America by the Yard: Cirkut Camera: Images from the Early Twentieth Century [Hardcover]

Robert B. MacKay (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 17, 2006 | ISBN-10: 0393051609 | ISBN-13: 978-0393051605 | Edition: 1ST

An astonishing collection of early panoramic photographs, many up to 5 feet wide.

This book is both a history of an unusual camera and a splendid display of its product. "Yard longs," as the Cirkut camera's huge panoramic photographs were called, caused a sensation after the camera's introduction in the early twentieth century. Cirkut cameras were used to record scenic vistas, epic events, and group photographs of conventioneers, workers, soldiers, and students. Here, with many foldouts that show the prints in their full glory, are such historic moments as the building of the Panama Canal, the sunken battleship Maine in Havana Harbor, the crash of the dirigible Shenandoah, the fiftieth anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, the 1908 Wellesley graduating class, and a very early race at the Indianapolis Speedway. More mundane subjects—a bathing beauty contest, locomotive factory workers—are equally fascinating in this format. Collectively these panoramas form a remarkable portrait of America at the turn of the last century.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert B. MacKay is the director of the Society for the Preservation of Long Island Antiquities.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1ST edition (December 17, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393051609
• ISBN-13: 978-0393051605
• Product Dimensions: 18.2 x 11.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #715,766 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely stunning picture book...!, May 6, 2007

By 

Douglas M. Grosjean "Photographer, history bu... (Pemberville, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: America by the Yard: Cirkut Camera: Images from the Early Twentieth Century (Hardcover)

I have an interest in panoramic photography, currently own a Widelux camera (can take a 120 degree pano on 35mm film), and am looking to buy a Kodak Panoram which performs similarly but on 120 format film. If I could afford a Cirkut camera, and the film and chemistry costs, I'd have one.

I'm also a history buff.

"America by the Yard" combines history and panoramic photography in a series of stunning images that seem to draw the viewer in. Consider it a series of graphic, high-resolution photos showing America growing up from circa 1900 to almost 1950.

The photos have so much detail, and so much width, that the photos continue to reveal new details each time I "read" it.

When showing the book to friends and co-workers, it has the same effect on them: lots of "oooohs" and "aaaaahhhhs" and exclamations.

An amazing book. I can't reccomend it highly enough.

5.0 out of 5 stars Large-scale accomplishment, October 12, 2008

By 

landour wallah "landour" (usa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: America by the Yard: Cirkut Camera: Images from the Early Twentieth Century (Hardcover)

This book is a wonderful compilation of the early panoramic cameras, and includes both pictures of groups and sweeps of landscape. The large size of the book allows for close examination of the photographs; in some cases the negatives have been cropped, but this is also noted in the text.
An engaging history of this camera and the pictures it produced. It makes a great coffee table book as well as an historical document for those interested in the photography.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book for many reasons, June 14, 2008

By 

John (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: America by the Yard: Cirkut Camera: Images from the Early Twentieth Century (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book not only for photographers, but also for those interested in timeless pictures of Americana. I found the subjects to be most interesting, as they are indeed captured moments in our history.

The book is also of special interest to those interested in Cirkut cameras; I own one and was very glad to be able to obtain such a specialized book that demonstrates what the cameras were capable of in skilled hands.

The book is very impressive, with multiple fold-out pages that do justice to the ultra-wide format photographs that are reproduced. The printing is first rate and everyone that I have shown the book to has been pleased with it.