Author Archives: Robert

flipping over movies

Posted on December 2, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Pepsodent had a catchy jingle when I was a youth, “you’ll wonder where the yellow went when you brush your teeth with Pepsodent“. Around the same time, one of my favourite cartoons showed a perplexed artist (Van Gogh?) staring … Continue reading →

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Lights! Action! Camera!

Posted on December 1, 2019 by Robert

LIFE Ad for the Argus M3 8mm movie camera (November 1959) Toronto. Ahhh, amateur home movies. In the 1930s and 40s well heeled families could shoot 16mm movies of family life. Post war, 8mm  and Super 8mm became common allowing … Continue reading →

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when is a camera not a camera?

Posted on November 30, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. When it’s a Komic Kamera – a toy handheld  2D viewer for film strips! The size of this viewer suggests 35mm strips. I saw a couple of sites on Google that suggested the little toy was made by different … Continue reading →

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what the heck is a Colwood?

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. In the latest Graflex Journal, subscriber Chris Cooper offers photos and info on the Colwood Camera Co. based in the UK.  In business at least in the 1950s, Colwood offered rebuilt Anniversary Speed Graphics using factory spare parts. Have … Continue reading →

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neat way to add three stops

Posted on November 28, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. A half century ago if you wanted a fast film you went with Tri-X ISO (ASA) 400 B&W film. Tri-X was marketed around 1940 as a larger size film with an ASA of 200. In 1954 it was offered … Continue reading →

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big format – 3X the fun

Posted on November 27, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Familiar faces to those of a certain generation, Larry, Moe and Curley are featured on the upper left of page one of the latest Graflex Journal for this year, issue 3 2019. Click the link and browse and print … Continue reading →

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digital photos – easier and harder too

Posted on November 26, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. As digital overrides film (analogue), the messy wet darkroom gives way to computer-based image correction and inkjet printing. Digital makes technically perfect images a snap while still demanding an artist’s eye to find a subject and take a photo … Continue reading →

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it’ll stunt yer growth …

Posted on November 25, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. … said my little friend Harry as he puffed away. It was the 1940s and Harry was ahead of me in school in spite of his shorter stature.   This all came back to me when my fellow PHSC … Continue reading →

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Lives Lived – RGW (1943 – 2019)

Posted on November 24, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. The Globe and Mail has a column called Lives Lived on the obituary page to celebrate those who have passed on earlier. The column on Bob was written by his partner May Maskow and a family friend Philippa Campsie. … Continue reading →

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Photo News 28-4

Posted on November 23, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. I opened Wednesday’s Globe at breakfast and to my delight I found my latest Photo News. As I went through the magazine, I realized that the best thing was that every article included useful ideas and tips with professionals … Continue reading →

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