Forgive me for rambling on, but "Grumpy" has the little grey cells
jumping.

Regarding the value of images recorded today.

Years ago, when a bunch of us met every weekend to show slides in
someones basement, one of our number started taking station (depot)
pictures.

His enthusiasm for the subject was such that others in the
audience took up the same enthusiasm. For some of us, that enthusiasm
carries on to this day, enhanced by greater knowledge and wisdom.

Stations were fast vanishing in the 1970's. Because of one person's
enthusiasm, and the fact that he pointed out that most small town
station were living on borrowed time, we all went out taking station
pictures as well as train portraits.

Now, in the nineties, most of these stations are long gone and our
photos have historical value and intrest.

As to commercial value, Boston Mills Press in Ontario has published
several photo albums by Elizabeth A. Willmott. She photographed
Ontario depots in the 1960's and 70's. Her titles have names such as
"Down By the Depot" and are aimed at the nostalgia market. The texts
are anecdotal and the photo quality and reproduction is only fair.

These books have gone to several printings.

Still on the topic of areas of intrest, our slide shows were punctuated
by exclamtions such as "Look at that. Hold that slide". Was it something
about the train ?. No. It was the Trailways Silver Eagle bus, or the
"White Rose" gas station sign in the background which piqued someones
curiousity. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

Phil Mason


--> SPORRS: Serious Photographers of Railroad Related Subjects

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