Response By

Roland Schubert

Dundas Street, looking East from Ridout Street, 1863

photograph Gift of Albert Coventry, 1982

Response

A 19th century photographer’s life consisted of many layers. Part scientist, part artist, and part entrepreneur. He or she coated glass plates with photo emulsion, set up a bulky wooden camera in a desired location, composed the image and exposed the glass negatives. The set-up process was then reversed, the cumbersome equipment carried to the studio/darkroom where the plates were developed. The images made, if storage and handling have been kind, give us a glimpse of a different time.

Photo of Roland Schubert sitting at desk in blue t-shirt

Roland Schubert is the owner of Colour By Schubert, which he opened with his wife Myra, and operates with his son, Dave Schubert. Colour By Schubert has been a favorite professional resource for many of London’s contemporary photographers and artists since 1982, when it opened. A photographer himself, Roland today runs one of the city’s best digital photo studios.