Author Archives: Robert

fine art photos at heritage auction house

Posted on September 17, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. As we sit out this pandemic and browse around the internet, we may discover a means to augment boredom and complement our image collection. For example, PHSC member Ian Archer discovered this interesting auction of historical photos online. Heritage … Continue reading →

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the value of photography to history

Posted on September 16, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. As we sit back in our easy chair and view a colour video clip of a catastrophe (from nature, man,  or war) on the other side of the globe, we seldom think about the impact photography has had on … Continue reading →

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look-a-like-a-leica

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. After WW2, the world was inundated with Leica lookalikes. Some were  flat out copies like the Russian FED and Zorki models; some were copies of Leica features like Canon; and some were marketed as improvements on Leica like the … Continue reading →

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no wonder compact digital cameras disappeared

Posted on September 14, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. The other day, Carol and I decided to trade in our ancient Samsung smartphone. We opted for a cheap cell phone and an equally cheap plan. One of the cheaper phones was the Samsung A32 5g model. It was … Continue reading →

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genealogy and photography

Posted on September 13, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Have you ever wondered about your ancestors? The American company  Ancestry (with the Canadian link shown here), does a wonderful job of indexing an astonishing number of genealogical databases. Before Ancestry, one had to visit city directories, or government … Continue reading →

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silent movies and colour!

Posted on September 12, 2021 by Robert

Toronto.  I usually think black and white when I think silent movies but it was not so! The movie, “Ben-Hur” released in 1925 was the most expensive silent movie ever made. Much of it was shot “on location” in Rome … Continue reading →

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PHSC News newsletter for September 2021

Posted on September 11, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. At right top of page 1 in the latest PHSC News newsletter is a British box camera c1927 made by Houghton-Butcher. This 120 size roll film model has two lens-focussing settings (one for 10 or more feet and one … Continue reading →

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… under the sun.

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. I grew up with the King James version of the Bible. Ecclesiastes 1:9 says in part, “… there is no new thing under the sun.”. I was reminded of this a few weeks ago when our indoor Fall Fair … Continue reading →

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Oh, to be in Montreal in the fall …

Posted on September 9, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. When I was at University “dans la belle province“, fall was a delightful time of the year. Studies began anew; weather was warm; skies were sunny; and an afternoon walk up Peel street to Mount Royal was bracing. But … Continue reading →

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how to fail without really trying …

Posted on September 8, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. “What the heck is a photon, anyway?”, you may ask. Actually, it is a measure of light. In 1948, Bell & Howell misspelt the word to create a unique name for its still camera, as is often the case … Continue reading →

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