Charles H Toms, the father of Carel Toms was an accomplished amateur photographer and took many images for his personal, club and UK competition use in Guernsey, UK and Europe. They ranged from still life and portraits images to outdoor views. Shown here are only a few examples of his work

In the 1990's, the author, Mike Deane met Charles' son Carel several times and Carel borrowed Mike's archive of his own father's work for some of his lectures - On asking, Carel also personally gave a potted history of his father's life for this archive, and it is shown below.


1919 Demobilised September

1920 Linotype course at Linotype School, London

1928 Ceased regular lino operating

1930 Started half-tone & line block making after a course in London

1933 Taking photographs for weekly Press

1940-45 Block making etc also made plates for postage stamps & currency notes



1957 died August 21st



PHOTOGRAPHY


Started age 13 with a 5 shilling 1/4 plate box camera and a 2 shillings and 6 pence developing and printing outfit. Bought a half-plate stand camera in 1906; changed back to quarter plate in 1911.





Entered first photo competition in 1912 and won a prize for lantern slides. Busiest time as amateur; 1920 -1935. During this period won 168 prizes, including prix d'honneur Eisteddfod 18 times. Wrote articles for photographic press. Became member of the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain in 1929 and elected Associate of that body in 1931 'for distinguished ability in photography'.

Certain circles do not approve of the colouring of black and white images even if done well, but it has been practised since the beginning of photography especially in japan and on some early stereo views. Charles Toms also liked to experiment with the colouring of his images and used to make magic lantern slides from selected views. In Charles' time it was a laborious task with a paint brush - some of his coloured work is shown here. In the spirit of this, the author has experimented himself also with some of his charles' images which are also shown here.