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William McFarlane Notman, photographer (born 1 November 1857 in Montreal, QC; died 1 May 1913 in Montreal). Son of photographer William Notman, he became the head of the Notman studios after his father’s death.
William McFarlane Notman was the eldest son of photographer William Notman. At age 15, he started to work for his father, and in 1882, when he was about 25, he was made a partner in the business.
Notman’s portraits — of rural people at daily tasks and of well-dressed urban notables — are sensitive and powerful, and his skill in portraying the Canadian landscape was outstanding. Notman made eight trips to western Canada between 1884 and 1909 to photograph along the Canadian Pacific Railway line, documenting the early growth of towns and capturing dramatic views of the Rockies and Selkirks. He accompanied the 1901 royal tour of the Duke and Duchess of York from Quebec City to Victoria. Notman also photographed extensively in Murray Bay, Tadoussac, Lac Saint-Jean and the Eastern Townships. In 1908, he made a steamer voyage around Newfoundland, photographing the ports of call.
