Monthly Archives: January 2022

light up the night

Posted on January 31, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Photography played a key roll in WW2. High flying aircraft with aerial cameras mapped the ground searching for enemy troops and armaments. A bright idea, tested over upper NY State, was the ‘light bomb’ described in this January 1941 … Continue reading →

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we are all amateurs in something

Posted on January 30, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In the 1960s, my physics professor, Dr S___ came in one Monday morning with a very raspy voice. Being unfamiliar with alcohol, hangover remedies, or over the counter medication, he had picked up some Bromo-Seltzer tablets to ease a … Continue reading →

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to catch a spy

Posted on January 29, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. During WW2, photography found many ways to be of service. This article in the January 1941 issue of Popular Mechanics shows photography making photo I.D. passes that helped separate the workers from the ‘spies’ in America during the war … Continue reading →

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four flasher

Posted on January 28, 2022 by Robert

Toronto.  … or more than one way to skin a cat (sorry cat fanciers). In the February 1941 issue of Popular Mechanics, a filler article suggests using two  special synchronizers for a Graphic camera to quadruple the light output over … Continue reading →

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read da fine print, dummy

Posted on January 27, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. The February, 1941 issue of Popular Mechanics came out when I was a little kid still figuring out when to use a spoon (not really). Six years later, I took a bus ride with the rest of my grade … Continue reading →

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when I grow too old to dream …

Posted on January 26, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … I’ll have you to remember. Or so the song says. To try for memory beyond a generation or two, people relied on a photograph – then and now! George, like anyone with a curiosity – and access to … Continue reading →

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the Graflex of movie cameras

Posted on January 25, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Professional camera men in Hollywood for the most part used Mitchell cameras. The Mitchell was to Hollywood cameramen like a Graflex camera was to newshounds – Fully professional and a sturdy work horse. In 1922, when silents were still … Continue reading →

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the jig’s up

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. My good friend, George Dunbar, spotted this 1947 ad by Kodak portraying Mr Hitler dancing an inappropriate jig in 1940 during the fall of France. George high-lighted one line in the advertisement which proclaimed, “with unique reality and objectivity”. … Continue reading →

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Don Douglas 1931-2022

Posted on January 23, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. I was sorry to hear that Don Douglas passed away this month. His daughter Janet sent an email notifying me of the loss. Don celebrated his 90th birthday just last month. He was a continuous member of our society … Continue reading →

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gold in them thar hills …

Posted on January 22, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Ahhh! The excitement of the  gold rush! When it hit the Yukon,  it became famous the world over. Movies were made; books were written (even poems); the centennial of the celebrated trail (Chilkoot) was recorded. Over six years ago, … Continue reading →

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