Author Archives: Robert

re-creating the war that started Canada

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Canada was formed in 1867 in a well known conference held on spud island (PEI). The founding of the Dominion was Britain’s reaction to the US Civil War and its means to protect the British colonies in North America … Continue reading →

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hello darkness, my old friend

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Art and Paul may well have sung about night photography sixty years ago with their Sounds of Silence song in 1964. Mid last century film ASA was very slow – in fact a rating of 200 or so was … Continue reading →

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Swiss knives and cameras

Posted on February 6, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. When the minicam bug took off in the mid 1930s, people traded size for resolution. Companies like Leitz touted the use of enlargers to make large images from the small negatives. And minicams proliferated. The cameras ranged from complex … Continue reading →

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I love Paris in the springtime …

Posted on February 5, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. One of the 19th century photographers I admire is Eugene Atget. My friend and fellow PHSC member Russ Forfar sent me a note on Atget et al recently. Russ said that the Paris, France museums (some 14) have collectively … Continue reading →

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double trouble

Posted on February 4, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. There is a growing debate these days about Russian (and American) interference in the affairs of other countries. Certainly the situation is not helped by our neighbour’s president, the Donald. For a change here’s some good news. My friend … Continue reading →

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Toronto’s Past: A Look Back

Posted on February 3, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. Meeting, Wed, Feb 19, 2020 at 7:45 pm BURGUNDY ROOM, Memorial Hall Toronto’s Past: A Look Back at Social History and Significant Events through Original Period Imagery – Victor D. Caratun, of the Toronto Past Archive “Victor was born and raised … Continue reading →

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Mack the Knife

Posted on February 2, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. In the days of film, there was colour, colour negative, or black and white films of various speeds and contrast curves. You could buy rolls of 20 (later 24 and 27) or 36 exposure. The more frames, the cheaper … Continue reading →

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slow down

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. by the early 1930s, the camera industry had settled on a slow shutter speed of 1 second. Anything slower could be taken using “bulb” or “time” settings. Leitz even offered an accessory called a HEBOO so those who bought … Continue reading →

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another 1,000 words

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. There is an old saying that “a picture is worth a thousand words“. If that is true, any photographer worth his salt would have prints with volumes to say! And as old photos quietly fade, they constantly “shed words”. … Continue reading →

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film rescue international

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. PHSC member Jim Hall, over in Guelph. Sent Bob Lansdale this note which Bob passed on to me. Jim writes, “PHSC Guelph member Jim Hall here. Thanks for your email, I came across this CBC article on a guy doing … Continue reading →

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