about clyde banks photographer

Photographer, Clyde Banks

Home

Some of the history:

The Clyde Banks Camera shop was owned and run by Clyde Banks in Bellingham, Washington. He and two of his sons kept the shop running from the early 1900's until about 1960.

At yard sales and on ebay from time to time you might luck out and come across some of the old photo art post cards and images by Clyde Banks. He was a well known pioneer photographer in the Whatcom County, Bellingham area. Best known for his photos of nature, such as this photo of a set of trees outlined by sky entitled the "Harp O' The Winds".

Harp O The Winds a photo by Clyde Banks of Bellingham

"Where hangs the harp
the winds play?
High in the air
Over the sea"
-Frances Shaw

Other well known Clyde Banks shots also had poetic names, such as:
"Night in the Enchanted Forest", "Mystic Forest", "Silver Path", "The Three Graces", etc...

a recovered photo from Bev Banks Hammer click for close up

A picture of Clyde Banks taking phototographs in Whatcom County.
Photo curtesy of Bev (Banks) Hammer. Thanks cuz!
- click for closeup view -

In his shop he sold cameras, framed pictures, developed film, created enlargements and did colorization (this was before color photography). He promoted Kodak predominantly. He also had a line of gift items such as albums, and picture frames and a steady flow of happy customers.
To see pictures of some of his old cameras visit the nostalgia page.

Special Notes:

Was in the Army Air Corp during WWI and flew as an arial photographer.
Clyde Banks loved classical music and had played violin in a local symphony as did his wife.
While flying over Mt Baker in a biplane, crashed and he and the pilot had to walk miles for help.
Clyde grew up in Wickersham, and lived in Bellingham Washington for many years.