Author Archives: Robert

making it big – making it better

Posted on August 5, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. We often hear that Leitz turned photography on its head with its revolutionary 35mm camera, the Leica. But then what? How could you make such tiny negatives into larger prints? Fortunately enlargers were around before the little marvel and … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on making it big – making it better

time after time

Posted on August 4, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Back around 1960, I built my first darkroom. After an enlarger, my first purchase was a Gralab timer. This was when I first began developing and printing at home – high school and my time in Labrador and northern … Continue reading →

Posted in processes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on time after time

Our Unsung Hero

Posted on August 3, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Many of our members receive news of the society via a copy of Photographic Canadiana, but I wonder just how many members realize the efforts and research necessary to complete each issue? In the upper right hand corner of … Continue reading →

Posted in people | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Our Unsung Hero

docs on docs

Posted on August 2, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Movies and videos are either fiction or non-fiction, the latter we call documentaries. The documentaries cover people, places or things from various perspectives to help the viewer understand more about them. Many people view television for entertainment, news and … Continue reading →

Posted in processes | Tagged , , | Comments Off on docs on docs

the shadow knows…

Posted on August 1, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. I remember as a child of seven or eight listening to radio dramas. One was called “The Shadow” and  his alter ego, “Lamont Cranston”. Like Cranston, the tell of a flash photograph with the flash gun mounted on a … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on the shadow knows…

if you know this guy, you’re too damn old!

Posted on July 31, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Another popular “coat-tail” ad stunt was to get then popular stars of movie, radio and even TV to promote the camera you imported, inferring if so and so who is so popular uses it, you should too. Typical was … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on if you know this guy, you’re too damn old!

coat-tail advertising

Posted on July 30, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Modern day advertisers “sponsor” athletes, movies etc. and join them in advertisements. Well known athletes at the top of their game promote sporting gear implying that using gear by that company will enhance your chances of winning too. Mid … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on coat-tail advertising

the good, the bad, and the ugly

Posted on July 29, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. When it comes to accessories for the Leica, the ZOOXY and its brethren are right up there as candidates for the ugly prize. The massive weighty thing is a focusing mount and extension tube that connects to an OOZAB … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on the good, the bad, and the ugly

a COOMI cutie

Posted on July 28, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. In the post WW2 days of film, you could make close-ups by placing an extension tube between camera body and lens or by adding a close up lens (+1,  +2, or +3 diopter) element to the front of the … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on a COOMI cutie

logs and dogs

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Rita is everywhere with PhotoEd. If you wish to see the upcoming documentary on Robert Frank at Hot Docs for free here in the big smoke, Drop Rita a line. The ‘log’ in the title of this post is … Continue reading →

Posted in history, magazine, people | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on logs and dogs