Author Archives: Robert

Pepita Ferrari 1952 – 2018

Posted on February 6, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. At the end of last year, we lost another great Canadian photographer, Pepita Ferrari. The NFB fondly remembers this great documentary film maker, producer, and author. Her obituary article appeared in the Globe on January 30, 2019. Ms Ferrari … Continue reading →

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a rare chance to see history here at the RIC

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. The main feature at the Ryerson Image Centre is the fabulous selection of images from the collection of Carole and Howard Tanenbaum. Kate Taylor of the Globe was there and wrote this engaging article for the newspaper last week. … Continue reading →

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Bolex joins the game

Posted on February 4, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. After the world-wide 1929 stock market crash ushered in the great depression, many small companies failed. BOL SA, founded by Jacques Bogopolsky, was one of them. A Swiss company, it made cameras for cine. Paillard SA made watch parts, … Continue reading →

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California Dreamin’ (on a winter’s day)

Posted on February 3, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. The weather this week past plus Eisenstaedt’s epic 1932 photograph of a waiter in St Moritz bringing cold drinks on ice skates brought to mind the 1966 song by the Mamas and Papas on an LP that I once … Continue reading →

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not all Oreo’s are cookies

Posted on February 2, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Over a century ago, you could get a cookie size round case for your images. These tiny marvels  were offered in the mid 1800s to house tintypes etc. The tiny union cases came in various colours. This one from … Continue reading →

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Joseph Tyrrell, gold miners and dinosaurs

Posted on February 1, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. My friend Goldie was wandering around the Fisher Rare Book Library on the U of T campus when he discovered photos of the Dawson Creek area around 1898-1901 (during the gold rush). The photos were taken by Joseph Burr … Continue reading →

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the age of selenium begins

Posted on January 31, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. In February and September of 2017 I wrote a number of posts about photographic meters. One of our long time members was rummaging through his collection when he came across his M-OS Rhamstine Electrophot. This meter led him to … Continue reading →

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Nina Leen, Photographer – Erin Levitsky

Posted on January 30, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. PHSC, Wed, Feb 20 2019 at 7:30 pm In the BURGUNDY ROOM of Memorial Hall Nina Leen: Snake Charmer with a Camera – Erin Levitsky Our speaker for February is Erin Levitsky. She holds an MA in Photographic Preservation … Continue reading →

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sliding into focus

Posted on January 29, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. As we casually view the colour images on front of our smartphones, we may forget the long torturous route taken from crude monochrome glass slides projected on a sheet or screen in a darkened room to 35mm or 2×2 … Continue reading →

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An Ansco under the tree meant heaven above …

Posted on January 28, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. After the war, every camera maker seemed to jump on the minicam (35mm) bandwagon. Many quickly adopted the standard of a leaf shutter, none interchangeable but focusing 45mm lens, and perhaps flash synchronization. Usually rangefinders and faster lenses were … Continue reading →

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