Author Archives: Robert

who the heck is Hurter?

Posted on June 3, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Ferd Hurter and Chuck Driffield worked together in England. They were known in glass plate and film days for the H&D Curve. In 1890, the two spent their spare time as amateur photographers. They gained recognition after publishing  a … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on who the heck is Hurter?

making the grade

Posted on June 2, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. This post refers to film (black and white)  printing. Once you choose the huge number of variables for a photographic paper choice, you are left with one last factor – paper grade. Ideally, the chart shown at left (3 … Continue reading →

Posted in film | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on making the grade

paper doll

Posted on June 1, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. To convert a film negative into a positive image, a second piece of the sensitive medium was usually used. Most commonly this was a photographic (light sensitive) paper. And there stood the dilemma for the average beginning photographer. There … Continue reading →

Posted in film | Tagged , , | Comments Off on paper doll

use da fixer

Posted on May 31, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. The first successful photographic processes used a weak salt solution as a fixer. Earlier experiments showed silver nitrate solutions reacted to light and could record scenes, BUT the silver nitrates quietly turned the whole medium dark. There was no … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on use da fixer

as time goes by

Posted on May 30, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. The first T in the TNT film processing method  stands for Time. Using a darkroom tank or a daylight tank, it was necessary to use this method of processing a film. Many companies offered a decent timer. This one … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on as time goes by

stop already!

Posted on May 29, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. We know how to begin film or paper developing – just pour in the developer. But how do we stop the process? The sensitive media absorbs the developer so even draining it off or removing the media won’t stop … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on stop already!

doin’ it in the dark

Posted on May 28, 2020 by Robert

Toronto, When light sensitive media were very slow and insensitive to the lower end of the spectrum (reds, oranges), the photographer’s eye could judge a fully developed image by subdued light or reddish illumination. About a century ago, flexible roll … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on doin’ it in the dark

tanks for de memories …

Posted on May 27, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. In the days of film, exposure created a latent image, invisible to the eye. A chemical reaction to a hand full of chemicals, including at least one which converted and clumped silver halide molecules exposed to light into metallic … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on tanks for de memories …

ad for speed and innovation c1964

Posted on May 26, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. This is another ad for the film world’s maverick, Polaroid. The company down plays the COST of its film and paper combination by emphasizing the technology and simplicity of its cameras, the tonal and colour fidelity of its materials, … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on ad for speed and innovation c1964

Cássio Vasconcellos exhibition in France

Posted on May 25, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Our favourite gallery, Galerie GADCOLLECTION in Paris has extended its exhibition of Brazilian photographer Câssio Vasconcellos’s work to June 7th. Take a look here for a preview. The galerie says, “Cássio Vasconcellos (1965-) is a Brazilian photographer from São … Continue reading →

Posted in people | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Cássio Vasconcellos exhibition in France