Author Archives: Robert

a flashy ad over 60 years ago

Posted on July 26, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Once the media (glass plates, film) became fast enough for instantaneous outdoor photos, people began creating a means to make indoor photos. In most cases the lack of a bright light was the limiting factor and various means to … Continue reading →

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automation and home movies

Posted on July 25, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. If you were to believe the marketeers who wrote this ad found on page 24 of the October 8, 1956 issue of LIFE magazine, the 200EE camera is so simple a child could take perfect movies. Yeah! Right! This … Continue reading →

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stuck in the middle

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Over the time from 1839 until today, still cameras have become smaller and the media faster. When dry plates became readily available, shutters became a necessity. Combined with aperture settings, shutters and diaphragms gave the right amount of light … Continue reading →

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beginning to see the light – again

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. The post title must be a favourite of mine – used many times here, Long before digital photography arrived where it is today, professionals and advanced amateurs struggled to make prints that gave the most accurate and satisfying monochromatic … Continue reading →

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Redlands Photo Contest

Posted on July 22, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Fancy seeing a bit of down under? The Redlands Camera Club in Wellington Point, Queensland, Australia is hosting its 2019 International Print and Digital contests this year. The contests are open from July 1st through August 10th. Click on … Continue reading →

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ice cream and analogue

Posted on July 21, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Did you know today, July 21st, is international ice cream day for year 2019? My thanks to Rita Godlevskis over at PhotoEd magazine for noting this epic event. The analogue (she uses the American spelling which skips the “ue” … Continue reading →

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I know it sounds real goofy…

Posted on July 20, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. …but the man in the moon is a Newfie. So sang Stompin’ Tom in his 1972 response to Neil Armstrong’s epic adventure 50 years ago today when the Ohio native became the first man to walk on the moon. … Continue reading →

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a litter of letters for lens test

Posted on July 19, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. In the late 1960s I was in Montreal and devised a means to test lens resolution and shutter accuracy. It was during the shutter test that I realized my Exakta had a serious problem. It turned out a brass … Continue reading →

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uh-oh, colour film – again

Posted on July 18, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. For those of you who were born in the digital era, Colour NEGATIVE film was used before digital to make colour prints. Like black and white film, the illumination was reversed and an enlarger made the shades correct for … Continue reading →

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duck! …bang …finito!

Posted on July 17, 2019 by Robert

Toronto.  Years ago,  Dr Edgerton of MIT revolutionized the art of photography by using high speed flash to record mundane events in a fraction of a split second.  In the late 1950s, I bought a used Ultrablitz Reporter IIL. The … Continue reading →

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