Photography
Imagine seeing for the first time a place in the world you have only
previously heard about in stories or read about in the newspaper. In the
age of the Internet and international broadcast companies, images of far
off places are not so difficult to obtain. Step back just 200 years and
such a feat would be unheard of. In the early 1860s, Canada, particularly
the western part of the country, was a wild and unexplored area and few
Europeans had ever gazed upon the majestic Rocky Mountains or seen the
shores of the Pacific Ocean. George Robinson Farden showcased photos he
had taken of Vancouver Island at London's International Exhibition in 1862
and the visual barrier officially came crumbling down. Photography may not
have changed the world, but it certainly changed the way people saw it.
Photography, in its most primitive forms has been
around since the early 19th century. Entrepreneurs from the United States
would often cross the border to sell daguerreotypes, images made with a
silvered plate and mercury vapour. In 1858, the Province of Canada sent a
photographer along on an exploratory mission into the western part of the
country, a sizable feat considering the weight and complexity of early
photography equipment. The photographs that came back proved to be some of
the first ever taken in Canada. During the gold rush in the late part of
the century, ambitious daguerreotypists headed north to seek a different
kind of fortune, plying their trade to the newly wealthy.
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Alberta photographer Peter Morrow. talks about what
factors he must consider when taking a photograph.
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One of Alberta's first photographic associations was
founded in 1938. The Edmonton Photo Club began as the Cine club where
members met to write, act and produce their own movies. The sharing of
photographs was soon introduced and competitions and prizes were awarded
for the most popular prints.
Today, institutions such as the
Alberta Professional Photographers
Association work as a supportive network to those who make their
living off of mirrored images. As a visual art, it is probably one of the
most versatile and accessible; though many attend courses and specialize
in photography, the average person is able to produce professional quality
prints.
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