Author Archives: Robert

shine a light on me

Toronto. One of the most important things in photography is lighting. The choice of illumination sets the tone and atmosphere of the resulting image. Natural light aficionados  have it easier – choose the angle and framing for the best shot. … Continue reading

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not up to code …

Toronto. Photography has many uses. One is recording work places for history. This photo of the “camera room” at our National Archives in 1910 makes me shutter! A fire such as the one that consumed a large chunk of our … Continue reading

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our May 18 ZOOM presentation

Toronto. Join us this Wednesday at 8:00 pm to hear Rev Max Dionisio. “Rev. Dr. Max Dionisio is the Acting Head of the Royal Ontario Museum’s Library, and Head Librarian of the Bishop White Committee Library of East Asia, as well … Continue reading

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good lord! a Deardorff!

Toronto. Things that seemed so important decades ago are not even a consideration today. This advertisement from the January, 1930 magazine called American Cinematographer is a case in point. A rising and falling front with a short focus lens was … Continue reading

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first motion picture (movie)?

Toronto.  My good friend, George Dunbar, writes, “For those of us who have an interest in the history of motion pictures, there’s now a new book about the ‘first known motion picture’ — The Man Who Invented Motion Pictures, A … Continue reading

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getcha daily colour here!

Toronto. The Universal Camera Corporation in the Big Apple (NYC) made many still cameras such as the popular Mercury with the weird circular shutter. They also made movie cameras and projectors. This ad appeared in the August, 1941 issue of … Continue reading

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a reluctant subject …

Toronto. My odd subject complained about being photographed, but was never physically abusive. However, the subject in this photograph (kangaroo) was something else! Taken in the 1960s, the photo is number 20 of some 30 images shownon the demilked web … Continue reading

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give her a hand!

Toronto. The August, 1941 issue of Popular Mechanics magazine has the article shown here. An image of a human hand was blown up about 52 diameters from the original on a 35mm negative. Years ago in Montreal, our company enlarged … Continue reading

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will do anything to get a sale

Toronto, The August, 1941 issue of Popular Mechanics ran an advertisement for a camera called the “Midget Marvel”. It was offered for less than $9 American including the leather case. Some different cameras used the same name, so I am … Continue reading

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Canadian female photographer from BC

Toronto. Do you remember Ms Agnes Deans Cameron? No? Well, she was a prominent photographer out west, known for her work as a  “teacher, journalist, explorer, writer, lecturer & photographer”. You can learn more about this wonderful lady at the … Continue reading

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