Author Archives: Robert

stick a cabinet in your pocket

Posted on July 23, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. With the advent of wet plate technology, the number of photographers increased once again. Albumen paper for positive prints became very popular in spite of the need to glue down the curl-prone medium to stiff cardboard. The so called … Continue reading →

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a bit of Americana

Posted on July 22, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. For all you image collectors out there – if you collect or want some Americana, there is an auction next month (August 8th) online managed by American Heritage Auctions. Their catalogue for the August 8th auction is now online. … Continue reading →

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Richmond BC Camera Show POSTPONED

Posted on July 21, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. We were sorry to hear that Big Dave and our other friends in Richmond BC had to postpone the August 1st Richmond Camera Show and Swap Meet. Big Dave writes, “I hope that all of you are safe and … Continue reading →

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i am so EXCITED …

Posted on July 20, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. … as Martin Short‘s character, Ed Grimsley, used to shout on SCTV skits. To do the character justice, Short was down right hyper. And speaking of hyper, hyperfocal distance was important in 35mm film photography, especially daytime street photography. … Continue reading →

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make a date with f/8

Posted on July 19, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Those of us who used 2-1/4 or 35mm cameras and film are familiar with the aperture setting f/8. It is a great mid range setting offering a nice balance of speed and depth of field for outdoors. The delightful … Continue reading →

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shady stuff

Posted on July 18, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Don’t you wish your photos were crisp and contrasty like those of an accomplished professional? One issue last century was soft contrast caused by reflections from individual lens elements. Post war, element coating became common and with it a … Continue reading →

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and to cap it off …

Posted on July 17, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Dust and dirt everywhere! How can you keep it out of camera bodies and lenses? Easy, cap the openings! Since the early days of photography, caps have been used to keep out dust and dirt when the camera or … Continue reading →

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hardly ever

Posted on July 16, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. In the late 1950s, I bought my Exakta VX IIa complete with an “ever-ready” case. Like many youths of the day, we called these “never-ready”cases since the camera couldn’t be used until the case was opened. When the box … Continue reading →

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spot on

Posted on July 15, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. One big difference between amateur photographs, and those made by professionals and advanced amateurs, was illumination. Indoors, the professional went to great lengths to illuminate his subject bringing out the nuances of its very existence whether a human, an … Continue reading →

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so you want to be in pictures

Posted on July 14, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Do you remember the old Joe McDoakes shorts that used to run before the main feature in the movie palaces? That was the source for our post title! In this case, you can get into a pdf, but only … Continue reading →

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