A History of Photography, by Robert Leggat: BEARD, Richard

BENNETT, Henry Hamilton

b. Jan 15, 1843, d. Jan 1, 1908

Bennett was a noted landscape photographer, born in Canada. A carpenter by trade, this activity was cut short following a serious accidental discharge of his own gun during the Civil War. In 1865, he turned his hand towards photography, buying a tintype portait studio.

He developed a considerable interest in stereo photography, producing a stereo catalogue in the early eighties.

Bennett was also an inventor of several items that enhanced photography, in particular an instantaneous shutter which enabled him to freeze action. The picture shows part of one of his famous shots: "Leaping the Chasm at Stand Rock" - a quite remarkable photograph for the times.

His "Story of Raftsmen's Life on the Wisconsin River" was published in 1886, and made the Winsconsin Dells a famous tourist area.

It is a pity that Bennett's work does not feature much in histories of photography. He deserved better. More about this outstanding photographer can be found at the H.H.Bennett Studio and History Centre.