Monthly Archives: June 2024

Graflex Historic Quarterly 1-24 (Graflex Journal)

Toronto. My friend Ken Metcalf down in North Carolina sent me a note saying the first edition of the GHQ for 2024 is out. Earlier issues are on the GHQ web site. You can also link to the organization’s website … Continue reading

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give a little, take a little …

Toronto.  In a recent post, I described an unusual binocular that could be reversed to become a camera. By using one side as a camera, and the other as a monocular, this French gadget just a few years later let … Continue reading

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out in the sticks

Toronto. This cover photograph for issue 34-1 (summer, 2008) of the journal is courtesy of the late Dr Robert Wilson. The child’s portrait is taken while the baby sits precariously on a stick furniture high chair, To describe the photograph, … Continue reading

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c’est magnifique

Toronto. In the spring of 2008, president Clint Hryhorijiw shared the photograph at left with our journal editor, Bob Lansdale. It became the cover illustration for issue 33-4 (Feb-April 2008). The photo shows the executive of the ‘Professional Photographers of … Continue reading

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octagon and octopus

Toronto. One of the Art Deco features Kodak used was an octagonal shutter plate at the front of some cameras. This included the Kodak Brownie Six-20 folder my dad bought in the late 30s and used until he gave it … Continue reading

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daguerreotypist dreamin

Toronto. Do you ever wonder what a dag photographer might dream about while sitting on a grassy knoll in the bright sunlight? If he was a futurist like the fictional  Ralph 124C41+ by Hugo Gernsback or the real Alvin Toffler … Continue reading

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a boy and his camera

Toronto. When the dirty 30s hit, people had to repair and reuse things – money was tight. Even photographers like John Boyd were affected. John was working for the Globe and Mail at the time. Over his 40 year career, … Continue reading

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pictures at the fair

Toronto. For a time a visit to a fair, arcade, amusement park, seaside, etc. could be commemorated by a tiny strip of photos for a quarter or so. There so called photo booths allowed a couple to sit in privacy … Continue reading

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reach for da sky!

Toronto. Bob Lansdale wanted to add more balance to the journal with some ‘camera’ related articles. He was delighted to learn of the massive and exotic collection held by the late  Bill (father) and late John (son) down in the … Continue reading

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when Kodak met art …

Toronto. … deco that is. In the 1930s and 40s the striking designs of Art Deco were a key factor in the cameras offered by Kodak. Our late editor, Bob Lansdale explains, “When Modernism blossomed in the 1930s, Eastman Kodak … Continue reading

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