Author Archives: Robert

PHSC News 16-9

Posted on February 11, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. The latest issue of PHSC News, issue 16-9 has been distributed. With this issue, we shift the editorial duties from David Bridge to Sonja Pushchak. Sonja was instrumental in redesigning the newsletter to modernize the approach of PHSC. A … Continue reading →

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With Film, you can feel the photography…

Posted on February 10, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar mentioned this wonderful link to CBC news the other day. Journalist and native of PEI, Sara Fraser of CBC wrote this article about a little camera store on Queen Street in Charlottetown. The store, P.E.I. Photo Lab, … Continue reading →

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Review of Shanebrook’s epic “Making KODAK Film”, 2nd Edition

Posted on February 9, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. Newsletter impresario David Bridge shows his other talents in this erudite and thoughtful review of Shanebrook’s massive 2nd edition of his Making KODAK Film book. Well worth the price of $100 USD, the book provides technical details showing just … Continue reading →

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A Little Paint, A Little Pencil

Posted on February 8, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. Professionals liked the larger negatives and glass plates last century before the onslaught of the minicam. The plates and cut films could be easily retouched by a skilled practitioner.  Contrast could be varied or features emphasized by careful use … Continue reading →

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A Wide View Vista

Posted on February 7, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. The earliest camera lens designers were more concerned with plate coverage than aperture. Often a lens was described in terms of coverage –  half plate, full plate, etc. Numerous strategies were used to allow a greater coverage – mechanical … Continue reading →

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A Repeating Flashbulb (November 1941)

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. We never think about flash or flash bulbs today. With our digital cameras or smart phones a built in flash automatically goes off  (or the camera/phone warns us) to provide sufficient light. Even in the 1950s (unless you were … Continue reading →

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JollyLook Instant Camera

Posted on February 5, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. Thanks to Russ Forfar for this link to a blast from the past as a Toronto AM music radio station used to say before playing a musical oldie. In my youth a number of photography magazines served us instead … Continue reading →

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It’s a digital world after all!

Posted on February 4, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. I woke this week to a heavy rumble. Bell finally began to install fibre lines on our street. In the next few weeks we will be able to switch our TV and land line telephone over to the internet … Continue reading →

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Watch the Birdie

Posted on February 3, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. My thanks to friend John Linsky for reminding me of the old photographers who used a novelty to attract the attention of smaller subjects (John has some of these too). In the 1800s and early 1900s it was important … Continue reading →

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Innovation in the Digital Era

Posted on February 2, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. Nearly a  half century ago, I modified my Heathkit Mitchell Fotoval enlarger light meter with a built-in timer that used a 555 chip, a tantalum capacitor, and a series of switches and resistors that set the enlarger timing in … Continue reading →

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