Hannah Maynard

     You might one day be asked…..Who was Hannah Maynard?  Not as easy of a question as one may think.

     Hannah Maynard was a woman of independence and amazing character.  Hannah was born in England in 1834.  She met and married her husband Richard Maynard in 1852.  The two sailed to Canada where they made their home in “Bowmansville” now known as the Province of Ontario.  They later moved to Vancouver Island with their 4 daughters.

     Hannah had learned a great deal about photography while living in Ontario.  While living on Vancouver Island she purchased camera supplies, photographic supplies and studio equipment.  Hannah decided to set up shop.  Hannah later became one of BC’s 1^st Professional photographers.

     Hannah loved nothing more than to experiment with every new photographic technique known.  Hannah developed her own unique and surreal vision.  Hannah was a mother obsessed with her children and loved nothing more than taking their photos.  She had images of her children’s faces crammed intone montage.  One area Hannah led in innovation was to try and photograph figures in motion.  Hannah decided to sit herself on a bicycle in a stationary position to make the illusion of movement.

     Hannah enjoyed photographing landscapes with her husband Richard.  Hannah’s passions were for much more.  Hannah loved adventurous work like photo sculptures, multiple exposures, and composite images and of course cut and paste montages.

     Hannah spent her life doing what she loved raising her family and taking photographs.  Hannah died in 1918 in Victoria, BC.  Hannah may have passed on but her determination in innovation lives on.