S. A. Ernst Photography

03/19/2015

4x5 Ambrotype of Lincoln Street, Lunenburg, showing the effects of the St. Patrick's day snowstorm.

02/10/2015

History is full of iconic photographs that stir our emotions many different directions. Looking at these slices of history, we tend to forget there was someone on the opposite end of the camera, preserving the moment for eternity. This portrait collection shows the real side of some of history's most amazing images, and the photographers who created them. A must see for all who appreciate photography.

Tim Mantoani has shot over 150 portraits of Famous Photographers with their iconic images in the book Behind Photographs: Archiving Photographic Legends. Photo Above: Steve Mcurry with 'Afgan Girl'. Steve McCurry holds his 1984 photo of a young woman…

10/27/2014

While preparing to give a talk on historic methods of photography at the NSCC this week, I made a demonstration of a Salt Print. This process was invented c.1839, and was the first method of printing on paper with a negative image, but was rarely used until the 1850s, due to the earlier success of the Daguerreotype process. While thinking of what image to use for the demonstration, I found it only fitting to make the image of the process' inventor, William Henry Fox Talbot (1800 - 1877).

08/27/2014

"40 Views of the Halifax Disaster - Showing effects of explosion December 6th 1917 and official list of identified dead", This book has just been reprinted from my original 1918 copy, and are available for $20.00 each. A great idea for the history buff in your family. Available at S. A. Ernst Photography, 129 Lincoln St., Lunenburg, or by sending a message at [email protected]

08/19/2014

Today is a very important day for Photography, for on this day 175 years ago, on August 19th, 1839, Louis Daguerre publicly announced the process of the Daguerreotype, and thus what we today know as photography was born. It wasn't long before the new invention came here to Nova Scotia, when William Valentine opened a studio in Halifax either late 1841 or early 1842. Attached is the earliest Daguerreotype in my collection, of a man and child, c.1843. (Photographer unknown. Purchased 2013 near Annapolis Royal, NS)

06/21/2014

Adjust your clocks for the "Summer Kick-Off" happening tomorrow at Power House Art Gallery and S. A. Ernst Photography! There will be food and drink, prepared by two of the chefs of Lunenburg's new "Rime" Restaurant, plus art and photo specials throughout the day! After a recent acquisition of Victorian clothes (thanks to costume history guru Jenny Milligan), I will be on hand to dress up and photograph anyone who would like to join in on the fun! So drop by tomorrow between 2:00pm and 10:00pm and check us out!

05/06/2014

New from S. A. Ernst Photography - Historic scenes of Nova Scotia greeting cards! These 5x7 cards are blank inside, with a stunning view of historic Nova Scotia on the front, from photos in the S. A. Ernst Historic Photography collection (some never before seen!). At left, Yarmouth waterfront, c.1870 by L. G. Swain, middle, Main Street, Liverpool, c.1924 by J. H. McLeod, and at right, the old Lunenburg Academy, c.1885, by L. A. Hirtle. These cards with envelopes are $5.00 each, or all three for $12.00. Send me a message if you have any questions, and stay tuned for more images in the future!

01/18/2014

In the Spring of 2013, someone came to my studio because they had heard that I used a number of antique cameras. He introduced himself as someone in the film industry, working on a film based on the trial of Lizzie Borden and the 1892 murders of her father and stepmother, Andrew and Abby Borden. I showed this gentleman my cameras, and he was quite intrigued. This followed with a number of phone calls from the technical and prop department, asking about the workings of cameras at that time. Eventually I was cast as the character of the photographer in the film. I took my 1890 Rochester Optical Co. Standard View Camera to Halifax, and for a few weeks in June and July, acted as an 1890s photographer for this film. I was also asked to teach the other actors playing photographers how their cameras worked, and basically became the historical consultant on Victorian photography. The film, now completed, will premiere on the Lifetime channel on Saturday, 25 January, 9:00 Atlantic Time. Here is a trailer for "Lizzie Borden took an Ax". I can be seen in the crowd of people outside the police station, at the far left, at the 45 second mark. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJBO66pNNf4

12/18/2013