Tag Archives: LIFE

the marvellous little Polaroid

Posted on December 28, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. In 1969, the Polaroid ad in LIFE magazine touted its series of electronic and mechanical cameras with built in timers and signals to tell the user development was finished. While Polaroid film and prints were somewhat expensive, the cameras … Continue reading →

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typewriters and cameras? really?

Posted on December 9, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. When I was a kid, a popular saying was that “a picture is worth a thousand words“.  In the late 1960s, there were two big ideas in amateur cameras: Super 8 home movies, and 16mm sub-miniature cameras. By then … Continue reading →

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it’s complicated

Posted on December 8, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Photographic product makers worked hard at besting one another to capture a larger segment of the ever growing amateur photography market. Typical of the strategy was this May 1969 ad in LIFE magazine touting Polaroid. The ad emphasizes its … Continue reading →

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Winterize your camera? How quaint!

Posted on November 17, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Smartphones have become the most common cameras today according to some social media outlets. Owners have no need to “winterize” or even repair their smartphones. Usually the battery wears out but long before that the current model becomes obsolete … Continue reading →

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when sub-minute was super fast

Posted on November 15, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. When we see a good shot, we pull out our smartphone, snap, correct (edit), and send the image a few chairs over or half way around the world in a few seconds – in full colour and crisp high … Continue reading →

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eulogy for simplicity

Posted on October 14, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Kodak made its money in the days of film by selling, ummm, film. And to do that, Kodak sold inexpensive cameras – film burners. But with seemingly a big difference to its competitors – they listened to their customers. … Continue reading →

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who ya gonna call – II?

Posted on October 5, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Who ya gonna call when you want people in middle class America to know about your fresh egg and do some digging? LIFE magazine, that’s who! In the March 8, 1969 issue, a full page ad on page 19 … Continue reading →

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making it better

Posted on September 20, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Flashcubes had four tiny flash bulbs and allowed four flash shots by rotating 90 degrees after each shot. Magic cubes looked the same but were ignited by mechanical energy instead of batteries. In 1967, Honeywell made two flashcube alternatives for … Continue reading →

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a dash of flash

Posted on September 19, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. In the early days of flash, these high speed demons  emulated flash bulbs – you set the aperture, and shutter based on subject to camera distance, film speed rating and shutter syncronization maximum speed. All this changed with Honeywell’s … Continue reading →

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if it moves, shoot it …

Posted on September 14, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. An old military saying was, “If it moves salute it; if not, paint it”. My colour blind uncle was a painter on a military base after the end of WW2. He told me the paint tins were marked to … Continue reading →

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