Author Archives: Robert

clowning around

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Remember Emmett Kelley and these others? In this strip are many famous folk each with a camera of choice. My Friend George Dunbar asks, “The famous with cameras … Who are they?” Food for thought back in the days … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged | Comments Off on clowning around

once a century is enough!

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. In 1918 the world suffered a pandemic called the Spanish Flu of 1918. It lasted into 1920 and proved to be very contagious and very deadly. Here we are, a century later, and the world is hit by another influenza-like … Continue reading →

Posted in miscellaneous | Tagged , | Comments Off on once a century is enough!

what’s in your wallet?

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Not to be out done by Airequipt, Argus posted a two page spread (pp 10, 11) in the November 30, 1962 issue of LIFE magazine offering 10,ooo free prizes in the “ARGUS HOLIDAY GIVEAWAY”. The offer was limited to … Continue reading →

Posted in magazine | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on what’s in your wallet?

le film noir

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. In film technology (or analogue as they say today), the lower the sensitivity the finer the grain and the harder the contrast. Lomogaphy have announced “The Fantôme Kino B&W ISO 8 35 mm Film”. This new film, at such … Continue reading →

Posted in film | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on le film noir

and the winner is …

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Mid last century, companies worked hard to win a larger slice of the amateur photo market – especially in the USA, We saw where give-a-ways of non competing products for a few dollars and proof of purchase were used, … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on and the winner is …

ninety-nine percent sweat

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. We find photographic collectibles in the darndest places – like non photographic auctions. Edison was said to define genius as one percent inspiration and  ninety-nine percent perspiration. If you search out auctions, like one at Skinners, and patiently drill down, … Continue reading →

Posted in photos | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on ninety-nine percent sweat

lipstick

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. The Brownie Super 27 camera was advertised and sold in the early 1960s. It was basically a tarted up Baby Brownie: bigger viewfinder, built in flash, better lens at f/8, two speed shutter (but failure prone apparently), horizontal construction … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on lipstick

instant film photos in style

Posted on March 29, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. My thanks to Clint who forwarded an email he received from member Stuart Moscoe. Stuart included this link to PetaPixel, a site we have mentioned before. Instax allows Fuji, Lomgraphy, etc to use SX-70 style “Polaroid” film. This article states, … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on instant film photos in style

selfies: hope vs. reality

Posted on March 28, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. About 60 years ago, Polaroid advertised that “everyone” used their system to take home photos (i.e. “selfies” – a name coined  just a few years ago). That was hope since the reality was that a very small percentage of … Continue reading →

Posted in people | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on selfies: hope vs. reality

cough, cough

Posted on March 27, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Many companies last century offered deals on non-competing products to expand their market segment. An example was Marlboro cigarettes and Kodak (in the days before the link between cigarettes and lung cancer/heart disease was legally confirmed and tobacco products … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on cough, cough