Early in his career,
Hammond established himself as an important portrait photographer.
His early portraits were probably taken to illustrate articles
in the Globe. Eventually, many well-known Canadian artists and
writers sought his services for their publicity photos.
Judging from comments made in his diaries, Hammond seemed to
enjoy working with his sitters, even the most challenging, to
get the best possible view.
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“Carried
out my plan to photograph Thunder Cloud, the Blackfoot Indian
who has been posing in town recently. Met him and Frank
Johnston at the Arts and Letters Club at 11 O’clock
and worked away til 1:30. He was a dandy model, bright,
talkative, versatile, effusive, and sympathetic…I
made altogether 12 or 14 of him with what promises to be
fair luck. The last of all was a pose of my own creation,
a squat and dropped head suggesting disconsolate old age.
Had to do several by flash.“
April 6, 1913 |
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to see a larger image (77K)
Thunder Cloud at the Toronto Arts and
Letters Club, April 6, 1913
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0014540
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to see a larger image (61K)
Thunder Cloud at the Toronto Arts and
Letters Club, April 6, 1913
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0014538 |
Click
to see a larger image (57K)
Thunder Cloud at the Toronto Arts and
Letters Club, April 6, 1913
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0014542 |
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Most of his portraits were taken
in the Toronto Camera Club Studio. In spite of the plain backdrops
he usually used, Hammond’s ability to capture the distinctive
personalities of many of his sitters added definite colour.
“This
afternoon I went to Camera Club and made a bunch of photos
of Dot Rose. She is full of life and fun and verve and made
a good subject. …she seemed green at posing but had
lots of animation“
April 1, 1923 |
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see a larger image (85K)
Dot Rose, April 1, 1923
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0001083 |
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to see a larger image (85K)
Duncan Campbell Scott at home, May 10, 1927
Ottawa (Ont.)
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0001663 |
Over the years, his reputation as
a portrait photographer grew and many prominent Canadian artists
and writers sought his services for their publicity photos.
“
wakened by D.C Scott phoning me at 9:50…then to D.C.
Scott’s for lunch. Heavy rain. Mrs. Scott I found
in fine fettle, smoking cigarettes and reading Elmer Gantry.
Had lovely lunch and lots of good talk…made a lot
photos in Scott’s new music room, a fine spot about
20 x 35, beautifully furnished with many books. Quite dark
but I shot away.“
May 10, 1927 |
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a larger image (58K)
Mazo de la Roche, December 18, 1927
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0001693 |
“This
aft. I made photos of Mazo de la Roche, the celebrated author
of Jalna now the best selling novel in the U.S. she proved
about the hardest subject I ever had. She had been reluctant
and needed weeks of coaxing as she is camera shy. When she
came to the Camera club, she was late and still shy and
seemed nervous. She said she hated it as bad as going to
the dentist. But I got her talking in a desire to divert
her mind. She is terribly thin and for that reason, hard
to compose…At last, she put on her coat and seemed
more at home.“
December 18, 1927 |
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to see a larger image (116K)
Dancers at the Hippodrome, Toronto
April 1923
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0001065
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“by
an arrangement with miss Elston of Famous Players I went
to the Hippodrome at 11 to make photos of Florence Roggie,
a dancer and her instructor Lyonadoff, a Russian. Collins
and Goss of the Camera Club also came so we had an active
2 hours. Used flashes all together. Lyonadoff posed Florence
and two other girls beautifully on the stage, and we just
kept going hard as possible. Poses were very graceful and
artistic. We teased them for having dirty feet, and they
had, but they were beautiful in appearance in the poses.“
April 15, 1923 |
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to see a larger image (95K)
Dancers at the Hippodrome, Toronto
April 1923
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0001062
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to see a larger image (109K)
Dancers at the Hippodrome, Toronto
April 1923
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0001063 |
“Got
some prints from my dancing photos today, and then after
(to the) Executive at Camera Club, made 6 ½ x 8 ½
enlargements. Some of them look mighty fine. Even the small
prints excited comment among members. Bowers said “you
are very versatile. Just when we think you have gone dead
or dull, you break out with something new and startling.
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April 16, 1923 |
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