Our Approach
At Lumen Photographic Conservation, every project begins with a careful understanding of the collection and its unique needs. We combine over two decades of professional expertise with a thoughtful, practical approach, ensuring that each photograph is treated with respect for its material, historical, and personal significance.
Our work carefully preserves the artist’s intention and the integrity of each photographic format, whether a 19th-century daguerreotype, a contemporary print, or a digital image. Guided by established codes of ethics and the use of conservation-quality materials, we provide collaborative advice and treatments tailored to each client. Our goal is not only to stabilise preserve and conserve photographic materials but also to empower custodians with the knowledge and strategies to care for their collections into the future.
Case study I
Before Treatment
Platinum Print. Magnified Detail, various deposits.
After Treatment
Platinum Print. Magnified Detail.
Case study II
Before Treatment
Inkjet Print. Magnified Detail. Mould deposits.
After Treatment
Inkjet Print. Magnified Detail.
Case study III
Before Treatment
Albumen print. Tears and Folds. Detail.
After Treatment
Albumen print. Tears and Folds. Detail.
Case study IV
Before Treatment
Albumen print. Large Tears through image. Detail.
After Treatment
Albumen print. Large Tears through image. Detail.
Case study V
Before Treatment
Polaroid, Backing Removal. Detail.
After Treatment
Polaroid, Backing Removed. Detail.
Case study VI
Before Treatment
Framed Daguerreotype with broken seal and backing. Verso.
After Treatment
Framed Daguerreotype with new conservation seal and repaired backing. Verso.
Case study VII
Before Treatment
Glass plates negative.
Old Housing.
After Treatment
Glass plates negative.
Old Housing.
Case study VIII
Before Treatment
Albumen Print. Pressure Sensitive Tape with associated tear and Staining. Detail. Verso.
After Treatment
Albumen Print. Detail. Verso.
Testimonials
Àngels restored a large late C19th platinum print for me, which was in poor condition. She involved me in each stage of the process, and I felt throughout that my photograph was in expert hands. I was absolutely delighted with the result.
Private Client
I am a private collector of photography and have used Àngels Arribas on several occasions. These works were carried to a very high standard. I was particularly impressed by how she repaired my stereo daguerreotype. The glass had broken in several areas, and it was touch and go whether the daguerreotype could be saved. Incredibly, she carried out the repairs to visually the same standard as the originals.
Private collector of photography
I have had the pleasure of asking Àngels Arribas to speak to my students of all ages, many collectors and art historians amongst them. We have all enjoyed the instructive, educational and serious work of Àngels who explained so much of her work. From learning exactly how to handle and store prints to understanding how the most complex of repairs and damage caused by all manner of misfortunes, can be made, her results are exemplary.
Independent Curator
Àngels has worked with us on a variety of photographic projects for over a decade now, including undertaking painstaking conservation work on early C20th photographs which had been damaged by mould, giving practical preservation advice for our photographic prints collection, and providing tailor-made training for our staff on appraisal and cleaning of our collection of C19th glass lantern slides. Her depth of knowledge, range of expertise, attention to detail, and friendly approach have all been fantastic, and it’s a pleasure to work with her. Her expert work has ensured our photographic archives will be accessible to researchers for generations to come.
Helen Weller, Archivist at Westminster College, Cambridge
We have known Àngels Arribas for many years and have always been happy to entrust photographs to her for conservation. A recent example was a group of rare ambrotype portraits, the images in good condition, though separated from their badly broken cases and extremely vulnerable. Involving us at each stage and ensuring all materials used were of the appropriate conservation grades, she was able to remove the ambrotypes from their damaged primary housings, conserve or replace their decaying backing materials, seals and cover glasses and repair their cases, matching any repairs beautifully with the originals. The portraits are now secure in their elegant cases and look just as they should.
Stewart & Skeels Ltd
We have requested conservation assistance over a number of years from Àngels Arribas of Lumen Photo Conservation. She has conserved many important images for us. For example, she repaired tears on a rare and important early albumen print panorama of China with great skill.
Our most significant collaboration with Àngels Arribas was on a project to conserve a very large collection of John Ruskin’s daguerreotypes which had been lost for many years until we discovered them. This was one of the most comprehensive and ambitious daguerreotype conservation projects ever undertaken by either a private collector or a museum. Àngels' technical skills on the Ruskin project were exemplary and if possible her care and complete dedication to preserving the integrity of these important photographs was even more impressive. We can recommend her highly.
Jenny Jacobson and Ken Jacobson