Author Archives: Robert

triple tengor tango

Posted on July 7, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. After WW1, the German camera industry was in a crisis – too many companies making too many cameras that were very similar. The government invited  Zeiss to  the dance and the mighty Zeiss-Ikon was formed. Zeiss Ikon and a … Continue reading →

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soft subject, soft lighting

Posted on July 6, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. An unidentified writer (our editor?) said in a prelude to the article “Wither Soft Light of the 1930s …” “I’ve been perplexed for years by certain lighting of nudes during the pictorial period. I don’t make any great study … Continue reading →

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colour! colour! colour!

Posted on July 5, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Like Leonardo before him, a Frenchman came up with all the ways to create colour photography long before technology made them possible. One concept was to catch the image simultaneously on three B&W plates, each plate exposed through a … Continue reading →

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a cheesy story c1870

Posted on July 4, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. First, let me say a happy July 4th to our friends south of our border on behalf of the PHSC! Enjoy your holiday, folks. The photos of box making in the 1870s are interesting in many ways: a record … Continue reading →

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and the bridge came tumbling down …

Posted on July 3, 2024 by Robert

Toronto.  Editor Bob Lansdale received an email from England and began a search for a mysterious bridge. Bob writes, “The monster footings to the Steel Arch Bridge at Niagara Falls, built in 1897-98, proved to be the down fall of … Continue reading →

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Trunk Sale this Sunday July 14, 2024

Posted on July 2, 2024 by Robert

OK folks, our popular Trunk Sale is July 14th this year at the Trident Hall (rain or shine). Visit from 8 am ’til noon. Want a space? Have a question? Drop Clint a line fair@phsc.ca   

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1867 and all that

Posted on July 1, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. … to paraphrase a bit of “British history”  (1066 and all that). We are fortunate that photography was invented years before 1867 when the Dominion of Canada was formed.  The British North America Act(s) combined the British colonies of … Continue reading →

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the mystery of Frankie D

Posted on June 30, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The next step after the Daguerrotype was the use of glass plates. Initially glass plates used a wet solution (wet-plate) and years later a dry solution (dry-plate). To make the sensitized emulsion ‘hold’ to the glass, a sticky mixture … Continue reading →

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the palmer papers

Posted on June 29, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Eli Palmer was a Canadian photographer who created many Daguerreotype portraits.A Wikipedia article here covers a broad range of Canadian photographers including one very very  brief mention of Palmer. Our late editor, Bob Lansdale introduces the research into Mr Palmer … Continue reading →

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full circle

Posted on June 28, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. Group photos have always been a challenge. In Photographic Canadiana issue 36-1 dated May-June 2010, our late editor Bob Lansdale covers two things near and dear to him: group photos with special cameras; and Canadiana. This issue includes a … Continue reading →

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