Author Archives: Robert

the long and the short of it

Posted on November 23, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the late 1800s, dime store museums  all had so called freak shows. The people featured in these shows often frequented nearby studios. One such studio at 229 the Bowery in east New York City, was operated by Chas … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on the long and the short of it

a different flashlight …

Posted on November 22, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In the 1950s, one of the big fresh eggs was the portable electronic flash. Mind you the cost would buy a lifetime-plus of flash bulbs and guns for most serious or beginning amateurs. In the December, 1955 issue of … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on a different flashlight …

combatting deep fakes

Posted on November 21, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Unless you have being living ‘off the grid’, you have heard about artificial intelligence (AI) and deep fakes. Even TV programs have addressed the issue where a ‘deep fake’ is made by using images of a person and possession(s) … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on combatting deep fakes

people, places, things

Posted on November 20, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The Stephen Bulger Gallery is hosting an exhibit from November 18, 2023 to December 23, 2023 of people the gallery represents and more. Stephen writes, “Our exhibition will contain highlights of work made by the artists and photographers the … Continue reading →

Posted in activities-other | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on people, places, things

fingering the press

Posted on November 19, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. An honourable branch of photography is news photography. While many news photographers work for a specific newspaper or agency, many are  free lance. Of the group, a small subset caters to shooting celebrities incessantly and trying to flog the … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on fingering the press

name game

Posted on November 18, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Shortly after the Leica was first marketed, Leitz standardized the lens-to-film distance and offered a group of interchangeable lenses suitable for any camera. To compete with the Johnny-cum-lately CONTAX by the mighty Zeiss factories, Leitz looked to others to … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on name game

executive meeting No 41 by ZOOM

Posted on November 17, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The executive meeting  Wednesday evening, November 1st, 2023, was the 41st held via ZOOM. A small group of us met for a pleasant and productive session (Psst, please note our membership year now ends next month, December 31st). Our … Continue reading →

Posted in activities | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on executive meeting No 41 by ZOOM

moon shot

Posted on November 16, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. The year my first child was born, Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. It was an exciting time for all. And photography proved its worth by capturing space images on the moon, not earth. Years earlier, I learnt in … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on moon shot

I’se the b’y that writes the book …

Posted on November 15, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In 1949, Newfoundland and Labrador formed the last and 10th province of Canada, Joey Smallwood as head of Newfoundland negotiated the transfer of this beautiful and rugged land from England control to Canada. 1941 saw a brief history with … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on I’se the b’y that writes the book …

twin views

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Robert

Toronto.  My earliest activity on the camera collecting front was an old view camera like this – no shutter, no lens – in a small suitcase. The junk shop in Toronto was delighted to see it out the door. The … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , | Comments Off on twin views