Thomas Rodger (born 1832) was raised and educated in St Andrews. Originally studying chemistry at the University of St Andrews, he later turned to the art of photography. Although St Andrews was a major centre of photography at the time, Rodger was the first photographer in town with a professional studio. He is best known for his landscape images of the town and its surroundings, but his work with portrait photography was where he first rose to critical acclaim. Roger also wrote several theoretical works on various photographic techniques. He died in 1883 at the age of 50.