From the archive
16 March 1914
JUST weeks away from the biggest global conflict the world had ever seen, an oblivious AP presented its latest annual round-up of photographicGeorge Cecil advised the use of mahogany cameras, and wrapping the lenses in velvet in an airtight case when not in use. ‘Another point to bear in mind is that plates are far more satisfactory than films, the latter invariably “sticking” in the summer’ and sometimes even in winter, especially on the humid Bombay coast. He also warned that UK retailers were ‘given to informing the Eastern-bound traveller that he cannot get his plates and films developed in India’. In fact, ‘in every large station throughout the peninsula the local European, half-caste and native photographers are quite capable of carrying out developing and printing work.’ profiled Mackenzie of Montreal. ‘When he pitched his tent under the maple leaf four years ago he was told it was of no use trying high-class photography on the Canadians. The Dominion had no time to be artistic… Of course, Mackenzie has laid the Jeremiahs out flat.’
