Meet the person behind the lens
Harry Waddle: A Life Through the Lens
Born in Port Dover, Ontario, in 1915, Harry Waddle grew up surrounded by art and photography. His mother, Daisy, studied under renowned artist W. Edgar Cantelon, while his father, Edmon, was the town’s go-to photographer—capturing postcards and family portraits across the region.
Harry’s fascination with images began early. After winning his first camera—a small Brownie box model—from a chocolate-bar contest, he quickly filled scrapbooks with photos and dreams of mastering the craft. By his teens, he was developing prints in a closet darkroom using equipment borrowed from his father.
During World War II, Harry served with the RCAF in Jarvis, Ontario. Though he joked that he “flew a desk,” this was where his photographic eye truly took flight. Many of his best-known wartime images were created there.
After the war, Harry became deeply involved with the Hamilton Camera Club, eventually serving as president. His striking portraits and evocative scenes—like Mischief (his daughter Mary) and Homeward—earned him top national honors. In 1948, his image Orenda Reflection captured “Picture of the Year” at the Canadian Salon of Photography.
Harry’s talent soon gained international recognition. His prints were exhibited around the world, and in 1954 he received the Photographic Society of America’s Award of Merit as a 5-Star Exhibitor—one of only seven in the world at the time. He also became an Associate of both the PSA and the Royal Photographic Society of Great Britain.
Known for his meticulous technique and belief in “making a picture, not just taking one,” Harry mastered darkroom artistry—burning corners, retouching by hand, and perfecting tones that have kept his prints vivid for decades.
Though he eventually retired from competition, Harry’s images continue to inspire photographers everywhere—proof that care, creativity, and curiosity never fade.
(excerpted from an article written for the Port Dover Maple Leaf by his daughter Mary Morrison)
A glimpse of Harry
