Author Archives: Robert

happy new year everyone!

Posted on January 1, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Well thank god 2020 is over! What miserable year it was too! Let’s hope 2021 will be far better and let us get back to normal again by summer! All the best for 2021 from the Photographic Historical Society … Continue reading →

Posted in activities | Tagged | Comments Off on happy new year everyone!

take your time …

Posted on December 31, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. … as my mother used to say when she felt that I was dragging my heels. But sometimes taking your time is beneficial. Photographic media are sensitive to the volume of visible light hitting the sensitive surface. Traditionally two … Continue reading →

Posted in photos | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on take your time …

metal detectors and photography

Posted on December 30, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. You may think metal detectors and photography have little in common but sometimes they do! When I was young, I saw pictures of people using war surplus metal detectors to find “buried treasure” – usually a few coins and … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on metal detectors and photography

how to tell when a topic is HOT

Posted on December 29, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. In the roaring twenties, a century ago, movies were all the rage. As a result, “get rich quick” ads were everywhere. A typical ad was this November 1928 ad in Science and Invention magazine on page 651. The ad … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on how to tell when a topic is HOT

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 →

Posted in magazine | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on the marvellous little Polaroid

a searing legacy

Posted on December 27, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Well, Christmas and boxing day are over for most of us. Hope you managed to give/receive great gifts and find bargains in spite of the @#$#%^ pandemic we are all struggling with (well, most of us up here anyway). … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on a searing legacy

an old boxing day box camera

Posted on December 26, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Boxing day on December 26th used to be THE day for sales. Then boxing day week, then black Friday, now COVID-19 and total lockdown over the holidays. Still, it is fitting to celebrate boxing day with a box camera. … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on an old boxing day box camera

merry Christmas all!

Posted on December 25, 2020 by Robert
Posted in activities | Tagged | Comments Off on merry Christmas all!

you think this post is about you

Posted on December 24, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. I did various posts on the ubiquitous tripod so necessary so long ago. From the beginning of photography in 1839, the media and lenses were so slow that a steady stand was a necessity even outdoors. Studios used the … Continue reading →

Posted in activities | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on you think this post is about you

ya gotta light, mister

Posted on December 23, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. For decades photographic studios were the epitome of Photographic businesses. In reality, the studios usually cranked out technically sound portraits using a tried and true combination of lighting including facial lights for modelling the features, background lights to illuminate … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on ya gotta light, mister