Geoffrey Crawley, developer of Acutol, Dies
 

He also debunked a myth about 'photographs of fairies'.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/wo.../07crawley.htm

Geoffrey Crawley was born in London on Dec. 10, 1926. His father
was an avid amateur photographer, and as a boy Geoffrey helped him
in his darkroom. ... Accomplished at chemistry, he invented
Acutol, a chemical developer for black-and-white film, in the
1960s.

--
Joe Makowiec
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Geoffrey Crawley, developer of Acutol, Dies
 

On 11/7/2010 9:14 AM Joe Makowiec spake thus:

He also debunked a myth about 'photographs of fairies'.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/11/07/wo.../07crawley.htm

Geoffrey Crawley was born in London on Dec. 10, 1926. His father
was an avid amateur photographer, and as a boy Geoffrey helped him
in his darkroom. ... Accomplished at chemistry, he invented
Acutol, a chemical developer for black-and-white film, in the
1960s.

I especially liked the last line of the obit, which seems to sum up
Crawley's generous ethos ("her" referring to Elsie, one of the hoaxers):

"How many professed photographers," he added, "can claim to have
equaled her achievement with the first photograph they ever took?"


--
The fashion in killing has an insouciant, flirty style this spring,
with the flaunting of well-defined muscle, wrapped in flags.

- Comment from an article on Antiwar.com (http://antiwar.com)

"The Cottingley Fairies" as photographed by the then young Elsie and Frances, was a charming hoax which Geoffrey Crawley debunked in an objective, but sympathetic way.

Crawley was one of my photographic heroes and his FX series of B&W film developers which attempted to improve the over all quality balance of the industry standard D-76 developer were inspirational.
His many articles in the British Journal Of Photography Annuals from the 1960's through to the 1980's are very collectable and enjoyable to read.