‘Ahead of his time’ – exhibition to celebrate work of pioneering photographer John D. Rattar
A FRESH perspective on the pioneering work of one of Shetland’s most celebrated photographers is set to be unveiled this week.
Shetland Museum and Archives is set to mark the 150th anniversary of John D. Rattar with the exhibition A Time to Keep, which will open on Saturday.
It offers a new appreciation of Rattar’s work, inviting visitors to look beyond the iconic images that have been part of isles homes for generations.
Combining large-scale prints, original photographs and personal objects, the exhibition reveals the artist, explorer and visual historian behind the camera.
While visitors will instantly recognise many of Rattar’s iconic photographs, the exhibition also uncovers lesser-known portraits, wildlife studies and landscapes.
Born in Fethaland in 1876, Rattar’s father died at sea when he was just six weeks old. He was raised by his mother in Northmavine before the family later moved to Whalsay and then Lerwick.
Photography started as a hobby, but despite being entirely self-taught and working with modest equipment during an era when photography was technically demanding and cumbersome, he became one of Shetland’s finest photographers.
Exhibitions officer Karen Clubb said Rattar was a pioneer whose work extended far beyond simply recording landscapes.
“J.D. Rattar was one of Shetland’s most respected photographers, leaving an extraordinary visual record of the islands and their people,” she said.
“Entirely self-taught, he achieved remarkable success despite working with modest equipment and in often challenging conditions.
“Driven by patience, curiosity and an unwavering commitment to his craft, he travelled the length and breadth of Shetland, his car often carrying a small boat so he could reach remote lochs and capture landscapes from unique viewpoints.
“He was documenting life in Shetland when few others were doing so. His images feel natural and unposed, and in many ways he was ahead of his time.”
Shetland Museum and Archives said Ratter photographed every aspect of island life, “from bustling fishing stations to crofting, textiles, children at play and historic events”.
It added that he would often go to “extraordinary lengths to achieve the perfect image.”
Rather than presenting his work chronologically, A Time to Keep has been arranged thematically, exploring land, sea, work, play, textiles and historic events.
Shetland Museum and Archives said the exhibition had been designed to take visitors “beyond photographs on a wall”, with the Gadderie space being transformed with dark grey walls to provide a “striking backdrop for Rattar’s black and white images”.
A reconstructed bird hide will also celebrate Rattar’s passion for wildlife photography.
Shetland museum’s senior curator of collections, Carol Christiansen, said the exhibition encourages visitors to look beyond Rattar’s most familiar photographs.
“People will recognise some of his most iconic images, including Johnnie Jamieson and the young lass carrying the milk pail in Law Lane, but we’ve also selected portraits that many people won’t immediately recognise as Rattar’s work.
“Rattar was operating at so many different levels. One day he might be photographing a tiny newly hatched bird or a nest of eggs, and the next he would be documenting a bomb crater or a shipwreck.
“He was an explorer of Shetland in every sense – geographically, culturally and artistically. He noticed something special about these islands and their people and preserved it with extraordinary sensitivity.”
A Time to Keep: Celebrating 150 Years of J.D. Rattar opens at Shetland Museum and Archives on Saturday 18 July and runs until 11 October 2026.
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