My camera is a passport to a world of amazing discoveries

My adventures began as a five year old. I started spending wondrous times with my dad in the quiet glow of his darkroom. I took great pride with my responsibility to gently rock the prints in the hypo tray. Ah, the sound of gurgling water and the warm orange glow from the safe lights. I was totally enthralled by seeing an image come alive in the developing tray...pure alchemy! It comes as no surprise when I say I frequently retreat to this magical zone.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white old vintage shot of two men on a horse carriage.

Yousuf Karsh

Yousuf Karsh was my mentor... truly a great honour and privilege! I was about 8 years old when my dad introduced me to Yousuf. I then met him repeatedly in his Ottawa studio which was located almost across the street from the camera shop where I worked. Back then I was the 'go for' kid. So I'd hand deliver what ever was needed by his studio. This lead me to spending time in his darkroom and watching the artful retouching of negatives. He liked my youthful enthusiasm. Yousuf truly loved b&w with the conviction it has a visual powerful lacking in colour. He talked with me about his portraits in the context of photojournalism and I'm guessing this is the reason he honoured me with his wisdom.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white image of a woman holding a vintage camera to her face.

It was a time like no other

I even spent a wonderful eye opening weekend with Ansel Adams and his wife at his home in Carmel, California. Ansel said; “what would the purists say” as he tossed a print into his microwave. It was a time like no other. I even had the opportunity to spend an afternoon with Diane Arbus in New York. While visiting VOGUE I got to shake hands with Irving Penn...incredible. Photo credits include Life Magazine, Newsweek, Time, Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, ELLE, Chatelaine, Fortune, and even Playboy (editorial, nothing risque), Stern, Fortune to mention the more prominent.

Crombie McNeill. Sepia image of a boat on the beach.

My 6-decade career

My 6-decade career in photojournalism started almost by accident! In 1957, the Ottawa Citizen published my early morning shot of St. John's harbour which I took with my trusty 3.5 Tessar Rolleiflex. In 1963, the Ottawa Journal offered me a staff position paying an extravagant salary of $62.50 per week. Having a 6x6 camera was mandatory without the Rollei, no job. I still have and shoot with it frequently. I was a quick study and with coaching from the top news shooters. Soon after, I graduated to the National Press Gallery on Parliament Hill travelling occasionally with the Prime Minister with special privileges for Royal visits. Twice I was honoured to meet the late Queen.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white image of a boat in water.

My career as a freelancer

My career as a freelancer kicked off in an era which will never be repeated. I traveled the world experiencing frozen toes in the Arctic, combat photographer in Vietnam where I received the 'Purple Heart' having been wounded in action. It was a monster joke as my injury required a single bandage on my left elbow resulting from a tumble from an armoured personnel carrier. The Yanks have a great sense of humour. Then there was my rather hairy time in general population in a maximum security penitentiary prison for a hard cover book. It's perspective is to be from the prisoners perspective.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white shot of keys hanging off a mans belt.

Often at my expense

Humour, often at my expense, was littered throughout my career. During Canada's Centennial celebration on July 1st 1967 the Queen was holding forth on Parliament Hill while Prince Phillip was visiting Ottawa City Hall. On foot, I rushed from the Hill to City Hall just as the Prince arrived in a horse drawn carriage. There was no time to get behind the security lines. Prince Phillip is in full splendid regalia, seeing me he walks from the red carpet to where I'm standing and while tapping my 3' long Novoflex tele lens with his silver sword leans over saying, “I think you were a little pessimistic”! Had I gotten a wide angle out of my bag I'd have had a spectacular shot!

Crombie McNeill. Black and white shot of a man smoking a cigarette.

I'd forgotten to load a fresh roll of HP5+

A similar folly was when the President of the United States made an impromptu visit to talk with our PM. This occurred at the PM's cottage of all places, the security was massive. I found myself outside the security zone again! I'm not where I even want to be! The President and the PM are coming directly towards me. About four feet from me the President stops, bends over plucking a dandelion from the lawn then reaches over to put the flower in the PM's lapel...ready as always I go to my M4 with the 21mm and nothing!!! I'd forgotten to load a fresh roll of HP5+ and worse, I'd blocked this shot from all the other photographers and TV crews. Needless to say, I should not darken the door at the Press Club for awhile.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white shot of a black smith working.

Prominent Canadian Artists across Canada

My most spectacular plunder happened on an assignment for External Affairs. Our government would release photo stories about Canada to our embassies around the world for them to release to that countries media for publication. My assignment was  to photograph prominent Canadian Artists across Canada. I setup an evening shot of a very attractive lady artist on a beach in British Columbia right on the border of Blaine Washington USA.  Right on the border is measured in millimetres. A cafe on this small peninsula is half in Canada, the other is USA.

My cut line for this photo of the artist identifies the beach as part of British Columbia, Canada when in fact it's part of the United States. This is released around the world. This prompts the President of the United States to pick-up the hot line to our PM asking if annexing the piece of the USA was in fact a declaration of war!!! It hits the fan with gusto; the assignment editor, a good friend of mine required medical attention when he heard about it. Our PM and the President thought it was great hoot and laughed about it. And once again I avoided the Press Club.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white image of a woman holding a glass of wine dressed up.

Rolling Stones

I was actually onstage with the Rolling Stones in Ottawa during a concert when the crowd got out of hand surging forward squashing me against the edge of the stage. The floor manager seeing my plight gave me hand pulling me onto the stage. Mick not aware of my impromptu presence just about knocked me on my posterior, did I get a shot from this vantage point, yep I did and it was hopelessly out of focus.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white portrait of a woman.

Documenting the institutional life of prisoners

I had an assignment from The Solicitor General of Canada to document the institutional  life of prisoners. It was hairy as I was in general population. This would have been impossible and deadly without the approval from the various the inmate committees. Annually all the wardens visit the head office in Ottawa and I was asked to print shots for each prison for display in the boardroom during their annual conference. Almost half of the prints were stolen off the walls by the prison wardens!!! Talk about embarrassment!!! I was amused and especially delighted because they paid me a big bunch money for these 'missing prints'. I'd suggest the bonus money was given in the hope I'd not make this public...the fun of it all!

Crombie McNeill. Black and white shot of a persons sat down in prison.

Summer Olympic Games

Summer Olympic Games: I should pause here to say it may sound like a lot of fun when in fact it's not always a cake walk. An example; 1980 I was a pool photographer at the Olympic Games in LA covering track and field in the blazing sun for four sunny days. There's no potty, no ice water, no shade. The runners collecting film might bring a bottle of water. I'm loaded down with a 600 f4, a 300 2.8 and a 80-200, several wide angles along with a two way radio and two monopods. The problem is protection from the sun. Proper clothing works but not for exposed hands! Swollen with painfully sun burned hands makes working the cameras a wee bit awkward.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white shot of a diver diving into a pool

Winter games

Winter games: Alpine events like downhill or giant slalom you need to be in your photo position one hour before the start. I would be standing in a snow bank for five hours often in bone chilling wind. I dress accordingly, looking like an over stuffed snowman with all sorts of strategically positioned warmers, some battery operated while others with smouldering wicks.

You would think a good hearty breakfast would the first order of the day along with a big thermos of hot coffee perhaps fortified with a nip of brandy. Forget it!!! There's no port-a-potties on the mountain. All this made worse because I was either shooting figure skating or hockey the night before so maybe I'd managed 5 hours of restless sleep. Day after day with irregular meals, long hours, little sleep and with pushing and shoving for photo positions is not all that glamorous. Having said this I'd not change anything, it was a blast and a great privilege!

Crombie McNeill. Black and white shot of horse race in action.

Road racing with a Mini Cooper

During the early 60's I tried my hand at road racing with a Mini Cooper along with a go at oval track. I learned a great deal about myself and did make the odd podium. It was a great honour having a nodding acquaintance with the likes of Stirling Moss, Jim Clarke, Bruce McLaren, Colin Chapman, John Surtess, Graham Hill, Pedro Rodriguez, Roger Penske...truly awesome!

 

Pedro Rodriguez

There's a special moment I treasure and I'd like to share with you. It's open practice at Mosport race circuit with me at full chat in my Mini on the back straight when Pedro Rodriguez appears in his thunderous 4.5L v12 Ferrari. He bangs it into 5th gear just as he's beside me... it's a thunderous bang as he rockets past me. He gives me a wave as he rapidly disappears into the distance... very stimulating indeed.. Later in the pits he walks by, taps my shoulder while smiling, and once again giving me a wave... loved it!

Crombie McNeill. Black and white shot of a old fashioned racing car

Flight back to Yellowknife

Tad risky: Flying into a very remote silver mine close to the Arctic Circle.  As we approach the landing strip there is a D9 bulldozer right in middle of it still clearing away trees. We circle a couple of times so the D9 can get out of the way. I closed my eyes expecting the worst, it was bumpy as hell but no drama. We're on the ground for half an hour loading high grade ore. The twin Otter is now heavier and I'm not looking forward to the take off. The plane is accelerating and immediately hooks left towards the tall trees. Thank God the damage is limited to the front wheel shaft.

Two days later after a temporary repair with fingers crossed we're ready for the flight back to Yellowknife. The dirt strip is now groomed a bit flatter and a bit longer, the takeoff was good this time. I was grateful for an uneventful flight back to Yellowknife.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white shot of an old town.

Crombie McNeill. Sepia shot of three boys pointing and laughing.

NO problem

Perks: A Russian journalist needed a couple of shots of Soviet athletes and would trade some Russian Olympic Game pins for the photos. NO problem. Representing Canada we were encouraged to co-operate with foreign interests. This was just so long as it didn't interfere with photographing Canadian athletes. I still have 3 17karat gold pins from the 1936 Olympic Games in Germany. No idea of their collectors value... I'd guess a lot?

Crombie McNeill. Black and white portrait of a man with a big beard.

 

Diver Magazine

Being a certified SCUBA diver my most interesting photo assignment for Diver Magazine was on the S.S. Atlantic. On the night of April 1st 1873 the ship struck a small rock island and sank quickly with the loss of 562 souls. It was the largest marine disaster in the North Atlantic before the Titanic. It was deep, dark and cold. The ship is fully intact appearing serenely at rest. The story and photos were never published. It is revered as an historical grave site and the publicity would attract relic hunters. Besides it's dangerous with shifting underwater currents.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white image of divers deep under water.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white image of divers deep under water.

Lake Placid

The winter games in Lake Placid were absolutely amazing! The Canadian Embassy in the Middle East had secretly helped the American ambassador and his staff  to escape from being taken hostages. So wearing Canadian Olympic team clothing it was impossible to buy a meal, or pay for a drink or walk the streets of Lake Placid without high five's, best wishes etc.

It was a joyous time. Here's a rough inventory of goodies that I received: Nikon USA (EPOI) gifted me a Titanium F2AS with a motor drive accompanied with the fabulous 135mm f2 lens. Kodak gave me four bricks of Kodachrome 64 plus 2 bricks of the Kodachrome 200, Fuji 5 bricks rolls of  E6 film, ILFORD 40 rolls of  72 exp HP5+, yes 72 exposures per roll. Tons of winter apparel from Canon, Nikon, Lake Placid, The Canadian Olympic Association, shoulder bags from Leica and Lowepro, 47 bottles of premium liquor, mostly Scotch and Crown Royal for a grand total of $10-$12k...wow!

Crombie McNeill. Black and white image of a pier and water.

Grateful

I'm extremely grateful for the help and sincere encouragement from; Hayley Ohlig, the president of Amplis Foto, the Canadian distributor for Harman Ilford products in Canada and Michelle Parr of Harman ILFORD UK.

“Real photographers shoot B&W film” Ted Grant.

Crombie McNeill. Black and white portrait of a woman.

 

We want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Sue McNeill for allowing us to share Crombie’s final blog with you all. Crombie was an exceptional film photographer and a cherished member of the film community. His remarkable 60-year career and his dedication to black-and-white photography will inspire generations to come.

Images ©Crombie McNeill