit up at night
1954

A naval boat lit up at night
1954

Nicosia Airport with a Dakota aeroplane waiting to take off
1954--05--28

A 4-engined passenger plane at Nicosia Airport. A very big difference to flying today
1954--05--28

The Queens Birthday Parade June 1954
1954--06--06

The crowds watch the parade
1954--06--06

Three cheers for the Queen! The soldiers raise their hats
1954--06--06

The Cypriot Police showing how smart they are
1954--06--06

This was my regiment, the Royal Signals. If I had arrived on the island a week earlier I would have been on parade so these photos would have not existed
1954--06--06

The crowds of Cypriots enjoy their official days holiday to celebrate the Queens Birthday
1954--06--06

The 21 gun salute to celebrate the Queens Birthday
1954--06--06

The school girls watch the parade and put their hands over their ears when the 21 gun salute goes off
1954--06--06

Famagusta Old City
1954

Famagusta Old City Wall and the main entrance to the city
1954

Large old cannon that was on the Old City Wall
1954

Namik Kemal, with St Nicholas church/Lala Mustafa Pasha Tower in the background
1954

In 1954 one was allowed to climb up the inside of the Lala Mustafa Tower. This picture of Famagusta Old City was taken through one of the shaped holes on the top of the tower.
1954

This picture was also taken from the Lala Mustafa Pasha Tower, without the shape framing it. The city wall and gate can be seen in the distance
1954

Side by side can be seen the large Church of St George of the Greeks and St Nicholas Cathedral/Lala Mustafa Pasha Camii inside the walls of Famagusta
1954

This photo was taken from Famagusta Old City Wall. There appears to be a large dip in the ground that may be some sort of animal pen
1954

Richard Chamberlain Collection