Monthly Archives: July 2018

those were the days, my friend …

Posted on July 31, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. we thought they would never end … The song brings back memories … The smell of developer, of short stop, of fixer. Days when every shot counted. Huge studio cameras produced material for print advertisements in newspapers and magazines of … Continue reading →

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Irving Pobborasvsky

Posted on July 30, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. We were recently advised by the Daguerreian Society that the life of the late Irving Pobborasvsky was celebrated on Sunday, July 29th, 2018. The notice said in part, “As many of you may be aware Irving Pobboravsky passed away … Continue reading →

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the great depression and photography

Posted on July 29, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. As we enter into a tariff war once again, there is growing concern we will plunge into another massive depression. It is worth thinking about the last great depression world wide (the dirty 30s), culminating in the second world … Continue reading →

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seeing double

Posted on July 28, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. Our president Clint visited the states recently and dropped in at the NSA’s 2018 convention on Stereo photography, the thrilling cards that entertained Victorians decades before TV. The National Stereoscopic Association was an exchange member of ours for a couple … Continue reading →

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scaling to new heights …

Posted on July 27, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. About 1919 William James Sr tried to scale the fence at Varsitry Stadium (U of T stadium fronting on Bloor Street). In hand was his trusty Graflex camera. The intent to catch a sports event ended in disaster when … Continue reading →

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Toronto Lithographing Co Photography Dept 1898

Posted on July 26, 2018 by Robert

  Toronto. We sometimes forget that our city once was the engine of industrial Canada. In 1898, the massive Toronto Lithographing Company, founded two decades earlier, commissioned  photographer A A Gray to record the interior facilities at the north-west corner … Continue reading →

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Ryerson’s Library and Archives collection

Posted on July 25, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. When you decide to do research on our rich photographic history, remember the resources we have in our university archives. A great example is the fabulous collection housed and inventoried by Ryerson. Member George Dunbar sent an email recently … Continue reading →

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Movies with a Fran 8K

Posted on July 24, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. Ever hear of a Fran 8K camcorder? I didn’t either until an email hit my desk last Saturday morning. The resolution is huge (47.7 MP at 24 fps)  and the concept timely. The camera, available for order late this … Continue reading →

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Charlie and the Essanay movie studio in Chicago.

Posted on July 23, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. The year was 1915. A young actor called Charlie Chaplin spend a few months in the windy city. While there, he recorded a silent movie at the famous Chicago studio named Essanay for its two founders. Thanks to the … Continue reading →

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shooting movies in the 1920s

Posted on July 22, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. I visited my youngest grandson the other day. The eleven year old showed me his new iPad, bought with his own hard earned money. The past few weeks he has been busy creating animations. He has his own YouTube … Continue reading →

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