Fred Erburn Keay: 1865-1922

Key lived in North Cambridge, MA during the year he attended and graduated from the Chautauqua School of Photography. A short obituary in Editor & Publisher for June 24, 1922 said Keay had been “for 23 years financial editor of the Boston Advertiser and later publicity man for the First National Bank of Boston.”

Editorial Comment for this plate:

PLOUGHING.

OUR picture this week is by a Chautauquan Fred. E. Keay, of the Chautauqua School of Photography, Class of ’89. Mr. Keay writes that the photograph was made in Somerville, Mass., in the early spring of the current year. Of course, the exposure was “instantaneous,” a Prosh shutter being used.

The picture, besides being a charming one of a rural scene, has many lessons, for landscape photographers, especially. Though instantaneous, there is a sense of motion conveyed by the position of the man’s and the horses’ feet and the pose of their bodies. The lighting is particularly effective, but the entire subject is well managed.

Mr. Edwards gives us a new tone in this photo gravure, but one that we think will please our readers in this particular picture. (p. 515)