Esson learned photography from his father, George, who operated a daguerreotype studio in Preston, Ontario (now Cambridge). In 1883 James opened a successful photography studio, the Atelier, which served notable clients likely drawn to his artistic approach and use of natural light. Esson travelled across North America creating hundreds of stereoscopic views and is credited as one of the first Canadian photographers to produce what were called “Stereoscopic Gems.”

Image: James Esson, Glimpses of Toronto, “Normal School,” late nineteenth century, albumen silver print, Toronto Public Library.

For further reading, see:

Greenhill, Ralph. Early Photography in Canada. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 1965, 45, 48.

Schwartz, Joan. “Double Vision: The Stereo Views of James Esson.” Photo Communiqué 1, no. 1 (March/April 1979).

———. “James Esson.” The Canadian Encyclopedia. Last edited March 4, 2015. thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/james-esson.