Heffer, Obder

Canadian photographer (1850-1945) based in Chile, and one of the most prominent figures of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He initially moved from his home country to New York in 1879, where he learned the art of photography in a Broadway studio. Hired by Félix Leblanc's studio, he arrived in Chile in 1887. After several years of collaboration in the branches of Santiago and Valparaíso, known as Cruz de Reyes, he purchased Leblanc's studio in 1899. A few months later, he sold the Valparaíso studio to Jorge Valck to focus on his work in the capital.

He opened several studios on Huérfanos Street in Santiago, some dedicated to artistic portraits and others to the sale of photographic articles, before moving to Estado Street in 1912. The studio remained on this street at the time of his death, although it was more focused on the sale of photographic items than studio portraiture, with the annual publication of a general catalog of photographic machines. He photographed the elite, capturing the capital's leading families, as well as politicians, professionals, and artists whose portraits appeared in magazines of the time such as Flores Chilenas, Luz y Sombra, Zig-Zag, Familia, Pacifico Magazine, and Mundo Social. In this regard, his work with the portrait albums of guests at the fantasy balls organized by the Edwards family in 1905 and the Concha Cazotte family in 1912 is particularly noteworthy, as these events shaped the imagination of several generations.

From another perspective, his documentation of Chile's natural and urban landscapes is significant, as is his work with indigenous peoples. His extensive collection of Chilean photographs could be admired and acquired by the public, presented in green leather albums engraved with the photographer's name. This production, which contributed to shaping a national image in the lead-up to the Centennial celebrations, was widely reproduced in publications of the time, including Chile en 1908 and Chile en 1910 by Eduardo Poirier, as well as Alberto Márquez's Libro internacional sudamericano 1914-1916. Additionally, he actively participated in the development of amateur photography in Chile, serving as a jury member for competitions such as the first Instantáneas de Luz y Sombra contest in 1900.