NOSTALGIA, they say, is a thing of the past, when times were always better than they are now, naturally.

The reality may be very different, but a look back into the mists of time is always interesting, especially if it comes via sepia prints taken by professionals.

Which is just what Ray Jones' new book Pioneers of Photography is all about.

It's subtitled In the City of Worcester and Around and as far as this story is concerned it's the around' bit that is most interesting because Ray has looked back into the catalogues of professional photographers active in the city and its surrounding villages from the 1850s through to the mid-1940s and unearthed some gems.

Although all the snappers were city based, a good 50 per cent and probably more, of the book's content comes from their journeys out into the countryside. This was at a time when, presumably, they would have loaded their kit on to a horse or pushbike and journeyed to out to villages like Hallow, Great Witley, Kempsey and Ombersley.

Ray said: "Because early photographs were taken mainly in the studio, Victorian examples of everyday life and topographical scenes are few and far between.

"Fortunately, this situation was to change with the invention of the portable camera at the end of the 19th century.

"However, early portable cameras were bulky objects and we can only admire the enthusiasm and spirit of those who travelled around town and countryside in search of suitable subjects.

"The Edwardian era saw a rapid expansion in the number of local photographers in Worcester and they produced a vast array of work, which included social events, disasters, sporting occasions, family groups and nearby landmarks.

"Being a photographer in the pioneering years was primarily a way of life and not a licence to print money and many photographers pursued other occupations as well."

The images featured in the pages of Ray's book include the output of photographers such as Wifred T Clutterbuck, who specialised in scenes of local hunts and lived in Bozward Street, St John's, Worcester and George Colwell of Greenhill Villa, London Road, Worcester, who had his bike specially adapted to cope with the bulk of his camera and photographic equipment and took lots of hopyard pictures.

There are also examples from Max Fischer, a commercial printer who worked in Lowesmoor, Worcester and covered events such as village fetes, point-to-points and Territorial Army camps in order to provide photographs for Berrow's Worcester Journal's weekly picture supplements and Percy Parsons, who had a studio in College Street, where his wife Maud also ran The Faithful City Cafe.

Through the camera lenses of this quartet, and nearly 30 others, the book provides a patchwork of scenes from the days when motor cars were rare - although Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb had begun by the time George Colwell visited in 1910 - policemen were very large and most ladies' dresses covered their ankles.

Of course, what the images don't capture is the shockwave about to hit this apparently easy going society.

The storm clouds of the First World War were gathering and you can only wonder how many of the young men pictured died in foreign fields far away.

Ray Jones is a well-known local historian in Worcester. He was born in the city and educated at the Royal Grammar School. He has written several books about Worcester and over the years has amassed a comprehensive collection of images, more than 330 of which are featured in this coffee table hardback publication.

A word of warning. When you pick it up, it's hard to put down. Compulsive viewing, as they also say.

Pioneers of Photography by Ray Jones is published by Parkbarn at £16. On Saturday, February 9, Ray will be signing copies at Waterstones in The Shambles, Worcester.