In Hammond’s day,
Camera Clubs were important places for amateur
photographers to develop their craft and gain exposure to the
latest technical and stylistic innovations. Hammond joined the
Toronto Camera Club in 1906 and remained an active
member for the rest of his life. Over a 28 year period, he submitted
hundreds of his prints for exhibition in the club’s salons,
juried exhibitions and other photography exhibitions in Canada
and in the United States. We know from diary entries that his
submissions were often successful, winning many prizes and honorable
mentions.
The annual juried photography exhibition held in conjunction
with Canadian National Exhibition (C.N.E) every
summer in Toronto was particularly important for Hammond. Not
only did it provide an opportunity to have his work seen by a
wide audience, but it also was a place to discover new photographers
and the latest photographic trends.
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Hammond was competitive about his
photography and was often more than a little disappointed when
his work wasn’t selected for exhibit.
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“On
the way home, Clara and I went to the Camera Club to see
the Exhibition. There are 93 prints, with some real good
ones, but I saw lots that were no better than my own.“
April 3, 1907 |
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Ontario College of Art Students, February 2, 1931
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0016546
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Ontario College of Art Students, February 2, 1931
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0016677 |
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It is
difficult to identify exactly which negatives Hammond printed
for submission. Even though he provides the titles of his entries
in his diaries, few of the negatives have corresponding titles.
This section provides a selection of images that
are believed to be some of the images Hammond submitted for exhibition.
![Photograph: University of Toronto, [ca. 1910-1930]](pics/17251_uoft_270.jpg)
University of Toronto, [ca. 1910-1930]
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0017251
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“Came
to St. Antoine first. It is a pretty little village, winding
along the Richelieu, with the usual French-Canadian houses,
old and new, low with dormer roofs, friendly and neighbourly.
In front of a store, two old men were playing checkers and
later I got them into the sun and made a photo.“
August 17, 1923 |
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Men playing checkers at St. Antoine, 1923
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0017240 |
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![Photograph: Sulpician Towers, Montreal, [ca. 1910-1930]](pics/16680_two_towers_520.jpg)
Sulpician Towers, Montreal, [ca. 1910-1930]
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0016680 |
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Tugboat "Detroit", Buffalo harbour,
April 16, 1927
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0001655
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Lane behind University of Toronto, June 1923
Toronto (Ont.)
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0001130 |
“My
Sunday afternoon quiet was broken by a phone message from
J. W. Beatty that he had been one of the judges at the Camera
Club Salon today and that I had been awarded the bronze
medal! This sure was big news, and a fitting recognition
of a lot of study and thought I have put into my pictorial
photography recently. I was very well pleased. “
March 17, 1912 |
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![Photograph: Frances Turner, [ca. 1930]](pics/16678_portrait_of_girl_270.jpg)
Frances Turner, [ca. 1930]
M. O. Hammond
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0016678 |
![Photograph: The Paper Mill, [ca. 1910-1930]](pics/16681_smokestakes_270.jpg)
The Paper Mill, [ca. 1910-1930]
M. O. Hammond
Black and white negative
Reference Code: F 1075
Archives of Ontario, I0016681 |
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