Outings, H.E. Hoopes 1899-1900. by [VROMAN, Adam Clark, photographer] - [ca. 1900]

[Pasadena]: N.p., [ca. 1900]. Presentation album entitled Outings, H.E. Hoopes 1899-1900, with 75 original Vroman platinum prints primarily portraying country life around Media, Pennsylvania by Hoopes' good friend A. C. Vroman. Platinum prints: 26 vignetted in an oval format and 49 in rectilinear format. The images measuring approximately 5 x 4 inches to 8 x 6 inches. Each platinum print with a tissue guard. The custom full morocco album measures 8 x 11 inches. Gilt front and spine lettering, gilt borders to covers, spine with gilt strapwork that extends onto the boards, gilt board edges and turn-ins, marbled doublures and endpapers, all edges gilt. Some mild joint and edge rubbing and front endpaper reattached but the album is very attractive and suitably deluxe fort a gift from one photographer to another. The images are pristine. While this is not one of Vroman's justly famed and prized presentation albums concerning the Native Smericans of the Southwest it is still a very fine Vroman presentation album, with an abundance of fine images, given to his great friend and fellow Southwest photographer H. E. Hoppe. Homer Eachus Hoopes was born in Lima, Pennsylvania in 1848. He was a pharmacist in Media, Pennsylvania and member of a camera club that included A. C. Vroman. The two men obviously became good friends. By 1901 Hoopes and Vroman took a trip to Yosemite together. After their return, Vroman presented Hoopes with an album documenting their Yosemite trip. "Vroman called amateur photographer Homer Hoopes of Media, Pennsylvania, a friend, a Southwest Òenthusiast and expert with the cameraÓ". Vroman and Hoopes made at least one tour of the Southwest together in 1904" (Andrew Smith). Upon their return Vroman presented Hoopes with yet another album (this one containing 55 platinum prints of this trip to the Southwest). Vroman was often presenting these deluxe albums to his good friends. Andrew Smith notes at least thirteen of them (including another to Hoopes of a Southwest trip). It seems quite likely that Hoopes returned the favor and made an album of Southern California views from his visit to Vroman but thered is no record.Vroman did not start making platinum prints until 1899 and it is possible that this album constitutes one of his first forays into that medium. "By 1899, Vroman was re-interpreting earlier negatives with vibrantly charged black and white platinum prints found in the Bennett Brothers and Wallace albums. Throughout his photographic career Vroman used a variety of silver, salt and platinum papers with a variety of developing formulas including some created by C. J. Crandall one of the members of his four-person photography group" (Andrew Smith)This album was the result of a visit by Vroman to Hoopes' hometown of Media, PA. It commences with two portraits of Mrs. Hoopes and some further images of Hoopes himself and their children. The images include dimensional and finely detailed photographs made on hunting and fishing excursions (including participants posing with their game and in the landscape), serene lakes, pastoral views of cows in lush fields, and river views, as well as a few images from the capitol in Washington, D.C., and several compelling portraits. Oddly, there are two prints of Vroman's Japan trip. Two of the prints in this album are illustrated in Weinstein's Photographer of the Southwest; Adam Clark Vroman, 1856-1916.