John W. Bald
Encyclopedia
John Witherspoon Bald was a Canadian photographer
who produced portrait
s, landscape and other commercial photographs. He recorded life in his community from 1890 until 1953 when he retired. Bald worked for both Midland newspapers, the Free Press and the Argus, and also developed an extensive post card business.
Bald first began his photographic business in Penetanguishene, Ontario
. In 1896 he purchased a studio in Midland on King Street. His photographic career began shortly after the introduction of gelatine dry plate
photography. This type of plate was commercially prepared and could be stored prior to exposure. This was a major improvement over the earlier collodion
wet plates, improving the process and freeing photographers to take photographs practically anywhere.
Bald’s work is a complete record of the life, work, and play of small town Ontario. Business, ships, harbour life, industries, social life, hunting, tourism, sports, and portraits are all subjects found in his work.
The Huronia Museum
in Midland has an extensive collection of Bald’s photographs, postcards, and equipment.
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
who produced portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
s, landscape and other commercial photographs. He recorded life in his community from 1890 until 1953 when he retired. Bald worked for both Midland newspapers, the Free Press and the Argus, and also developed an extensive post card business.
Bald first began his photographic business in Penetanguishene, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
. In 1896 he purchased a studio in Midland on King Street. His photographic career began shortly after the introduction of gelatine dry plate
Dry plate
Dry plate, also known as gelatin process, is an improved type of photographic plate. It was invented by Dr. Richard L. Maddox in 1871, and by 1879 it was so well introduced that the first dry plate factory had been established...
photography. This type of plate was commercially prepared and could be stored prior to exposure. This was a major improvement over the earlier collodion
Collodion
Collodion is a flammable, syrupy solution of pyroxylin in ether and alcohol. There are two basic types; flexible and non-flexible. The flexible type is often used as a surgical dressing or to hold dressings in place. When painted on the skin, collodion dries to form a flexible cellulose film...
wet plates, improving the process and freeing photographers to take photographs practically anywhere.
Bald’s work is a complete record of the life, work, and play of small town Ontario. Business, ships, harbour life, industries, social life, hunting, tourism, sports, and portraits are all subjects found in his work.
The Huronia Museum
Huronia Museum
The Huronia Museum is located in Midland, Ontario, Canada. The museum consists of the museum building and the Huron/Ouendat village . The museum is open year round and has nearly one million objects and receives some 20,000 visitors each year...
in Midland has an extensive collection of Bald’s photographs, postcards, and equipment.